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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Whatever format it is it had better be dynamic. I will not (rpt not) tolerate low dynamic range. Everything else is secondary.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,395 posts
 
Isolate it via springs which bring lively resonances to the game, or solidly support the table.
garryh16's avatar
garryh16
19 posts
 
Digital is superior to LPs always has been and always will be.I had turntables for many years I don’t like the pop hissing noise crackles that you get from LP’s so I’m sticking with digital which is superior to Lp’s. Turn tables are just hype .A way to make more money. I am 61 years old and have been in to audio for 47 years and started out with LPs and tapes wishing for a format that did not have problems with hissing crackling scratching skipping and eating tapes and many other problems . Now with such great cd players and Dac’s that you can buy today it’s hard to beat digital no matter what the experts Say. .I will not go back to the days when somebody walks in the room and makes the record player skip and scratch a new LP or the tape is ruined by the tape deck. What a waste of money to invest in something that’s going to cost you more and more in the long run to replace your records because they’re scratched and tapes because they are ruined . Been there done that.
kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
263 posts
 
I have already stated my opinion on vinyl vs. digital, in short, they both have their place.  Reading through this thread, however, I gather some people either have a strange emotional connection with their media or are using this forum to exercise their contrarian sensibilities.

Coolness does not come into play in my world.  My friends and family think I'm nuts anyhow.  I bought both my wife and daughter Bose bluetooth speakers and they love them (I also pay for a Tidal family service, a really good buy)!  I love my family more than anything, so why would I subject them to such crappy audio?

Because all they want to do is listen to music.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
I have Esoteric 3xs its amazing but my TW ACUSTIC AC1 with TW 10.5 tonearm Transfiguration Proteus cartridge sounds better.
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