CD Treatments-Which ones do you like?

At our NJ Audio Society holiday party one of our members won both Optrix and a current fave of mine, the Record Research Labs Shinola (no jokes, please, we used them up at the meeting). One of the prerequisites I imposed on taking this prize was that the member write a review comparing the effect of the two products, so I'm anxiously awaiting the verdict--I'll pass it along when it's in. I don't really notice much of a difference with the Shinola in casual listening, but it definitely shines up the CD.

Rcprince: Things that I've noticed immediately with RRL Shine Ola was increased dynamics, so much that there was a noticeable increase in volume, as if someone turned up the pre-amp. With the increased micro-dynamics I found myself hearing minute details that I hadn't heard before. I also noticed tighter focus, where an instrument appeared 2 feet in diameter before it appeared much smaller, with less haziness defining the instrument. I took Shine Ola with me to 2 different audio buddies homes and they came to the same conclusions.

I was told to try it on DVD- video and it improved picture resolution. I'm not much into video, but it was obvious to me.

According to the guys at Music Direct, it is the only cleaner that is safe to use on my SACD's, so it was a no-brainer.

Interesting! Looking forward to listening more seriously using it. I had to get it because of the name and the nice blue bottle, and RRL's products for vinyl have been winners, so I figured it was worth a try.

Aluminum foil does the demagnetizing. Just clasp the CD against aluminum foil. Learned this from Mr. Hans-Martin of Germany.

If you go to your local auto parts store you will see several scratch removal products. Pick up a tube of Maguiar's Scratch-X for about $5. A lifetime supply for cleaning up your marred CD's. If I find one skipping this always does the trick.

Enjoy,
Bob