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
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"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.
inna
7,296 posts
 
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.
sbonamo
61 posts
 
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.   
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
992 posts
 
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.
yc25's avatar
yc25
14 posts
 
3 comments already mostly mentioned by others 

DL-103 not in the CD player class
Surfacing MOV is one of the weaker sounding reissue 
Try one of the new Rhino reissue 
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