Cryo-treating CDs?

Due to the nature of the material that is used in construction of the cd, they benefit greatly from cryogenic treatment. For full benefit to be realized, they do require a different treatment cycle than AC parts or wire.

In the case of both pre-recorded and blank cd's, a treated one will sound much smoother with more apparent detail. Cryo also seems to help with sibilance and the "spittiness" that some cd's exhibit.

Cryo also makes quite a large difference on DVD's. The black levels seem better on treated DVD's, in addition to the sound level benefits.

*In the interest of full disclosure--My business is cryo treatment.*

Regards!

Hifimaniac--who treated your cables and what happened? CI is one of the best, so if it was them that did your treating, I'm sure it was done properly. I have treated (or had treated) thousands upon thousands of feet of wire and never ran into a problem. Just wondering what in the Sonoran's makeup could cause problems.

As far as CD/DVD treatment goes, to make a long complicated explanation short, cryo relieves the stresses caused by the manufacturing of the disc. Polycarbonate (and most other materials for that matter) develops stresses/voids/imperfections when molded.

Deep cryogenic treatment, done properly, by virtue of the temperatures involved (-300F to -320F) works at the atomic level. The atomic bonds weaken at these super cold temps and the molecules re-align in a more uniform structure.

The above explanation is greatly simplified, but cryo does, if done properly, work wonders on most of the items we use to pursue our love of good sound.

Regards!

Hifimaniac--Interesting. I have never had any type of jacketing or sleeving crack. When problems like this occur, it is generally accepted that it is due to "thermal shock". Thermal shock can occur if an object is cooled too quickly. Audio cabling and the like must be ramped down very slowly, much slower than metal tooling and the like. Thermal shock is why cryo took a long time to be, "perfected" if you will, due to objects being stuck directly into the LN2 and things becoming brittle, exactly the opposite of what cryo should do. Even metal tooling can become brittle if cooled too quickly.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Losing that much cabling hurts, and I'm not the one who lost the money.

As far as the case cracking on your gear, that's actually quite common. I don't recommend that entire components be treated due to the plastic that inhabits many components will flex and break upon encountering super cold temperatures. The other reason I don't recommend cryo-treating entire components is that IMHO, electrolytic caps should never be cryo'd. That is probably what is wrong with your VAC's. I would have Kevin replace any 'lytic caps, just in case...The transformers should be fine, as cryo generally does quiet them down. Does the Tice have any 'lytic caps in it? If so, try replacing them and it may quiet down.

Advice: If any of you feel they must have their cd player, or whatever component, cryo'd, please find a place that has a great deal of experience treating audio gear and uses a dry process. Take your faceplate off and slightly loosen any screws that go into plastic. However, IMHO, don't risk it.

Good night everyone. The Academy Awards are over and I'm going to bed!

I feel for you Hifimaniac. Hopefully everything will come out okay on the VAC's.

Hifimaniac--Happy to help!

Like HDM said, if done properly, deep cryogenic treatment of cables and other parts can yield tremedous benefits for a fairly small cash outlay.

I've got to go to Wally World and pick up one of those Cyberhomes. Sounds like just the ticket for my son's upstairs system!

Reagards!