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
rjsalvi's avatar
rjsalvi
9 posts
 
Elizabeth said: "Just dawned on me that what this entire thread is saying is WE ALL LISTEN TO THE EQUIPMENT, ALL THE TIME, and the ’music’ is just an excuse to use the equipment."
LOL! Yup. Gets even worse when you design equipment. Can you say, OCD? I knew you could. :-)
bmontani
193 posts
 
Good CD player, mediocre analog set up.  Digital has come a long way and in some respects is a much better medium than analog but in other ways not quite as good.  I am surprised that the analog had better bass weight because that is one area that a digital medium excels.  That said, I am sure you are correct, a good CD player today sounds better than an ok analog set up with an ok preamp that has a mediocre phono stage.
inna
7,296 posts
 
Elizabeth, you got a brain storm today. Who cares about music when the equipment is not good? First, make it sound right, then listen. No experience of any kind until it sounds acceptable. 

Post removed 
ronres
48 posts
 
Hello chadsort,

Your conclusion is dumbfounding to me, but I respect your report and your preference.

I agree with those who make the point that to experience the musical and emotional involvement of analog one should play an analog recording. Surfacing definitely is a digital recording. I see intellectually and hear sonically no point in playing a digital recording on an analog playback system, whether vinyl or tape.

Perhaps you simply subjectively prefer the drier/leaner/sharper sound of digital.

My live music listening and high-end audio systems auditioning leads me clearly, directly and unambiguously to the conclusion that state-of-the-art vinyl and tape playback of analog recordings recreates for me a much more musically-satisfying and emotionally-involving experience than does digital. With most digital playback of vocal recordings and piano recordings I find that I cannot even begin to relax and enjoy myself.

As stated brilliantly by Edward Rothstein in his amazing article about high-end audio in The New Republic:  "Analog seeks to approximate perfection, while digital seeks to perfect an approximation."
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