CD Player Tweak: Snake Oil or Real?

[Deleted]

why doesn't this translate to changing the attributes of a picture on a DVD

Robert
If replacing the main rectifier diodes in the SMPS of a DVD player with fast ,slow recovery types such as the BYV26C can make a played DVD appear to have a glossier picture, why shouldn't any improvement in that area also have an effect on the overall quality of the played movie ?
Alex

[Nigel]

I remember seeing a recommendation on the TNT list to place a CD in silver foil, making sure it was totally covered, before playing. This was thought to be a cheap way of getting rid of any static. The chap who recommended it thought it did the same thing as a Statmat at a much cheaper cost.

[Nigel]

Changing the subject a little, still regarding CD tweaks though, has anybody tried the Bedini clarfier?

www.bedini.com/

Mixed reports on this one as well, some people swear by it, others swear at it. Never tried it myself but interested to read the experiences if anyone has.

[Nigel]

Feb 1, 2010 12:02:41 GMT robertkd said:

Question
how is/does the "matt" work??

They work on the principle that a fool and his money is easily parted.

[robertkd]

Feb 2, 2010 7:36:24 GMT @sandyk said:

why doesn't this translate to changing the attributes of a picture on a DVD

Robert
If replacing the main rectifier diodes in the SMPS of a DVD player with fast ,slow recovery types such as the BYV26C can make a played DVD appear to have a glossier picture, why shouldn't any improvement in that area also have an effect on the overall quality of the played movie ?
Alex

Well seems wrapping the clear side of a DVD or CD with foil makes for a really low noise output, if that helps,... also have you tried the slow, fast ones as well?

Now as for demagnetising a CD, umm given the extremely small amount of metal deposited on pressing of a CD after all you can see light through it. Incidentally did you know you can see light through Alfoil? Gives you an idea how thick the evaporated deposited layer of aluminium on a CD is. (I would also think the alloy used would be fairly good as far as contaminants go!) So my question would be how much magnetic field would exist and how much magnetic field would be in effect from the earth as well as the CDP's case and other sources such as the magnetic field form the focus mechanism and tracking mechanism and the sled motor as a thought. The other question what exactly does it affect, the laser light?

Some more thoughts

typos

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2010 8:03:00 GMT Nigel said:

I remember seeing a recommendation on the TNT list to place a CD in silver foil, making sure it was totally covered, before playing. This was thought to be a cheap way of getting rid of any static. The chap who recommended it thought it did the same thing as a Statmat at a much cheaper cost.

Nigel
It may be better to wash a CD before use in warm soapy water, rinse it, then dry it carefully with a clean soft tissue. This would get rid of any charge present,(if there is such a thing !) as well as any greasy fingerprints etc. and make the CD more easily read by the optical system.
Alex

[Deleted]

Well seems wrapping the clear side of a DVD or CD with foil makes for a really low noise output, if that helps,...

[robertkd]

Feb 2, 2010 8:56:56 GMT @sandyk said:

Feb 2, 2010 8:03:00 GMT Nigel said:

I remember seeing a recommendation on the TNT list to place a CD in silver foil, making sure it was totally covered, before playing. This was thought to be a cheap way of getting rid of any static. The chap who recommended it thought it did the same thing as a Statmat at a much cheaper cost.

Nigel
It may be better to wash a CD before use in warm soapy water, rinse it, then dry it carefully with a clean soft tissue. This would get rid of any charge present,(if there is such a thing !) as well as any greasy fingerprints etc. and make the CD more easily read by the optical system.
Alex

This is the most practical and beneficial improvement you could make, I especially like this "fix" when things that look like scratches or other blemishes disappear, which of course means they weren't scratches but do be careful how you dry and remember facial tissues no matter how soft are indeed very very abrasive!

[pjc68]

I usually clean my cd,s with this before rinsing with water
www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1®ion=UK¤cy=GBP&pf_id=5414&cust
and then spray the label side with this stuff
www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1®ion=UK¤cy=GBP&pf_id=5410&cust
you can buy them both for £26.64.

This might be going too far
www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1®ion=UK¤cy=GBP&pf_id=5009&customer_id=PAA0230020510287MKQDMSDNBWHRBBSW

paddy

[Deleted]

and remember facial tissues no matter how soft are indeed very very abrasive!

Yes, do NOT dry the CD with a fresh sheet of paper from a toilet roll !

[Deleted]

Another test is comparing an original CD and a self burned copy, in a reasonably good system you will definitely not change your original(the bits are 100% the same).

Nigel
Many people would disagree with that. Many people have found that a CD ripped using E.A.C. then recorded to a high quality CD-R such as a 24K Gold Kodak, or Mobile Fidelity Gold etc. often sounds better than the original, presumably due to the higher reflectivity, but possibly also dependent on the number of CDs that the original stamper had been used to make. The differences are less likely to be noticed with more expensive CD/DVD players.
Alex

P.S.
I go along with the rest, although the die hard sceptics are not going to.

[Nigel]

Yes, when I initially read it, I thought Alex will have some of this, reads like you could have been the composer mate.

[robertkd]

Feb 2, 2010 9:23:54 GMT pjc68 said:

I usually clean my cd,s with this before rinsing with water
www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1®ion=UK¤cy=GBP&pf_id=5414&cust
and then spray the label side with this stuff
www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1®ion=UK¤cy=GBP&pf_id=5410&cust
you can buy them both for £26.64.

This might be going too far
www.russandrews.com/product.asp?src=google&lookup=1®ion=UK¤cy=GBP&pf_id=5009&customer_id=PAA0230020510287MKQDMSDNBWHRBBSW

paddy

This is all I use

www.naturesorganics.com.au/household-cleaning/blast/products/cool-ice

paper towels and that's pretty much it, works a treat

[pjc68]

Robertkd
That stuff you use will clean your cd,s but i imagine it would degrade
the sq though by putting a microscopic film on it.
pjc68

[Deleted]

I use my belly and a nice soft T shirt. Cleans beautifully. Thinking of changing area.

Ian

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2010 4:19:12 GMT rickcr42 said:

LP's went the same route unfortunately. Thin, crappy pressings that warped.

so thin towards the end you had to support both ends

Rick, you're roughly the same age as me and at our age, we start to forget what to grip, let alone which end.

Ian

[rickcr42]

Rick, you're roughly the same age as me and at our age, we start to forget what to grip, let alone which end. Ian

got thaqt right man,and then some.............................. ;D

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2010 15:11:46 GMT pjc68 said:

Robertkd
That stuff you use will clean your cd,s but i imagine it would degrade
the sq though by putting a microscopic film on it.
pjc68

pjc68
Even if it did leave a microscopic film behind, Robert is never going to agree that the SQ would be any different, as according to the "experts", as long as the same 1s and 0s are coming off the CD, it MUST sound the same.
SandyK

[pjc68]

Alex
But if the laser has trouble reading whats on the disc then it is not
going to sound the same, like if i smeared a microscopic film over
some ones glasses, they could still see but not like if there glasses
were clean, if you get what im,e saying.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2010 23:05:10 GMT pjc68 said:

Alex
But if the laser has trouble reading whats on the disc then it is not
going to sound the same, like if i smeared a microscopic film over
some ones glasses, they could still see but not like if there glasses
were clean, if you get what im,e saying.

Paddy
The "experts"will tell you that inbuilt error correction and processing will take care of that minor problem. Bear in mind though that I have already reported findings about posted files where one version was "cleaned, demagnetised, and Ion treatment "used. Despite the 3 of us expecting the treated tracks to either sound better, or at least the same, we ALL preferred the versions before treatment.
The vast majority of people from a rigid Engineering background are NEVER going to accept that there are audible differences. They only believe what their instruments and training has told them. As far as they are concerned ,Subjectivism is the province of people who believe in either magic or God. Luckily , there are a few highly trained individuals, that despite being dismissive initially, in a nice way, change their minds when they hear the differences for themselves. One of our absent members did hear a difference between comparison tracks, but within about 30 minutes he decided that he must have been prompted, and what he thought he heard was impossible. He worked in I.T.
Alex

[robertkd]

Feb 2, 2010 15:11:46 GMT pjc68 said:

Robertkd
That stuff you use will clean your cd,s but i imagine it would degrade
the sq though by putting a microscopic film on it.
pjc68

Paddy

Actually it's pretty good as far as that goes, and I do rinse it off very thoroughly.

Besides it's animal safe and no phosphates

[mrarroyo]

So the consensus is that this tweak works, right?

[Deleted]

Feb 4, 2010 1:27:51 GMT mrarroyo said:

So the consensus is that this tweak works, right?

Miguel
I would suggest that how well it works is dependent on the quality of the CD player you are using it with.
Our 2 resident EEs are never going to agree with this though.
I would rather back Sony Engineers than our 2 friends here, because
they have created the BluSpec format , complete with available comparison disc sets, which are designed to illustrate that even though the 1s and 0s on both the BluSpec version which is created from a master burned by Blue Laser, and the normal version created by a conventional Infra Red version, are identical on both supplied discs,
(confirmed by check sums) that the typical consumer can hear a difference using affordable CD/DVD players. After all, that is the object of the new format, and if Sony was lying, then some smart EE or other rival company would have had them in a court of law for making false claims.
EVERYTHING matters in that area, and a mat which reduces vibration,or perhaps electrostatic effects MAY make a difference to the Sound Quality, just as will the surface cleanliness,and condition of the protective layer of the CD. I noticed that Robert neatly sidestepped part of Paddy's question about the effect of residual film resulting from his cleaning process.
(see reply 45)
Alex

[robertkd]

The importance of rinsing
It’s important to rinse ReVeel off the surface of treated discs: it’s as simple as flushing it under the tap after you’ve cleaned the disc (though we do have an ultrasonic cleaner which does the job cheaply and very effectively). I’ve found the simplest way to dry discs is to shake the excess water off and simply lay the playing side of a CD on a piece of kitchen towel to soak up any excess.

Nah covered adequately I thought,..

[Deleted]

Robertkd
That stuff you use will clean your cd,sbut i imagine it would degrade
the sq though by putting a microscopic film on it. .
pjc68

Robert
You should be on Barnaby Joyce's team ! ;D
Alex