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

The compliance of your cartridge is quoted by Zu as 5cu which is stiff for your arm if 5cu is really the correct number to use. Japanese manufacturers specify the compliance at 100 Hz instead of 10 Hz standard. A practice is to derive the compliance at 10 Hz by multiplying it by 1.5 or 2. That would place the compliance of your cartridge between 7.5 to 10 cu which is better for your arm. Overall though, this cartridge may be too stiff for your arm. Regarding your arm, did you check the amount of damping oil in the well? VPI says “if you feel the sound to be constricted (overly damped), remove some of the fluid.” You can check your guide for advice on the amount of oil and whether to thin it.

I use a Denon DL-103r in a Denon tonearm with Denon AU-320 step up transformer (SUT).  The r version of this cartridge has a 14 Ohm impedance but still works well with the transformer at the transformer’s 40 Ohm setting. Your cartridge has the 40 Ohm impedance that the transformer expects. These transformers are always available on the auction site for $350 or less including shipping from Japan. If you don’t mind spending a little more money a SUT might be worth a try. You can always sell it on the same site if you don’t like it and get most of your money back. The input impedance of your phono stage to work with the transformer would be about 47K, i.e., the moving magnet input or setting.

The Denon DL-103 is a classic cartridge desired for its overall realistic effect. It will not necessarily impress with extreme detail or other sensational sonic effects. I recommend you continue to look at your setup and see where adjustments can be made. A SUT will do some of the work of your phono preamp and clear up any impedance issues. This could get things to sound better overall.
Post removed 
Today, I invested a couple of hours auditioning a new system to replace my 10 year old mid-fi home theater/2 channel music system that is 10 years old.  

Current line-up:
Rotel RSP1068 
Rotel RMB1095
Oppo BDP 83SE
Cambrige Stream Magic 6 v1
B&W 805S mains
B&W HTM7 center
B&W in-wall surrounds

The audition:
McIntosh 8900 Integrated
Aurender A10 network player
VPI Prime Scout with Soundsmith Carmen cartridge
B&W 804 D3 mains

Clearly the auditioned system is light years ahead of my current rig, but my comments here are about analog vs. digital.  I haven’t had an analog source in probably 25 years.  As I was considering my new system, curiosity struck and I added the VPI to my listening session.  The VPI was feeding the Mac’s internal MM phono input.  I had both a HiRes digital copy and a new 180 gram vinyl copy of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Dance” (obviously not the only music I brought).  First I listened to the opening track, “The Chain”, from the HiRes file.  As you would expect, it sparkled.  All the parts were there and it moved me as that track should.  Then I put on the vinyl copy... My jaw hit the floor.  For me, all the pace and detail was there, but everything was so much more natural.  Voices, guitar, drums and particularly the cymbals and hi hat from Fleetwood’s kit were so incredibly rendered that I felt much more connected to the music.  So I put on several other records, both new and some from my teenage years that survived 4 moves and a couple of worn out styli.  After listening to the VPI/Soundsmith combo for another 40 minutes I am completely smitten and will now start the process of buying all my favorite artists on vinyl AGAIN.  I know that a really good digital front end can walk all over a so-so analog source, but in this one instance and to my 55 year old ears, I’m convinced that there is rooom for both and I will probably find myself spinning records a lot more than pushing buttons on my iPad.
 Welcome to the club chcumo63!

Careful about vinyl - it seems to have a particularly addicting quality and the ability to drain bank accounts ;-)   (Especially if you are in to new vinyl, good quality or rare).

I have never wanted to be one of those "vinyl is better than digital, 'cause digital sux!" converts to vinyl.

But...my goodness vinyl is seductive!

Since I've been listening to so much vinyl it's skewed my perception of digital a little bit.  Digital still sounds tremendous on my system and I love it.  But I was listening to a nicely recorded collection of old synth music streaming (full CD quality) on my system.  As great as it sounded, I couldn't help but think "it seems to be missing something...I'm not quite getting what I get from vinyl."  The imaging was dense, the instruments appeared in the air, but it didn't quite have the next level of immediate texture and aliveness I've been used to.  Wondering if it was in my head I yet again threw on some vinyl to compare, an old Human League LP from the 80's, similar synth era as the one I was listening to on digital.

Well...there it was!  The synth parts on the vinyl just seemed to break out of the recorded "canned" barrier and just peirce the air in front of me, occupying the same air as the room.  There was that reach out and touch it texture.  The sound seemed to jump out of, escape the speakers better.

Pretty wild.  I'm hooked.