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
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,620 posts
 
Imgood we have tested many Dacs running DSD or upconverted PCM  and the difference is huge. 

Try running a high ned USB cable into the T+A and run DSD 512 and you might just find that the T+A  will sound better as a dac then the Berkley. 

The Berkley will only do 192k  and when you run a high end dac at DSD 512 you start getting a very analog like presentation.

Try to get a demo of an Innous Statement  running DSD 128 into the T_A and you would be amazed at the level of improvement.

That is one reason why we are not in love with the Aurender products, many dacs go from good to amazing at higher sampling rates.

Roon allows software up-conversion so you can take a 16bit CD quality file and reprocess it to DSD or to high res.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ


imgoodwithtools
236 posts
 
I appreciate your input, Audio Doctor.

I do have some digital flexibility here with both the T+A and the Berkeley. How much mainstream recorded music is available at DSD 256 or 512?  I bought the T+A strictly as a SACD player, but recognize its other abilities. 

I bought the Berkeley strictly based upon audition from CD sources. It's the best I've heard thus far. And I suspect MQA will become more readily available, better or not.

Is there a music server available that will do DSD 512 and MQA, something I could feed Both DACs with?
audioarchon's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
audioarchon
35 posts
 
@imgoodwithtools the LUMIN U1 will do both DSD512, MQA and can feed both DACs.

Mike
Audio Archon - LUMIN Dealer
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
OP, I heard it once.   The CD was an XRCD, Brothers in Arms.
minorl
1,015 posts
 

I have the original pressing of Brothers in arms, the cd version (digitized) and the 180 gram two disc version (analog).

If you want to test the sound quality of any stereo equipment, I recommend using the track brothers in arms from that album/cd.

it is revealing.

I have a pretty darn good system including digital and I can listen to the digital system all day.  but, my analog system will still sound better than the digital system.

When I really want to sit and listen and I'm not lazy, I listen to the analog system. 

My CD transport is quite good, thank you, paired to my Audio Research DAC 9 and I'm there.  I also have an Aurender ACS10 that does bit perfect ripping and it into the DAC 9 makes wonderful music.

but, I have found that a really good analog system still beats a really good digital system. 

An analog recording (well made) vs a Digital recording, the digital sound for want of a better word, compressed.

An analog rig playing a digital recording vs the digital rig playing a cd of the same digital recording and its hard to hear much difference, if the recording is done well.

I'm not an analog fanboy and could listen to my digital system all day.  But, I have often had people over where we played music on the analog system and the same music on the digital system and although they liked the digital system's sound, they preferred the analog.

but, analog depends on quite a few more factors.

turntable rig, tonearm, cartridge, cabling from turntable to phone stage, phono stage.

digital rig is more simple.  CD player/transport, cable from CD/player to pre-amp, or from Transport to DAC, DAC.  Best is CD transport to DAC vs CD player. 

enjoy

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