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CD Tweaks: An Update

Not too long ago, after finding that several of my older discs were still outlined in green from the early 1980s. Had any scientific justification developed for this practice?

Sorry. Thanks for playing,” was the answere, delivered quickly by multiple sources. I retreated to the corner. But buddyboy1, with whom I have never worked before, said that a coating of Armor-All made an audible difference for the better. “The difference isn’t subtle,” wrote this fearless tweaker. As I remember, he didn’t give a long scientific explanation but long experience told him that the coating on the disc made a significant improvement.

I read that post sympathetically. First, back in the day when we were all gluing ostrich feathers onto the discs, I remember trying Arnor-All and getting good results. More importantly, when one of my discs develops some kind of hiccup, I wash it in the kitchen sink with Dawn, Cascade, whatever is around. Not only does this fix the problem 97 percent of the time the music sounds better. The soap must leave some kind of coating on the disc

I’ve considered washing the whole collection but not only would that be a major pain in the ass but I would that risk ridicule. Especially from any any audiophile who might see me in action.

But with buddyboy’s unknown moral support, I’ve returned to Armor-All. I paid extra for the original formula—as I used circa 1983—and am applying it as the discs are played, which avoids a huge block of time being spent on the project. It also let’s me test each disc as it is applied/played. As buddyboy said, the difference is not subtle. Play a disc before it’s coated and compere it to the coated disc. You’ll notice a difference.

Just about every disc sounds better. And I say “just about” only out of editorial habit which teaches never to use a superlative. I think the biggest difference is found on poorly recorded discs which are almost elevated to Rudy Van Gelder quality.

I’m not listener enough to pinpoint the difference. Does it sound better on the 250 hertz low midrange notes? I’m sorry. I can’t speak to that issue. But the Armor-All coated discs just generally sound better. The difference is not subtle. It’s not like changing but it’s there. And it seems like this $8 bottle will last me a lifetime.

paul6001

Showing 2 responses by paul6001

paul6001 OP
98 posts
 

Whoa! Talk about a curveball. I did not see that coming. Although, in retrospect, it’s hardly surprising. I don’t know what’s in Armor-All but it seems almost as toxic as the stuff that melted the skin off that guy in Rollerball. (The original, if I really have to say.)

 

Then again, audiophiles always worry about “it could” problems that they haven’t personally experienced but you should worry about. Didn’t someone warn about the dangers dishwashing liquid? I’ve been doing it for 40 years without the slightest hint of a problem. All sorts of things “could” happen in Year 41 but I feel pretty confident above it.  
 

Plus, I believe that the Armor-All is a one-time application. Or every few years. At least dish soap was. I’ll PM buddyboy but I don’t plan on bathing my discs in Armor-All every time I play them. I’ve sprayed over 100 of them so far without a problem. 
 

To those who recommend listening in an altered state, I have only two words for you: Blotter acid. Such a tiny piece of paper and the music becomes so big. And I mean big in every possible sense. 
 

At the risk of sounding like a cliché, let me add that the acid will go particularly well with the Grateful Dead. Ah, memories. I used to go on tour with the Dead, at least in the Northeast, in 1981 and 1982. Years when they were at a peak. 
 

Possibly the only tragedy to emerge from the death of the cassette tape. 

paul6001 OP
98 posts
 

“I know it was ’82 because I remember the trailer I was living in at the time.”


Better the Dead, Pharoah, and the van then 5th Ave. and 72nd St. Didn’t Owsley cook Pharoah himself?

 

Or so you might have thought that night until when you finally crashed about 6 am the next day. Then reality would have kicked in hard, with the cops banging on the door, telling you that you couldn’t park here.

But there would have been another show in Springfield, Illinois the following night and perhaps a little Pink Sunshine to set the mood just right.

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