Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Cheap Tweeks

I suspect I have been listening to music longer than most of you. My first lp purchase was the MJQ's Fontana in 1956 (I still have it)and mostly listen to classical and jazz (no jokes about hearing loss with age - I have mine checked regularly and it is perfect). Over the decades I have had a large variety of equipment and subscribed to the various journals and read the various arguments of this tweak or that and figured most tweaks were ridiculous. However, when I read a review of a very inexpensive tweak from a respected journal I figure why not try it. I have tried quite a few over the years and been largely disappointed. It was a very pleasant shock, therefore, to hear the improvements resulting from using Optrix and I thought I would share it on this forum.
Rather then these back and forths about tweaks in general or technical explanations of how Optrix cannot possibly work, why don't some of you bounce for the $20 purchase, try Optrix, and then come back with your reports?

And if you do, double blind testing please

I probably still have the thick green pen that was meant to reduce internal reflections within the CD once it was applied to the outside rim of the disc.

I can't remember whether I thought it made any difference - probably not by the fact it was applied to less than a handful of discs.

But in times of stress and frustration, it was relaxing to apply so I got some enjoyment from it whic after all, is what this is all about.

mndavenport

I don't doubt your experiences with it for a second. Mind you, we are all quite nerdy around here and are prone to disect everything we do to the nth degree. I wouldn't take any of the challenges above as anything other than fun.

I'd be interested to see how you get on with it over time. There have been loads of similar tweaks but I never seem to see them stick and become a religion by themselves. They normally just get put in the box along with all the other tweak products

e.g. reports of black CD-R's that completely out perform the original silver CD in a series of controlled a/b blind tests

e.g. 'special' green pens (looks like felt tips to me) that you draw around the edge of the disc to absorb some of the red laser light that refracts around inside the disc material

e.g. CD mats that de-mag and 'stabilise' the discs etc

e.g. the Reveal CD treatment that sounds similar to the stuff you mentioned above

etc etc.

I bet if we all added the stuff we have tried we all have quite a list. My point being do we keep using them or do we fall back to just putting a normal untouched disc back in the tray and getting on with the music?

I'm all for tweaks, but, I find I tend to fall back to just playing the discs straight up.

Report back in 6 months required please

Didn't Meridian supply these with the MCD

mndavenport
I started this little disagreement, so let me calm it down by saying, that I did not intend to ridicule or abuse you in anyway.
I have been involved in CD/DVD laser technology for more years than I care to mention. I was trying to assist by pointing you how these products work. I have many more links and recommended readingsif you are interested?.

As someone who understands this technology I cannot help but dismiss these "tweaks" out of hand, just like you would dismiss the idea of putting water in the petrol tank of your car for increased performance ( would be nice though when you see the price of a barrel of oil these days?)

You wouldnt do it because you know how an internal combustion engine works. I wouldnt use these 'tweaks' because I know how a CD player work.
That is all. I hope I didnt offend you as that was not my intention.

I have chosen Meridian because they also know how a CD player works and produce state of the art players. Still over priced by hey! they are allowed to make money after all.

I guess I'll go for this stuff when Mr.Stuart et al include it in the box alongside their 808 !!

However - if it works for you...then go for it !! And share the views by all means - that's just one of the reasons so many people read (and contribute to) this forum.

George C.

Another human body tweak -- stay away from caffeine--

Caffeine and Tinnitus
Caffeine is a stimulants that produces a significant influence on cochleovestibular function. Caffeine has been shown to be accompanied by increased anxiety. The relationship of caffeine to tinnitus has been reported both for its onset as well as increase in intensity. Elimination of caffeine from the diet is clinically important for treatment and control in patients with secondary endolymphatic hydrops and for vertigo control in patients with Meniere's disease.

Hearing professionals involved in tinnitus evaluation and treatment reported that when caffeine is the precipitating agent for tinnitus its elimination usually is accompanied by treatment and/or control within 2 or 3 days or weeks of its elimination.

Yours, up to the teeth!

Great info! Thanks!

Ron

Along those lines, be safe with your ears so you can enjoy the music for a lifetime.

I always kick myself when I use a noisy tool, knowing that I really should have worn ear protection and do 75% of the time.

And be careful with ears near speakers etc. when fiddling, cabling etc.

I know this is common sense but just a reminder.

I am a sceptic re some tweaks , but cheapies sometimes dont cost a lot and perhaps they do help?
I was sent a bottle of some blue cream called Auric something or other as a CD treatment. Works brilliantly on my cds and my spectacles(cleans em well - dunno if it does anything else) and it doesn't harm the CDs. They seem to sound better after a polish with this stuff?
I once was given a demo of a thing called a Bendini clarifier , spins the CD and claims to magnetise or demagnetise or something like that to it , I actually DID hear a difference despite being EXTREMELY sceptical(but didnt buy the unit)

Results of Tweaks are often a psychological thing , IE a result of the listeners expectations Even if in reality they do nothing , in the listeners mind they DO and thus are real to them. Science cannot explain everything , in my country some rural folk die if they believe the local witchdoctor has cast a spell on them!!!!
In terms of listening , our mindsets when doing so are almost as important as the equipment , a glass of wine or a double chiva's or perhaps a toke of something stronger can often vastly improve the system sound
Tweaks I indulge in (albeit not all of them are cheap) are:
1) Aftermarket power chords
2) Power conditioners
3) Isolation platforms for my components
4) Aftermarket digital cables
5) Stress relief of CDS (the process of making them induces incredible stress into the plastics and leaving them for an hour at 75degrees C in an oven reduces this big time - I have actually had CDs that have grenaded in CD roms and have cracked from the middle outward in CD player - I work with plastics and this is NOT a nonsense thing - we do the same for a lot of the plastics we fabricate - Be VERY careful if cleaning a CD with a solvent like meths etc - the stress cracks can appear almost instantly near or in contact with any solvent)
6) A decent listening chair
7) Parametric eq
8) Time and freq room correction
9) Pleasant ambient lighting
10) Polishing the pins of my valves
11) Dedicated clean power lines to my hifi

I wonder if anyone remembers Peter Belt (?) The details fade however.
This chap had some whacky tweaks which altered 'perceived sound'. Caused a bit of commotion in the HiFi press at the time....

Come on Peter! Where are you now when you are needed?


Aidan