[Review] CD lathe update

As with all of these things, it's most likely because the effect is either minimal or non-existent. There's no great mystery IMO. If the difference was significant and obvious, there would be no debate about it. The same goes for all the other tweakery engaged in by some audiophiles.

-- Ian

 

hi

it's a stock meridian 500 v2.

At it's price point (about £400 used) it's a great transport. If I was going to spend £600 on my cd front end I'd chop everything in and start from scratch...

 

Thanks Bottleneck,
I'd agreed I wouldn't spend £600 to mod mine,I payed about £400 for my 500MK2 on ebay.
I was just lucky as I part exchanged my old Clock 2 for the Clock 4, which was about £150, and was very lucky to get the NCS on ebay for £80.00 !, so it's been done on the cheap, over time.
As I said ,you are more than welcome to try out the Lathed CD-Rs.

 

I think the transport does have a contribution to the benefit of lathed CDs. I have an Audio Synthesis Transcend (ASL modified) and the difference grabs you by the throat it's that obvious. Also goes for a friend of mine with same transport. He's tried other transports and tells me there are degrees of benefit - I guess this would make sense looking at the science that's being spun. I'm about to experiment with black CDRs (on order) have been told these make an interesting further improvement. If it works it means you may keep your originals intact. . . I'll let you al know.

This thread's run on a bit then?

 

Well I compared a bit more, on the 1.1 I had the impression it gave touch more life and vitality to some tracks, so subtle, don't think I would be able to blind identify the disc.....but something was there.
In the Karik, different room/system, it was not really noticeable, though the system obviously sounds lacking compared to the main room, so made it harder to judge...... So far I'd put the money else where in the system.

 

yeah, it's a great transport isn't it?

If mine ever went tits up, I'd look for another minter for about £400.

 

I heard a CD lathe yesterday, was so impressed that I coughed up the dosh for one.
One more convert.

 

Where can I see/hear a CD lathe,I an in North London,?

 

Received my lathe today (thanks Tone).

What can I say. Haven't got a clue why it really works, but it certainly does. A definite reduction in general grunge, thus an apparent improvement in dynamic range, better definition of musicians and a resultant feeling that you're that bit closer to really having the band in the room with you.
If you have a reasonably expensive CD based system these should be packaged as standard! Worth every penny.

 

Hi Sukebe , if I sent a CD to you would you put it on the lathe for me, I have a few duplicate Cd's it might be interesting,I will pay postage, thanks Keith.

 

that would certainly be my experience.

 

Mr Sukebe - try burning your Cd on to a black CDR and lathing the copy - even better

 

Better than the original?

 

As per our PM discussion...

 

Mr Sukebe


Better than the original?

Yes!

 

Wouldn't it be better to Lathe first,prior to burning the CD-R?

 

actually - have heard that approach might be better, so you are probably right.

 

This has been an enjoyable read thanks everyone.

Now I have a question does the lathe make more of a difference than the flashy light and black felt tip trick thing?

 

I always used the light after lathing, lathing makes difference in more discs then light, maybe if I did the other way it would be different...

Also, I only tested a few discs, now I just do it...

 

I'm new to all this, and i have no idea how lazers read data off cd or how they store it and process it. and my engineering is pretty mediocre too, and my electronics, none existent.

But here's the thing.

If the hole in the centre of the CD is more likely to be accurate than the unused rough edge of the CD, then trimming the outer edge to make it more concentric to the centre hole is bound to improve concentricity.

so we have a smoother spinning CD.

Now maybe in some systems, the consistentcy this brings, mechnically, and electronically down the line to servos and stuff, might help the sound. you know like patting your head and rubbing your stomach, either is easy on it's own, but more difficult at the same time.

Maybe there's cd mechs out there that re-read data many times and store the closest-average of all the reads, maybe these mechs gain little benefit from the lathed disc as they get more chances for a correct read, or ask for a sample guess from elsewhere in the system less often.

Maybe there are crap mechs that are guessing all the time so need any help they get.

Or maybe in reality cd players are mechanical and electronic in nature and the two are so interwoven, improvements in one area always effect the other and alter the output....

Either way i'd love to hear some fixed disks.

The only way to truly find out is to save out the binary data from cd player before it goes through the dac, I2s (is that what its called?) and then compare two identical sections from treated and untreat disc

I'd bet my girlfriend that they will be more different than consecutive reads of the same discs. Didnt what's-hi-face in HFN do something similar while back.

Lets not get too hung up on the manufacturers description of how these things work...

As someone with significant experience of positioning products within technical, feature driven markets, 'you know it wouldn't be beyond the manufacturer coming up with a semi-plausable technical reason for why it works, when frankly.... they haven't got a bastard clue'