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

Showing 12 responses by inna

inna
7,910 posts
 
I hope analog recording stays alive. Question is how many audiophiles are prepared to pay $100 for a record with excellent music and great recording ? Or $200 ? I am, a few records a year, no more. And I would need to listen to it before buying, entire record not samples.
inna
7,910 posts
 
Again, who cares about non-audiophiles on this forum ? They don't even exist.
Well done cds from 78s would be okay for some and not okay for others. I don't have to choose because I don't listen to that music.
inna
7,910 posts
 
We should only be interested in those who might become audiophiles, the rest have nothing to do with us. And for those few it is the same as for us - original pressings LPs for analog recordings and cds for digital recordings. Later probably computer instead of cds but not yet.
Buy less but of higher quality. Yes, buying records on line is difficult, but if VG+ is good enough it's not too bad. Average cost for me is about $25-$30 per record plus shipping but I mostly buy from Japan and Europe. 
inna
7,910 posts
 
"play just fine" is not audiophile language. Yes, you would have to pay more for Japanese cds. Do it.
inna
7,910 posts
 
Japanese cds’ shape is also more accurate, more round, more symmetrical. With cds it also starts with ’turntable’, with mechanics.
inna
7,910 posts
 
Analog is more dynamic than digital.
I think, cds will disappear soon enough, it is going to be either analog or computer. Yeah, I threw away a few remastered cds, original were always better except Japanese audiophile.
We are immortal. Elizabeth, you say nonsense.
inna
7,910 posts
 
That's what you put on turntable - original 50's, 60's and 70's pressings. Also some Japanese first releases from 70's and a few others like original UK Dead Can Dance pressings. Not necessarily A stampers unless your system is very high resolution.
If not - forget about vinyl, enjoy digital, save a lot of money and call yourself audiophile.
inna
7,910 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.
inna
7,910 posts
 
By the way, I disagree with those who think that good digital is less expensive, I think exactly the opposite. You really need extremely expensive equipment to make digital tolerable. With analog - just a few thousand $$$$. If you play your $10k Marantz or Esoteric or Accuphase etc and heard nothing better - you have no idea how digital might sound. Still, it sounds artificial no matter what you do with it, and it always will. By definition. But people are stupid and stubborn and so they will keep trying.
inna
7,910 posts
 
Not perfect but good enough.
Why don’t you buy a plane ticket and fly to Milan ? You could feel that ambiance the day after tomorrow .
inna
7,910 posts
 
Elizabeth, you got a brain storm today. Who cares about music when the equipment is not good? First, make it sound right, then listen. No experience of any kind until it sounds acceptable. 

inna
7,910 posts
 
To begin with, put your Esoteric player aside, forget about it. It is clear that your analog rig does not sound as good as it can and should. It should sound very very good. Make it happen. After that you might want to compare using original pressing record or in some cases Japanese first release pressing from seventies and best cd issue of the same album you can find, usually Japanese audiophile.
Many right things have already been said.
Yes, tape rules, just not cassette. To date I have never heard "stunning" digital recording. Or analog for that matter. My analog rig is better than my cd player so my comparison is there is no comparison, no use to you.
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