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Rain-X as CD Enhancement Treatment

I have used the Auric Illuminator treatment on my CD collection for several years now. I am a believer in the AI, and repeated A/B tests of identical treated/untreated CDs bore out significant improvements after treatment with AI.

I ran out of the fluid and my marker dried out, so I was searching for mew treatments on the market before buying another AI kit or choosing something new. That's when I ran across this article by Greg Weaver at Soundstage, where he talks about having used Rain-X and a green marker(Staedtler Lumocolor 357, price about $3.00) as a treatment on his CDs to great effect.

http://www.soundstage.com/synergize/synergize200005.htm

Being the complete geek that I am, I had to try it for my self. I found the marker at Office Depot, and picked up a little bottle of Rain-X for $2.99. I treated a couple of CDs that I have ended up with duplicate copies of (Grant Green's Green Street, Frank Sinatra Sextet Live In Paris)and tested the Rain-X/marker treated vs. untreated disks.

Well, low and behold, the treated disks sounded notably improved; the music was clearer and louder, especially the midrange, the soundstage was larger with better definition and separation of instruments and the bass was tighter and deeper.

I can't say that the Rain-X treatment was or was not better sounding than the AI, but at the least very it is close, for a fraction of the price.

Has anyone else ever tried the Rain-X treatment?
craig_hoch
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Shadorne,

Webster's definition of scientific method: "principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses."

The problem in the digital domain is jitter, a widely accepted phenomenon. Your hypothesis (AFAIK based purely on theoretical reading) seems to be that that reclocking DACs, jitter jails, etc., reduce jitter introduced through optics & transport to irrevelevancy. Further data acquisition (testing of pens, surface treatments, transport mods, etc.) may test your hypothesis-- perhaps disproved by the evidence of your ears.

Admission: I use and enjoy CD Stop light.

douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Dgarretson, excellent post. What's not often discussed in debates (friendly, as this one is, or not) is negative bias. Often arguments are used in an effort to discount treatments/tweaks without addressing the fact that some approach listening to tests of said treatments with an attitude/mindset which minimizes or marginalizes what they are hearing.

Of course, it's impossible to approach such tests completely unbiased, but the playing field should be level. :)

I always find it rewarding when I can show someone with a negative bias the efficacy of such treatments. It is impressive when someone disposed to discount their worth hears and is convinced of their efficacy.

Sometime I'll have to try the green marker thing. My ego is not such that I fear being made fun of. I just don't care to do truly stupid things (i.e. overdrink, have illicit sex, etc.)
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Douglas, while I think it's prudent to keep a balance between theoretical and empirical discussion, IMO the matter of jitter is a case in point that argues for an empirical approach involving an open mind and careful listening tests. As discussed in a recent Absolute Sound or Stereophile retrospective, at an early stage in RBCD, based on theoretical speculation, the International Society of Audio Engineers were luddites in their determination not to accept that jitter merited further consideration as a problem. But manufacturers persisted, and to this day we see continuing heroic efforts like Esoteric rubidium clock and Audiocom Ultraclock demonstrating that the ear can discern jitter down to a half billionth part. A leading recording engineer claims he can hear variations of a few picoseconds. So with respect to the problem of jitter, a little knowledge may be a dangerous thing if untested through listening.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
You consistently suggest to others that if there is a change to the sound through said treatments there is a "problem" with their gear

Absolutely correct. You got it. When you have to resort to green markers and fancy cables to get the right sound then the equipment is NOT doing its job properly. A CD player is not reading a CD properly. Or a speaker and amplifier are poorly matched. Or a Pre and power amp have problems (ground loops etc.)

Jitter is a problem which is well documented and undeniable. However it is an EQUIPMENT problem. Standard Redbook CD does not call for "green markers" in the standards. If a redbook player does not read a redbook CD properly then it is the fault of the EQUIPMENT => Get a better player.

I think a fear lies behind the unwillingness to test it out.

Not really. I well know that my equipment is far from perfect but that does not worry me. It is good enough for my tin ears. If there is any fear it is that I would be starting down a slippery path that eventually leads to magic pebbles or special acoustic tuned cups and directional cryogenic cables. My wife is an engineer too and she would definitely think I was completely wacko - if anything that would make me fearful or at least extremely embarassed to take such steps.
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Far from an imaginative leap into brilliant pebbles & the like, the theory with the colored edge treatment is that it filters out refracted light that may otherwise be reintroduced into the optics. It's also conceivable that a shiny smooth surface provided by Rainex could minimize refraction. But whatever the science, it's generally accepted that jitter problems can be introduced through the optics. The Sony service documentation for my CDP includes a laser allignment procedure to use with a scope that is performed specifically to minimize jitter. I have personally found that improvements to DC power into the motor/servo mechanism of my SCD-1 make an audible improvement in the sound of the transport. And this is a CDP that in the original Stereophile review exhibited very low jitter in stock fitment. So the basic quality of the transport is not at issue.

"My wife...would definitely think I was completely wacko."

My wife feels this way about me, particularly in all things relating to audio. Unfortunately the problem is not that the slippery slope tends down toward pebbles, but rather upward toward $10K components. For her a $5 bottle of Rainex would be a welcome relief.
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