Put a brick on it (sound enhancement thread)

[plastic penguin]

Inspired by the thread "10% on cables". What hi-fi sound and vision dedicated a page in their mags cheats way to enhance the sound of your system. One of them was to place a house brick on your CD player. Apparently it worked although I've never tried them personally.
Has any of you guys tried anything unconventional?

 

[shadders]

Hi,
I tried the green pen on the edge of the CD's and with all my might, attempted to hear a difference. Sweet FA was the result, despite many people writing into the letters page stating they heard a difference.

The power of imagination is a wonderful thing.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi,
I tried the green pen on the edge of the CD's and with all my might, attempted to hear a difference. Sweet FA was the result, despite many people writing into the letters page stating they heard a difference.

The power of imagination is a wonderful thing.

Regards,
Shadders.

Haha... yeah it's a little left field. There was others but I can't recall without diggin' out some old mags (circa 2004)

It was around that time Andrew Everard started up a help line on a Friday afternoon. 😁

 

[bigfish786]

Although a little smarter looking than a house brick, one of K.I’s upgrades on the sacd player I have is a 5mm thick Aluminium top plate. So the additional weight may help.

 

[shadders]

Although a little smarter looking than a house brick, one of K.I’s upgrades on the sacd player I have is a 5mm thick Aluminium top plate. So the additional weight may help.

Hi,
It is possible that aluminium was selected since it is non-ferrous, and to achieve the required rigidity, 5mm thickness was required.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[A-Line]

The tentacles of MK Ultra infiltrated high audio back in the the early 1980's beginning with speaker cables...😉

 

[Vincent Kars]

Put your CD's in a fridges for 24 ours.
It does wonders when playing Schubert's Winterreise.
Never heart it this crisp.
Unfortunately Stravinsky's Fire bird suffers terribly.
This proves it depends on your system and your fridge.

 

[record_spot]

Some years ago, WHF gave a review for van den hul's "The Name" RCA phono cable, which, it said, would transform one's system. This was maybe 2006/07.

So, I went out and bought one. At the time, I had Audioquest Turquoise. Or, a £60 cable from vdh alongside my £40 AQs.

Not a difference. Certainly not the yawning gap I perceived I might hear on the back of the WHF review.

These days I use Fisual Havana or Havana XL cables. £35/1m pair. I stick to the stuff that really makes a difference starting at speaker positioning.

 

[bigfish786]

Hi,
It is possible that aluminium was selected since it is non-ferrous, and to achieve the required rigidity, 5mm thickness was required.

Regards,
Shadders.

who knows? Makes you wonder how much difference it made compared to the pressed steel original lid.
or is it just bling casework?

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Yeah, I remember that one ......I put a brick on my arcam cd 72t... it scratched the case (yes I was in my twenties) and the Mrs wasn't too pleased....the only sound quality difference I got was..some high frequency female vocals.....🤣🤣

 

[SteveH72]

I remember a few from the late 80s/early 90s. Mentioned in What HiFi. I
1. Put another cd on top of the one you’re playing as extra weight adds stability and reduces judder. You could buy magnetic rings for your cd’s on the same principle.
2. Use wooden racks to add system ”warmth”, glass and metal to add “crispness”

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

At the risk of sticking my head above the parapet, adding weight to CDP has helped - in my system at least.

Back in the day tried freezing the CDs, and adding ferrite rings to anything and everything - no effect.

 

[plastic penguin]

Put your CD's in a fridges for 24 ours.
It does wonders when playing Schubert's Winterreise.
Never heart it this crisp.
Unfortunately Stravinsky's Fire bird suffers terribly.
This proves it depends on your system and your fridge.

Not sure of the thinking behind putting CDs in the fridge or freezer. I would think it would damage them. R.I.P. (Rest In Peas) CD.

No point, either, in putting a brick on the CDP -the council would go bonkers

 

[Vincent Kars]

No, it was a recommended practice . Just like the green marker pen and probably as effective as well.

At last I have found a series of treatments that, used together, transform the performance of every CD and DVD so much that it is worth all the trouble. So much difference, in fact, that I am eager to treat my entire collection – no small undertaking! In good recordings, the dynamic range seems to increase with sweeter treble and deeper, tighter bass and with lots more information. And much more rhythmic and musical – the music envelopes you as if you are in it rather than observing it. Bad recordings become playable – if not perhaps actually enjoyable!

So what’s the treatment? First, I clean the disc with ReVeel, then freeze it in my deep freeze for at least three days (leaving it for 12 hours in the fridge to warm up slowly). Then I trim the edge with the Audio Desk CD sound improver, then treat both sides in the Nespa CD & DVD Finaliser. Last of all treat it with ReleeS. Simple! It’s a chore, but if I am prepared to treat my entire collection of discs you had better believe I think it’s worth it (good news though – you only have to treat a disc once!)

Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd.

 

[shadders]

Hi,
Here is a classic that people fell for - cost $3,756 for a CD de-magnetiser :

DDE-1

The Russ Andrews DDE-1 is an optical disc accessory, designed to be used with CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and SACDs and representing the results of two years' research and development by Russ and his team. DDE-1 incorporates a custom-built transformer, precision-machined aluminium components and is...

web.archive.org

Has a 5 start review. Wayback machine for some reason did not store the UK version. Text from the decription :
"The Russ Andrews DDE-1 is an optical disc accessory, designed to be used with CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and SACDs and representing the results of two years' research and development by Russ and his team. DDE-1 incorporates a custom-built transformer, precision-machined aluminium components and is hand-built in the UK."

Yes, they actually researched and developed this product. Like all cable manufacturers do.....

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Hi,
Here is a classic that people fell for - cost $3,756 for a CD de-magnetiser :

DDE-1

The Russ Andrews DDE-1 is an optical disc accessory, designed to be used with CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and SACDs and representing the results of two years' research and development by Russ and his team. DDE-1 incorporates a custom-built transformer, precision-machined aluminium components and is...

web.archive.org

Has a 5 start review. Wayback machine for some reason did not store the UK version. Text from the decription :
"The Russ Andrews DDE-1 is an optical disc accessory, designed to be used with CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and SACDs and representing the results of two years' research and development by Russ and his team. DDE-1 incorporates a custom-built transformer, precision-machined aluminium components and is hand-built in the UK."

Yes, they actually reearched and developed this product. Like all cable manufacturers do.....

Regards,
Shadders.

Given that CDs are plastic and aluminium, neither of which is magnetic in nature, how could anyone conceivably think this would do anything?

 

[Vincent Kars]

Probably as effective as a DVD rewinder.

 

[bigfish786]

I’m sure I remember a lathe type thing that cut the edges of a cd to make it perfectly circular. 👍

 

[Vincent Kars]

I’m sure I remember a lathe type thing that cut the edges of a cd to make it perfectly circular. 👍

AudioDesk CD Sound Improver [Lathe] by Wayne Donnelly

AudioDesk CD Sound Improver [Lathe] by Wayne Donnelly - Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine

www.enjoythemusic.com

 

[Clarkey_71]

From these very pages........

https://www.whathifi.com/us/features/hi-fi-tricks-you-might-not-believe-affect-sound-quality-but-they-do

 

[manicm]

Hi,
I tried the green pen on the edge of the CD's and with all my might, attempted to hear a difference. Sweet FA was the result, despite many people writing into the letters page stating they heard a difference.

The power of imagination is a wonderful thing.

Regards,
Shadders.

Where a black pen definitely did work on the circumference was on those notorious Sony/CBS discs with DRM/malware, like Roger Waters' Flickering Flame.

Try as I might it wouldn't play on my PC, but voila when I took the pen to the disc I could make a copy.

 

[plastic penguin]

From these very pages........

https://www.whathifi.com/us/features/hi-fi-tricks-you-might-not-believe-affect-sound-quality-but-they-do

There's some crackers there. The squash balls is one I remember. Shame I only play snooker

 

[giggsy1977]

Keeping cables off the floor - cracker. I seem to remember some ceramic creations to keep your cables above the floor for a ludicrous price. I wonder how many of these recommendations were tested in a structured manner/blind test considering all other variables...all the "if you can hear a difference" and "it's money you're happy to spend" is all good and well and agree. If it makes you happy, go for it. I just wonder about the science behind it...

 

[plastic penguin]

Keeping cables off the floor - cracker. I seem to remember some ceramic creations to keep your cables above the floor for a ludicrous price. I wonder how many of these recommendations were tested in a structured manner/blind test considering all other variables...all the "if you can hear a difference" and "it's money you're happy to spend" is all good and well and agree. If it makes you happy, go for it. I just wonder about the science behind it...

That's the problem. Very little science behind it I guess. And some of the prices. Especially when they look like they come a furniture company

 

[plastic penguin]

While tiding up earlier and came across a old What Hi-fi ? S&V mag from April 2005. Love the "sound advice" pages.

I've brought into the pub for a browse. Quite funny reading some of the reviews. They were hung up about bi-wiring