As a "follow up" to my original post, I'd like to mention that since my original post, I made contact with customer service engineers at AUDIOLAB. (At least they were supposed to be). The responses I received back were cryptic to say the least. In turn, I can't honestly say that any plausible answers to my inquiries were forthcoming. I felt that they were just "dancing around the issue". That can only tell me one thing; - - - - - - - there is a lingering issue with slot loading mechanisms.
Some of you have pointed a finger at dirt and debris attaching itself to the the actual slot pads or, failing to insure that the CD being played was properly cleaned or at least, inspected before loading. This all makes perfect sense. especially when much of the reported damage took the form of "scuffs" as opposed to prominent scratches. I too do not proport having to make back-up copies so that the original can be preserved without flaw. I too, have several thousand discs. I have developed my own cleaning process that I have proven to myself, works better than all of expensive chemicals on the market (and I've tried them all). So taking that into consideration I would have to assume that what I am doing would pose a much lower "hazard" To the integrity of the disc surface.
BUT, nobody's perfect. One slip up and you might "drag" a particle of dirt or debris that will become imbedded in the slot window strips. So assuming that issue is a possibility, how does one inspect, or for that matter, clean those slot port strips that the CD's pass over. I agree with the gentleman that cited that he had too much invested in his collection to take that kind of risk. If there is even the slightest chance of damaging a disc, I just can't justify that.
Top loading mechanisms are my preference. The good ones are expensive and are currently out of my budget range. The REGA would be a good starting point. AYON would be my choice if I could justify the expense.
I believe that AUDIOLAB has done some excellent research and development incorporated into the 6000cdt. They have addressed most of the historic issues associated with CD mechanisms and tracking accuracy. Was the slot loader a necessary compromise to keep costs down. ? I'd really like to see what they could do with a top loading mechanism, employed into the 6000CDT product. That could be something to really brag about.
Some of you have pointed a finger at dirt and debris attaching itself to the the actual slot pads or, failing to insure that the CD being played was properly cleaned or at least, inspected before loading. This all makes perfect sense. especially when much of the reported damage took the form of "scuffs" as opposed to prominent scratches. I too do not proport having to make back-up copies so that the original can be preserved without flaw. I too, have several thousand discs. I have developed my own cleaning process that I have proven to myself, works better than all of expensive chemicals on the market (and I've tried them all). So taking that into consideration I would have to assume that what I am doing would pose a much lower "hazard" To the integrity of the disc surface.
BUT, nobody's perfect. One slip up and you might "drag" a particle of dirt or debris that will become imbedded in the slot window strips. So assuming that issue is a possibility, how does one inspect, or for that matter, clean those slot port strips that the CD's pass over. I agree with the gentleman that cited that he had too much invested in his collection to take that kind of risk. If there is even the slightest chance of damaging a disc, I just can't justify that.
Top loading mechanisms are my preference. The good ones are expensive and are currently out of my budget range. The REGA would be a good starting point. AYON would be my choice if I could justify the expense.
I believe that AUDIOLAB has done some excellent research and development incorporated into the 6000cdt. They have addressed most of the historic issues associated with CD mechanisms and tracking accuracy. Was the slot loader a necessary compromise to keep costs down. ? I'd really like to see what they could do with a top loading mechanism, employed into the 6000CDT product. That could be something to really brag about.
