The best ways to treat CDs is the following.

1. Grab it by the borders and turn its reflective bit towards you.

2. Stare real hard at it with a menacing expression; you should feel it trembling a bit

2.a. Some CDs are tougher than others; you will feel it from the trembling. Just wait till it trembles

2.b. If *you* tremble, the Cd has won the match; in that case, just threaten to spin it in an Audiolab.

3: Insert in within five seconds of 2, or the effect will be lost.

4. and final: you will notice a vast improvement. The treble will be more transparent, the bass taughter and the midband more liquid.

5. If you do all that correctly, you will have won Audiophile status.

A word of advice, though: Try it first with unmenacing Cds; the Cranberries, Tory Amos and such stuff. When you are practiced try the technique with rock.

P.S.: Don't try it with Marilyn Manson, craddle of Filth an the likes of them. In that particular case you have to bang it real hard with a heavy hammer before listening; that will improve things immensely. Try the same you the more difficult records.

Then get yourself a nice collection of good music, wether on CD or vinyl. All the harshness will be gone.

:RdS: This is my smiley.