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
moonglum
619 posts
 
Granted Geoff, but that was probably one loose cannon. ;)
I’m no expert but I think the thrust of the argument is that SNR & resolution are correlated and that one can be used to “estimate” the other?
Members here appear to have applied this yardstick as a rule-of-thumb.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I understand the argument. The argument is incorrect IMHO. No offense.

Granted, Geoff? Granted what? 
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Analog is so very un-economical that it's only worth the price to people who had large record collections when CD's came on board. Although they initially went to CD's, all the fuss about LP's aroused their curiosity.

Since they already had the software, which was half the battle, they rationalized, why not go the rest of they way, even though they knew it was going to cost more than any so called "starter" crap, to hear the LP magic.

Now they're hoping to get young people into the game; why, I don't know, but the absurd economics of hearing the magic will stop that; unless you're talking the ubiquitous "starter analog".




geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
You’re preaching to the wrong choir. I am a true believer in cassettes and their superiority to digital in almost every way, but especially dynamics, which is rather ironic since the big selling point for CDs from the very beginning was their hugely superior dynamic range. Cassettes are also much more realistic and richer in tone imho. But, hey, to each his own. You can cover it up with sampling and bits arguments until the cows come home. 🐄 🐄 🐄 Tape is a natural medium. It breathes.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Elizabeth, if you read between the lines most of us are already "geezers", including yours truly.

Presently, I'm discovering a record collection that I didn't even know I had; mostly in the form of records I had written off, but after a number of upgrades, they're sounding pretty good.

Enjoy the music.
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