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Turntable got absolutely crushed by CD

Long story short, i've just brought home a VPI classic 1 mounted with a Zu-Denon DL103 on JMW Memorial 10.5 with the appropriate heavier counterweight. Had everything dialed in..perfect azimuth, VTF, overhang, with only a slightly higher than perfect VTA. Levelling checked. All good. 

I did a comparison between the VPI and my Esoteric X03SE and it's not even close. The Esoteric completely crushes the VPI in all regards. The level of treble refinement, air, decay, soundstage depth and width, seperation, tonality, overall coherence is just a simply a league above from what I'm hearing from the VPI. The only area the VPI seems to be better at is bass weight, but not by much. 

I'm honestly quite dumbfounded here. I've always believed that analogue should be superior to digital. I know the Esoteric is a much pricier item but the VPI classic is supposed to be a very good turntable and shouldn't be a slouch either. At this point I feel like I should give up on analogue playback and invest further in digital. 

Has anyone had a similar experience comparing the best of digital to a very good analogue setup?

Equipment:
Esoteric X03SE 
VPI Classic, JMW Memorial 10.5, Zu-DL103
Accuphase C200L
Accuphase P600
AR 90 speakers

Test Record/CD:
Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (Redbook vs MOV 180g reissue)



chadsort
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
"Less wobbling equals less jitter" I enjoy the way you make up 'facts' that have no basis in any reality except the one in your head. It reads fine. 'gee sure that sounds like a fact'. Sadly it is NOT A FACT.Here IS an article with some ACTUAL INFORMATION..        
https://www.stereophile.com/reference/590jitter/index.html Now if you want to say the Japanese disc have better delineation of the data in the pits and lands.. Well yeah, probably. They are more careful in general, and maybe that might lead to less jitter. But the out of round outer edge.. nonsense and is utter rubbish.
orpheus10
5,988 posts
 

Minor, not everyone see's things from an Audiophiles perspective; that means there are some very good buys out there.
orpheus10
5,988 posts
 

Chakster, if nothing was available but the "mid fi" crap that we thought was good for playing records, I wouldn't give you a nickel for a boatload of vinyl.

The OP is right; if his analog rig isn't together, the digital will cream it, and all you have to do is stick it in the player. Since my rig is together, vinyl is all I'm doing lately.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 
For those who like "Americana" music, know that New West Records, home to many of my favorite artists (Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Rodney Crowell, Richard Thompson, plenty of others) offers some of their titles on cassette.
kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
168 posts
 
Man, the hipsters are into pro audio.  They'll go direct from their phones to a pair of active studio monitors.  The extra cool kids have a two channel audio interface or a small mixing board so they can plug in their turntables, CD players, playstations, guitars and microphones.  They'll play whatever media they can get their hands on and plug into their boards.
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