Greening the CD only affects about 25% of the scattered light, I’m afraid. The visible red portion. As I’ve mentioned, oh, about a hundred times, the scattered laser light is primarily invisible. Colors do not affect invisible light. Black doesn’t either. I did not invent reality. More uh, stringent methods are required to get rid of the other 75%. Evil laughter! 🤡
Herbie’s Super Black Hole CD Mat - Wow!
I just received the Herbie’s Audio Lab Super Black Hole CD mat in mail. It’s a little black disc that fits atop a CD which has silicon on one side (the side that touches the CD) and carbon fiber on the top. I’ve only listened to a few songs (electronic genre) and my first impression was simply “Wow!” I’m hearing so much further into the recording. I’m hearing the ambience much better. Notes have more texture. Imaging seems to have improved. On one track, there is a sound that is panned to the right and repeats three times. I thought it was identical on each note, but with the CD mat it’s easy to hear that on the second note, it actually moves 6 inches towards the center of the soundstage and then back out to the right. It’s always fun to rediscover your music when you find a tweak you enjoy.
From their website, this is how they say it works:
“By reducing micro-vibration in the CD spin during playback, laser-reading error is potentially reduced. (Error correction in audio CD discs is not perfect; it is algorithm-based "guessing," not binary like in data CDs). By damping the disc/clamp interface, micro-vibrations generated by spinning discs are hindered, keeping them from permeating throughout the player where capacitors, op-amps, micro-processors, and other sensitive parts can be adversely affected.”
I can’t confirm whether or not that’s the whole story to how it works, but I’m convinced it does something amazing. I will report back after I listen to some more music of other genres.
From their website, this is how they say it works:
“By reducing micro-vibration in the CD spin during playback, laser-reading error is potentially reduced. (Error correction in audio CD discs is not perfect; it is algorithm-based "guessing," not binary like in data CDs). By damping the disc/clamp interface, micro-vibrations generated by spinning discs are hindered, keeping them from permeating throughout the player where capacitors, op-amps, micro-processors, and other sensitive parts can be adversely affected.”
I can’t confirm whether or not that’s the whole story to how it works, but I’m convinced it does something amazing. I will report back after I listen to some more music of other genres.
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- 102 posts total
What I am saying is that any one tweak will not get you there.....no matter what colors you like. Just talked to another one of my friends and he likes his Herbies better than his $200 Marigo mat on his modded Oppo 105 used as transport into modded LKS DAC. It could be that different mats will have different results on different transports. The modded Oppo has constrained layer material on the CD clamp and blacking on the tray and blacking all around the laser assembly....all improve the sound. |
ricevs ... I'm using a modified Pioneer Elite DVD player with upgraded caps to play my CD's now. I have taken the lid off and completely pasted the inside of the player with PPT's Total Contact, including the entire underside of the lid. It has PPT's Omega E Mats sitting underneath it and PPT's Alpha Cards on top. The stock feet have been removed, being replaced with Herbie's Tenderfeet. The ICs were built by Von Gaylord. It is Von Gaylord's "Legend" series. The power cord is an SR Level III that is plugged into a tricked-out Sound Application power conditioner that has been completely pasted on the inside with PPT's Total Contact, including the entire underside of the lid. The power conditioner is plugged into receptacles that have been treated with TC as well. I use a simple, cheap eyeglass cleaner (Walmart under $4.00) to clean the CDs prior to playing them using a micro-fiber cloth ... and then zap them with an old Radio Shack VCR demagnetizer. This DVD player, with all of the above options, just kicks butt. Frank |
Frank, Fantastigoric! I think that is a new word...he he I bet you have incredible sound. Our mutual friend Mas has told me of the transformation of your system by adding the PPT stuff. If you seriously modded the player you would have mucho better sound (I am not volunteering) and as good as Herbies feet are, there are mucho better footers.......but, as usual, system matching. You need to try the Digital Solutions CD treatment, sanding and blacking the discs and hopefully the platform your player is on is serious.....I use a combo of bamboo and maple (maple on top) with 4 small inner tubes underneath.....on top is Mad Scientist feet. I hardwire 2 feet of custom balanced cable right out of the modded Oppo and then directly into my dual mono amps (I do have an xlr connector there). Speaker wires hardwired from amp to speakers......no LEDs, only one super fuse. all cables off the floor (an absolute must)..so much left to do....so little time. Feel free to contact me/call me....would be fun to talk. Tweaking is the way! Ric |
ricevs ... Mas and I have had some really good listening sessions at my place. He's a super guy who has a critical ear. I'm looking forward to his next visit. The "platform" the player sits on is a custom rack, made up of three layers of plywood, with dampening material between each layer. The rack is spiked through the carpet to the floor. It was one of my first "tweaks" in the attempt to reduce/eliminate micro-vibrations. You can see the rack on my equipment page. Frank |
- 102 posts total