Audio desk CD Sound Improver

While shopping for Meadowlark speakers a couple of years ago at a dealership in San Jose, CA, the dealer had just gotten one of these and wanted to demonstrate for me the audible "improvement." My wife was with me too. We listened to a recent release of a Verve recording of Duke Ellington doing blues and then he performed the procedure on this disc while I watched the process and the painting of the inner and outer edges with the pen. Then upon re-listen to that disc there seemed to be more detail and a wider image, both of us heard the improvement. So I had him perform this on my copy I had brought along of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and the same improvement could be heard. Could have been neuronal re-adjustment or placebo effect.

I think the degree to which improvement will be heard is to some extent related to the actual copy of the disc one has; by that I mean that if you have one that is a bit off center or unblanced in the plane of rotation, then you will probable hear the greatest amount of improvement. It stands to reason that a properly balanced, fast rotating disc will have fewer tracking errors in the first place and not require the electronics to have to "work" so hard to correct these errors. At least that's what I think, I could be wrong. But there was audible improvement. It's not snake oil by any means, but the degree of improvement will vary disc by disc. And my wife heard it too and she's a the biggest skeptic of all when it comes to "tweaks." Still I haven't bought one yet, seems cumbersome to have to do this to all my CDs. Almost like the cleaning-my-vinyl with the VPI 16.5, do it the first time only.

I have an Audio Desk and utilized it several times after a system change to see what effect, if any, there were. It appears that the environment and the system components have a direct effect on the impact. Overall, the impact was more pronounced when I had my Meitner modified Phillips attached to the DCC2 than it had after acquiring the CDSD.

I think it also has more of an effect the more revealing the system is. It does provide more detail but depending on your taste you may or may not think it is better. With more detail then it is less fuller. Then your room comes into play because if you have an untreated room your may eliminate some of the bottom end grunge or overlaod and it appears to clear up the sound very well. But if you play that CD in a well treated room then you may think it is thin or small in scale.

As usual, it depends on your situation and taste whether you will like it or not. These are just my opinions based on my own trial and tribulations. Hope this helps in some way!

The purpose of the Audiodesk Systeme CD Sound Improver is not so much to reduce eccentricity but rather to change the way light reflects and refracts at the edge of the CD by cutting at an angle. It has had a positive effect on every disc I've tried, some more than others but always noticeable, so I don't see a need for its use to be reversible. The effects include greater depth of image and generally cleaner sound. The effects of CD cleaning or treatment fluids also can be observed and are somewhat different as well. The Reality Check duplicator is another technology and approach to improving digital playback and accomplishes its goals. All of the above may be viewed as effective in different aspects and for different reasons. It is pointless to speculate about their effects without hearing them.

For about the same price you should look at Reality Check CDR duplication deck, improved sound in CDR and preserves the original CD with no damage........read the large Reality Check thread in progress here.

The "golden rule" of tweaking is never apply a tweak to audio equipment or CD collection that cannot be removed if needed.

IPY,
As the manufacturers site puts it,you only really notice a difference on high end gear.However I have cut a few for friends with lower priced gear and they also like what it does a lot. It makes a huge difference in marginally produced recordings.Tames the frizzies and harsh transients especially on older recordings.
Takes one minute or less ,like balancing a tire, tracks down the road better without having to correct the laser or wheel all the time.
I recommend it .
Peter

SNAKE OIL

I "had" the unit and was not impressed. I have a good friend on Audiogon that swears by it. I just thought it was to easy to screw up a good CD. The few that I did, I could not hear any difference one way or the other. I happen to have 2 of the same CD so to me this was a very good A/B.
Dave