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
 
"Digital cost nothing…"

https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-California-EAGLES/dp/B0052VI2V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543969607&a...

https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-California-DVD-Audio-Surround-Sound/dp/B00005T5YK/ref=sr_1_1_twi_dvd_1?...

It is about your age. Slightly more expensive digital than vinyl.
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
I see a good many of the 20 something's in the record stores I buy from. They are usually in my way. It's about the only place they don't look at me like I'm an antique. Just saying... 
soldevere
11 posts
 
@chadsort -- to give you a direct answer to a question you posed earlier: yes, the Dynavector XX-2 mk.2 cartridge would be a much better choice for your tonearm than the Zu/Denon. the four main parts of the analog playback chain (turntable, tonearm, cartridge, and phono stage) need to work together as one organism. your VPI tonearm just isn't "heavy" enough to make the Zu/Denon work optimally, and your phono stage isn't loading the cartridge properly -- so that's two strikes against you, right there.

that said, since this is your first foray into LP playback, i don't think you need to go all the way to the Dyna XX-2. try a Dyna 20X2L cartridge paired with the Dyna P75 phono stage, set to "phono enhancer" mode. this will sound good and give you a taste of what a decent vinyl rig can deliver.

yes, this will cost more dough, but you've come this far already, right?
catcher10's avatar
catcher10
77 posts
 
I agree with your test results, just send me the analog rig and you can keep the digital rig......Thread can be closed now, problem solved.
:)
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