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Can merely washing a CD or SACD improve reproduction?

Posted by TGT (A) on August 4, 2005 at 16:28:35

It has been years since I applied any treatment to my CDs. I think I used something called Finyl a long time ago. Most recently I have come across postings by audiophiles reporting on the benefits of cleaning CDs. Elusive Disc sells no less than 9 different disc cleaner/treatments. One of them, Auric Illuminator, got rave reviews from several commercial publications. Optrix seems to have something of a cult following. It appears that all of them attempt to remove remaining by-products of the disc manufacturing process. Something called “mold release” is mentioned by several. In addition, all of them leave behind a really special, proprietary layer of something on the disc surface. However, at the same time I read that some folks get good results with just washing their discs with liquid dish washing soap. I thought, well hell, I’ve got a bottle of Dawn sitting under my sink right now, what could it hurt?

I started with my test disc, one with which I am so familiar, that I can tell immediately whether or not there is change in my system. There is some well recorded cymbal work on one cut on this disc that I use as a test for high frequency resolution. Sure enough, I heard greater detail and clarity in the shimmer of those cymbals, and it was easier for me to note the difference in sound when the drummer progressed through different cymbals in the drum set. I then washed my SACD of Patricia Barber’s “café blue”. The artificial reverb surrounding her voice on “What a Shame” was far more conspicuous than I had ever noticed, as was the decaying reverb on the finger snaps on “Ode to Billy Joe”. The finger snaps themselves seemed crisper, and really popped out of the sound stage. Well I’ve washed and listened to quite a few discs since then, and while I admit I may suffering from a placebo effect, I’m convinced the washing makes an improvement. If I am not suffering from an illusion, then it appears that an especially clean disc surface facilitates digital reproduction.

On the off-chance that someone else might want to try this, here is my procedure: I wet the disc, place a dab of Dawn directly on the disc, work it on the surface with my fingers, and then rinse it off under warm water until it feels really squeaky clean to the touch, then dry it with very soft towel. If I touch the surface after this type of washing, it has a kind of resistant-feel that indicates you’re touching really bare polycarbonate.

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