Will a $700 turntable outperform a CD player?

First, most people dont have the right dac....nor the right analog set-up....

Second, the 3 controlled embeddings (mechanical,electrical,acoustical)are more important for the S.Q. than most electronic components choices unbeknowst to most....And no electronic component manufacturer can insist about these essentials points even if they have the clues or knowledge if they dont want to decrease their sales and pitch marketing practice...

Third, like someone just said, too many factors are involved to decrete some judgment or opinions based on limited experience by almost all people on non-controlled audio embeddings systems....

I personally don't think a $700 TT will out perform your cd player. 

Sometimes, but it all depends upon the recording.

I once heard a basic Pro-Ject deck (way under $700) playing an Elvis LP totally outperform a Sony ES CD player playing back the same songs. The CD sounded flat and restrained, whilst the LP had punch and drive.

I must also add that it wasn’t a case of like for like because the LP and CD were different compilations. I don’t know if it’s just me but Elvis on CD has always tended to sound a little too polite whereas on the other hand The Smiths on CD can sound at least as good the vinyl releases. Louder Than Bombs sounded great on CD.

Mastering matters more than format in many cases as I don’t think any CD player at any price would have matched the vinyl cut in that example, not with that CD.

I’m guessing that since albums recorded before 1980 were cut with vinyl in mind, their later CD counterparts are always going to be nothing more or nothing less than digital interpretations of the originals according to the mastering engineer responsible.

Similarly most recordings after 1990 would have been mastered for Compact Disc, so any vinyl issues would again be mastering interpretations of the original digital recording.

This makes it very difficult to compare like for like when it comes to comparing vinyl and digital recordings as you’re not only hearing different formats but different masterings too.

@cal91:  Think of all the exercise you could be getting if you had to keep getting up to tend the turntable.  As the old say goes, “Use it or lose it!”  😉😆

A lot of it is truly (as people have said here) personal taste.  I am one of those who have never felt the CD sound was right.  My ears keep telling me something is amiss.