2. analog
  3. 140184-113812

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
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,936 posts
 
I have an old Valhalla LP12 and yes, it is very musical. Compared with my 401, it is all over the place unfortunately. However maybe it's not set up right I dunno.
But I did hear a VPI Scout once and thought it was very dull and grey. The VPI 40th sounds pretty good but it's $15k.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

When I listen to CD's, I hear music, when I listen to records (thanks to exquisitely set up high end rig) I hear music in a much deeper fashion; I hear nuances in records that I've heard hundreds of times, that I've never heard before.

I hope to God when I play CD's, I never hear what the "Vinylytes" hear (they're an analog religious order that describe in the worst way what they hear when they play a CD).   It would ruin my life if I ever began hearing "digitalis" or any of the other strange things they describe about CD's and everything digital; I would no longer hear music when I played my CD's.
iamhe
56 posts
 
As a teenager me and my friends use to buy albums mostly Hiphop and R& B, because we DJ’d at house parties. When I joined the Service, I stop buying albums without a second thought because CDs was the new thing that promised better sound, portability and easy care.

My first direct comparison of vinyl and CD’s occurred when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath back in the late 80s.

A friend I was picking up from his dorm room for a basketball game was playing some music (Jazz & Blues). I noticed that it was a record. As listed to the music, I said to him what’s up with the records.

He said because they sound authentic. I can’t recall all the records and CD’s we Compared. But what I do remember is on this one record we could hear the breathing in the mic and the creaking in the floor. Which the CD version did not have.

 
sejodiren's avatar
sejodiren
192 posts
 
@wolf_garcia .....I own a U-Turn/Grado.  It's an amazing TT for the price.  It pairs well with my 'Yammy' and Dahlquist DQ10s.  Fabulous sound....
@iamhe....I graduated from Lakenheath High School in 1972.....Air Force Brat.  It's a small world my friend!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
As I have stated many times previously in many similar threads.

I do not even waste my time comparing vinyl to CD or streaming or cassette.

They are all individual and all depend on the quality of the source and the source material.

I just enjoy each medium as I hear it, or not in the case of a poor recording ... Lol.

Right now listening to a CD from 2016 and it sounds pretty darn good.

I also have vinyl by same artist, same label from 2015 and yes I would say the sq is more preferable to my ears on my rig but does not make the CD bad by any standards!

It does take more time and effort and usually expenditure to get vinyl to sound really good, most already know that.

Right now I am playing a $60 CD player, Nakamichi cd4, though a Peachtree Nova DAC and very happy with the SQ. Minimal cost and effort.

To exceed this SQ, my vinyl rig is many times the cost and requires periodic verification of the basic setup just to be sure.

You pays your money and you takes your chances.
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