Topic: CD tweaks ?

[Nick's Picks]

interesting.
http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/CD_tweaks.html

[thunderbroom]

Very cool.  I knew about the sanding of the edges, but I would have never thought of covering the whole face of the disc to heighten sensitivity of the laser.

[Brian Skalinder]

http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/CD_tweaks.html

Ah, yes - gotta love #12:

http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina27.htm

I have a far, far better solution than those 12 suggestions:  move to medialess playback.  But I'm sure there are inherent problems with HD-based playback across my home network.  Just a matter of time before someone develops (if they haven't already) a dozen tweaks for medialess network playback along the likes of:

<01>  covering my internal HD cables with pink nail polish
<02>  farting on my HDs every time I copy new music onto them
<03>  encasing my PC in an airtight case and submerging in a 66º water bath
<04>  utlizing an ionizing air-cleaner so my wireless network operates more smoothly (and will also help combat nasty side affects of <02>)
<05>  etc.

[RebelRebel]

http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina27.htm

that is my favorite.    Love some of those audiophile loons.

The Intelligent Chip is a small Orangecicle orange wafer that, when placed on top of a compact disc player for 2 seconds, upgrades the CD, DVD or SACD being played. The sound of the upgraded disc has more detail and articulation, better dynamics and an absence of digital harshness. Voices are more human-sounding and less synthetic. The upgrade is permanent.

Inside the Intelligent Chip's translucent case are two ultra-thin clear polycarbonate sheets, invisible in the photo below, one on each side of the Chip. The manufacturer states, "The Intelligent Chip should be put back into the packing case after using, because the packing case can protect the quantum material of the Intelligent Chip, preventing them from leaking." The reason for the thin polycarbonate sheets will become clear later.

[Nick's Picks]

"quantum material"

Dr. Beckett and I had a good laugh over that one.

[ducati]

Interesting you mention CD tweaks.  My local hifi dude gave me a tweak to mess around with this weekend.  I have been trying out a black colored thin mat that covers the cd; essentially it looks like a very thin, black CD.  I notice increased smoothness, a more natural analog-like sound with this mat in place.  I also sometimes notice a lessening of dynamic contrasts and a little too much warmth.  So some discs I seem to like it, others not as much.  The effect is subtle, but overall one that I have liked.  I was just researching CD tweaks this weekend to see what else I could dig up...

[George]

Interesting you mention CD tweaks.  My local hifi dude gave me a tweak to mess around with this weekend.  I have been trying out a black colored thin mat that covers the cd; essentially it looks like a very thin, black CD.  I notice increased smoothness, a more natural analog-like sound with this mat in place.  I also sometimes notice a lessening of dynamic contrasts and a little too much warmth.  So some discs I seem to like it, others not as much.  The effect is subtle, but overall one that I have liked.  I was just researching CD tweaks this weekend to see what else I could dig up...

Reminds me of the Stereophile show when they were using some expensive rocks to hold their IC's and powercords off the floor so they wouldn't touch the carpeting. 

[ducati]

This works.  Try it.  I used wood 2x4s tho...  Not expensive rocks 

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Yeah, the theory is that carpet is a big dialectric and can store static charge that affects the cables.  Lots of people report good results.  Lots of people use chopsticks to make little tripods.

Myself, I tried it using ceremic coffee cups and I didn't get any effect in my system.  I guess that means that I need to upgrade ;-)

[Nick Culbreth]

Myself, I tried it using ceremic coffee cups and I didn't get any effect in my system.  I guess that means that I need to upgrade ;-)

Clearly you're using consumer grade coffee cups and not audiophile coffee cups, once you swap in the audiophile cups you'll notice a blacker background, wider soundstage and increased extension in both the treble and bass.   

I must admit I've been guilty of trying some tweaks in my system with mixed results.  As goofy as this sounds I use a Herbie's grunge buster CD matt most of the time and it seems to make a slight improvement in sound quality, though any perceived improvement is minor.  Such improvement could very well be placebo but to be honest the matt cost me under $10 and takes an extra five seconds to be put on, so in the end such an "improvement" is worth it to me.  I personally wouldn't be willing to spend a lot of money or time on any of these tweaks but in most cases it doesn't hurt to give it a shot.

[ducati]

Ah, but you see, Styrofoam is as bad of a holder of static charge as carpet.  Try paper, or better yet, ceramic 

[BobW]

Ah, but you see, Styrofoam is as bad of a holder of static charge as carpet.  Try paper, or better yet, ceramic 

I've been told that that any man-made material will confuse the electrons and make the sound inorganic.
Best to use granite, as the crystaline structure is highly resistant to perpendicular EMFs.
Pink granite from Colorado is reputed to be the best.

I've also been told that blowing cigar smoke across the playing surface of a new CD will reduce the dreaded "digital glare".
No White Owls, as the sugar content has detrimental effects.
I stick to a good H.Upmann or Macanudo, as these provide duplicatable results.

[jpschust]

Ah, but you see, Styrofoam is as bad of a holder of static charge as carpet.  Try paper, or better yet, ceramic 

I've been told that that any man-made material will confuse the electrons and make the sound inorganic.
Best to use granite, as the crystaline structure is highly resistant to perpendicular EMFs.
Pink granite from Colorado is reputed to be the best.

I've also been told that blowing cigar smoke across the playing surface of a new CD will reduce the dreaded "digital glare".
No White Owls, as the sugar content has detrimental effects.
I stick to a good H.Upmann or Macanudo, as these provide duplicatable results.

this is the best excuse yet for me to smoke my cigars inside.

[ducati]

I might have to try that inside, altho my wife sure won't be happy 

[balou2]

http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/CD_tweaks.html

Ah, yes - gotta love #12:

http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina27.htm

I have a far, far better solution than those 12 suggestions:  move to medialess playback.  But I'm sure there are inherent problems with HD-based playback across my home network.  Just a matter of time before someone develops (if they haven't already) a dozen tweaks for medialess network playback along the likes of:

<01>  covering my internal HD cables with pink nail polish
<02>  farting on my HDs every time I copy new music onto them
<03>  encasing my PC in an airtight case and submerging in a 66º water bath
<04>  utlizing an ionizing air-cleaner so my wireless network operates more smoothly (and will also help combat nasty side affects of <02>)
<05>  etc.

+t for the laugh.

...but seriously, medialess AND wireless! Amazing!

[machinelf]

Just found this... sorry if it's old:

http://www.ilikejam.dsl.pipex.com/audiophile.htm

[Chuck]

I think some of these guys are "tweaking" alright.