Will a $700 turntable outperform a CD player?

Yay yap yap...the answer is NO. If the question is what format is cheapest to reach a decent sound level that would be digital....if you want out of the box easy, Predictable, again it’s digital....if you want something to build on have some Hobby cash and/or time...vinyl. It’s really not that confusing there’s money to be spent, how much do you wanna spend ? How much time do you want to spend running around to acquire what level of quality. Throw in the nostalgia thing that might make a difference. 

teo_audio, demonstrating that every once in a while the forum proves its worth (I did tighten it up a bit):

In my experience, a $700 turntable, if well sorted, or well set up, will equal or out perform, the best that digital can do or has done so far. ..

Today a +$100k digital DAC unit combined with a +$100k ADC on the input end, can't outperform a few thousand dollars worth of well sorted pure analog record and playback.

In engineering, thinking, and efforts, the digital system clearly does outperform...but.. with regard to the best in human hearing - it clearly doesn't.

Major disconnect.

Indeed.

Hi Bruce, I say absolutely say - go for it-. You'll be happy you did!! I'm currently using a VPI Traveler (nice table put away) which was gifted me, new condition. It is perfectly fine and enjoyable for now, I've had records for many years, so have quite a few. I'd NEVER be without them! For the last couple of years, a local charity thrift store sells records for 25 cents. I go there quite often, and find mainly classical obviously (and some nice Jazz surprises) mint- condition. Classical is not popular plus owners seemed to always take care of their records. Rock are the worst cared for! Sometime's finding weed scraps in the gate folds. 

If you get the best digital and compare it with the best analog their sound will be very close . So close as to say that one can prefer one over the other and no one can complain . Obviously these playback system will be in the thousands .

On a more earthly system a 700 dollar Analog playback system a la Rega 2 or 3 or Project 1expression 3 with a good cartridge ( which will push the price of the analog rig over one grand ) will outperform a good 1000 cd player even though a good one will give the analog rig a run for its money at this price level .

And the award for most diplomatic post goes to...