Opitrix vs. Walker Audio Vivid?

From the archives here, there was a thread on this recently.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1038597829&openflup&3&4#3

Not many responses, but those who have tried multiple products seem to favor Walker Audio Vivid by a wide margin.

I've tried Optrix (it doesn't seem to do much for me sonically but is a good cleaner). I've also tried Auric Illuminator (much better and gives a noticeable improvement in the sound of most CDs and SACDs). Auric is actually more impressive on the SACDs but cannot be used on hybrids manufactured by Sonopress.

Walker Audio is next on my agenda. More expensive than the others but supposedly yields a better payoff.

I have used Auric and Walker and find Walker Vivid to be the more effective product. I have never tried the Optrix.

Hello Wellfed:

Could you articulate the sonic differences you hear between the Auric Illuminator (do you use the black "CD Stoplight" treatment?) and Walker Vivid?

Also, I believe the Vivid is also a polishing agent ala Mapleshade Microsmooth. I have tried the Microsmooth and have noticed that slight "swirl marks" are very difficult to avoid, although I don't know if these microscratches have any sonic significance. Any comments?

I have only tried Optrix.It improved the resolution of every CD I have no matter how good or bad they sounded without it.The sound was also more transparent.The result was obvious for every member of my family whether I put the CDs on a boombox or CEC 5100Z player.What's more, I first treated some of my CDs with it over 2 years ago, and there is no deterioration in sound or CDs' surfaces,as far as I can tell.I don't know about you but I have some CDs that are very difficult to find and cost a lot,so the safety of these products is important to me.I will try Walker some day but first on DVDs and wait for a while.

Mshan,

Walker Vivid improves resolution, provides deeper bass, and is aptly name, as the sound is very vivid (dynamic) afer treatment. I find it simpler to use than Auric Illuminator (fewer steps) and provides a much easier to discern improvement over Auric. I thought the Auric was a worthwhile improvement, but Walker Vivid beats it in sound and application.

Vivid is not as thick as Microsmooth and I have not noticed any negative effect on the discs it has been applied to. I have no concerns about using Vivid.