You will wonder how you put up with your Pioneer all these years. I have had Dual, AR, VPI MKII, III, IV, and now Aries JMW 10. I had a friend over who has never listened to analog at length. Thirty seconds into the first song off a MFSL George Benson "Breezin" LP, he hit the mute button and with a startled voice he said "How do you ever get motivated to put a CD on? How can you ever go back?" That sums it up. I am sure your Pioneer wasn't terrible, probably better than most CD rigs out there. You are in for a surprise however with the VPI...a pleasant one I might add. Jallen