Turntable got absolutely crushed by CD

A major problem that's holding back my digital system is that my vinyl significantly out-performs it. I'm trying to figure this out. It may be that it'll never be possible due to the dynamic superiority of vinyl? I went ahead and bought the Music on Vinyl release of Surfacing -- even though there's a Analog Productions release which is assuredly better.

My record playing system:
Triangle Art Concerto + upgraded platter / Jelco 750 / TA Zeus / TA speed controller / periphery ring and spindle weights.
Lite Audio all-tube phono stage + NOS 5751 with Herbie dampening rings...getting a Hashimoto SUT next week.

My digital system:
Custom PC no fans + linear PSU + battery isolated SSD + battery powered Paul Pang USB card / Win10 / Roon / HQPlayer / Fidelizer Pro.
Space Tech Lab DA-512DSD-1 / 274B + KT150.

Both systems (except the speed controller) are on a Chinese balanced isolation transformer I got in just this week.

Cabling is currently a mish-mash of pro cables, silver-plated copper customs from Amplifier Repair (on eBay) and an Audio Envy I picked up at a show. Power cables are mostly Audio Sensibility.

I got the Space Tech Lab a while ago to try and bridge the gap between my records and my digital because it was all-tubed with a big bottle 274B rectifier and no-holds-barred on the output tubes. The dynamics, especially with the all-tube phono stage, of my records are just in a different playing field compared to the digital and the new DAC didn't change that. When the Hashimoto comes in it'll probably take it up another notch.

I don't know what to do. If this keeps up I may abandon digital altogether. Do I need an Esoteric to reach the same level?

 

"Why don’t you buy a plane ticket and fly to Milan ? You could feel that ambiance the day after tomorrow."

If you are suggesting La Scala in Milano, the season starts on December 7, 2018 with one preview on December 4th. So elizabeth will have to be patient for a few extra days.

Of course, famous La Scala. Well, maybe better wait until January - plane tickets might be expensive and hard to get in December. But these days short trip to Europe can be relatively inexpensive.

Here's the reality - In general and with today's latest DACs / spinners $ for $ digital beats vinyl rigs up to about $15 - $20K. The main reason is - you need many more components for vinyl - TT, cartridge, phono preamp, isolation platform not to mention the mat, record clamp /weight, cleaning machine, on, and on. For digital, you need a DAC and a decent music PC or a stand - alone CD / SACD player. Once over $20K it depends but vinyl starts to take over.   

A Denon cartridge? Why would you do that to your vinyl? You’re kidding me, right?

In legal circles, this is called a results based outcome. Sounds to me like you wanted the digital to win, and you put a piece $300 cartridge in there to make sure of it.

But I’m just a humble yet unreasonably and thoroughly opinionated know nothing with 51 years of audiophile experience behind me. What do I know?

Put a Koetsu or a Van den Hul in there. Even their entry level cartridges. Then write back to us. Please.

sbonamo, I disagree in your price point. More like around $15K. And if you are patient and shop around for used equipment in excellent condition, $7K.