Tweaks for the disc itself

[SimontY]

Hi everyone,

Before continuing I would like to make clear my intention that I am not starting any kind of argument, flame war, or side-tracked debates. My intentions here are to air my own and others' experiences with CD enhancement tricks. I only want to hear from people who have tried these things, please.

I want to know what audible results people have had from the following:

1- Russ Andrews Reveel and Relees (mould-release remover/cleaner and anti-static agent)

2- Disc freezing

3- Marking disc edges with green/black/other pens

4- Anything else, mats, other fluids, cleaners etc..?


personally---------------------->
-My experience with the Russ Andrews products is very positive (smoother, more detail, deeper bass etc), has anyone else here tried 'em?
-I have only frozen a couple of discs and did not find large differences, if any, except maybe reduced harshness, not sure yet though
-I have not used any ink on my discs yet, though a friend who tried it heard improvements


Please let us know what you have heard when experimenting with your favourite CDs.


-Simon

[alfsch]

Hi,
i tried many things...
-- freezing: makes a small diff sound, sounded to me a little bit brighter, more technical, didnt like it.
-- antistatic / surface: improves sound notably, but some problems with dust or spurious reflections on surface
-- colour: workes fine, small improvment on clarity / room,
most pens (green, blue, black) work; best: first sand outer edge of disk, then black or green pen...
-- my invention: a disk of heavy postcard-paper, like in some drives used for shipping, on top of a cd, when in the player, makes more improvement then most of this tweaks, but do this only with the player open, because the paper could hang inside, when opening...(reason: reduction of vibrations of rotating cd)
alf

[chris ma]

1/The Bedini Clarifier works great for me. Still using it daily
2/The Audex mat make the sound stage narrower, not used anymore.
3/Borrowed same Title CDs from friend that has been machined lath off the cd's edge at 45 degree, small improvement noticed but not worth the price IMO.

Regards,
Chris

[SimontY]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies Alf and Chris.

I'd not heard of the Bedini Clarifier before, looks intriguing, but a bit pricey to buy before trying at home.

As for lathing or sanding the edge of the disc, that is something else I've never heard of. I will look for a green or black marker pen today and colour in the edge of one of my most 'difficult' sounding discs - Madonna, Immaculate Collection - this disc has already been frozen and treated with RA 'Reveel' & 'Relees', but still sounds a bit too brash to really settle down and relax to (bass has come out a treat though - so solid and deep - exciting!).

With the colouring, do I just fill in around the edge where there is no reflective layer? Do I colour the top side or the underside?

Is the theory here that 'stray' light is refracted and reflected around the area by the clear plastic (and the pen ink soaks it up), or am I missing the point?

I might try to rig up some kind of damping mat too, sounds like fun!!

Cheers!

-Simon

[SimontY]

Tried a green marker pen on my Madonna CD, and the sound seems warmer and more focused on the bass, which is I suppose what I wanted. Imaging has also improved. I do wonder if it's really an improvement, or is it a... colouration

Obviously I need to try more discs to be sure. But it seems more positive than the freezing


-Simon

[SY]

Will freezing disks make them warmer? Inquiring minds want to know.

[SimontY]

hehe

I didn't hear any real difference with freezing them. But I will try more CDs to be sure...

I'll keep you posted


-Simon

[Charles Hansen]

Hello -

I've had good results with the latest Bedini Clarifier and also the Marigo mat. The Auric Illuminator sounds nice, but is a hassle to apply.

Hope this helps,
Charles Hansen

[mrfeedback]

Somebody here ages back suggested removing a 5 1/4" floppy from the jacket, trimming the diameter and placing on top the disc before closing the drawer.
I tried it and as I remember I heard a difference but I did not do more riguorous testing to determine if I liked it or not longer term.

Eric.

[SimontY]

Hiya,

That latest Bedini Clarifier costs as much as most Japenese CD players! But they seem to have good measurements of the changes brought about, now if I can just find someone who has one, or even sells one locally...

Eric, I heard of that trick elsewhere here, but I have none of those old floppies! I bet some will turn up somewhere, at some point. I am yet to try damping the disc in any way.


-Simon