rfprice ...
You can save a lot of cash by buying a Radio Shack VCR tape eraser and using that to demagnetize your CD's. I've used one for over 20 years and they work as well as any. Just be sure to get the one for VCR's and not the smaller one that's intended for audio cassette tapes. The one for VCR's is much larger and a lot more powerful.
Also, be sure to clean the CD's before demagnetizing. If you demagnetize first and then clean, by rubbing the CD with your cleaning cloth, you'll be adding static electricity back into the CD and you'll be right back to square one.
When demagnetizing, just wave the demagnetizer slowly over the CD about 3 inches above it in a circular motion, then very slowly draw it straight away from the CD. I find that using this method removes the digital glare and makes the CD sound a LOT more analog like. You'll be surprised how many CD's you once found unlistenable and too bright that are really pretty darned good.
Also, I've used most of the CD cleaning solutions out there including the L Art du Son. A friend came up with a home made formula that kills them all. Problem is, he won't share the formula with me. On the other hand, I have a home made cleaning solution that I came up with after much experimentation for LP's that really gets down into the grooves like no other and brings out the highest amount of inner detail and a more organic sound from the instruments ... and I don't share that formula either. When used with the VPI 16.5 the finished product is clean, clean ... and CLEAN. It costs pennies and all of my vinyl freakoid friends use it. They bring over a gallon of distilled water, I go out into kitchen, make up the batch in ten seconds and its done.
We audiophiles are a strange lot. *lol*
Hope this helps ...
Frank
You can save a lot of cash by buying a Radio Shack VCR tape eraser and using that to demagnetize your CD's. I've used one for over 20 years and they work as well as any. Just be sure to get the one for VCR's and not the smaller one that's intended for audio cassette tapes. The one for VCR's is much larger and a lot more powerful.
Also, be sure to clean the CD's before demagnetizing. If you demagnetize first and then clean, by rubbing the CD with your cleaning cloth, you'll be adding static electricity back into the CD and you'll be right back to square one.
When demagnetizing, just wave the demagnetizer slowly over the CD about 3 inches above it in a circular motion, then very slowly draw it straight away from the CD. I find that using this method removes the digital glare and makes the CD sound a LOT more analog like. You'll be surprised how many CD's you once found unlistenable and too bright that are really pretty darned good.
Also, I've used most of the CD cleaning solutions out there including the L Art du Son. A friend came up with a home made formula that kills them all. Problem is, he won't share the formula with me. On the other hand, I have a home made cleaning solution that I came up with after much experimentation for LP's that really gets down into the grooves like no other and brings out the highest amount of inner detail and a more organic sound from the instruments ... and I don't share that formula either. When used with the VPI 16.5 the finished product is clean, clean ... and CLEAN. It costs pennies and all of my vinyl freakoid friends use it. They bring over a gallon of distilled water, I go out into kitchen, make up the batch in ten seconds and its done.
We audiophiles are a strange lot. *lol*
Hope this helps ...
Frank