Zanden CD "Potion"
I have been actively playing and tweaking my analog rig in last 2 weeks as by a stroke of luck, I finally eradicated the hum problem which has plagued my vinyl playback for years and I am now able to fully enjoy my treasured LP collection again. I experimented with different types of record cleaning agents too recently and was surprised of the results. Any record, brand new or used, will sound better after a correct wash with proper cleaning fluid, this obviously applies to CDs too.
Last Saturday, I visited Marvel again as he informed me earlier he has Zanden's latest product - a bottle of optical disc cleaner. Actually, I have Zanden's prototype CD cleaner for several years and have been using it with excellent results. Every time Marvel and Roman visited me with their polycarbonate discs (CDs), I asked them to listen to them before and after their CDs have been wiped by Zanden CD cleaner and they could easily discern the "improvement" in sound.
As I have been pretty involved in my LP playing recently and naturally gave my CD system "cold shoulders" because it's more fun (well not always) tweaking your turntable i.e. belt tension, tracking weight, vta and bias setting etc. After playing all my favourite vinyls, I suddenly remembered the Zanden CD cleaner two days ago, I then decided, for a change, do a shoot out between some of the cleaners I have been using all these years.
Because of my recent experience with different LP cleaning fluid which impact the sound of our records, I dug out several identical CDs and applied the different cleaning solution to them and see if I can discern any difference and ultimately, an improvement in sound.
2
Comments
CD shoot out with some of my cleaning agents
Then later listening to my different collections
P.S. PT, I shall need quite a few bottles as this is just part of my collection
Food for thought, I have always dismissed claims made by CD manufacturers that these polycarbonate discs have a greater dynamic range than LPs until today. I have to find this Stones' record to compare in the furure.
We also compared the Zanden potion with another Japanese brand yesterday. Zanden potion gives a much clearer manifestation of everything in the recording.
Thanks for your recommendation! They work magic!
Sound becomes transparent 👍
BR
Although I am very pleased to hear many users are hearing obvious improvement in sound after using this cleaning fluid, I have noticed some users simply spray your polycarbonate discs and quickly wipe it off with a tissue paper or soft cloth, however, I strongly recommend you apply the liquid in the following manner in order to give both sides of the silver (or gold) disc a 'thorough' clean up.
First, you spray the liquid once on the left hand side of disc opposite the label, then the righ side. Then you use your finger (I use my pinky, you can use whatever finger you want as long as you have not picked your nose !) to wipe the liquid in continuous left and right movement in order to ensure the liquid has cleaned all the surface area of the disc, afterwards, you dry the side with a dry tissue paper or a soft cloth.
See the pictures below :
Then proceed to the opposite side by squirting the liquid once and then rub it over the entire disc in any direction because it won't scatch this non-playing side, the purpose is to elimnate static on the label side as well.
That's all is to it to make your beloved CDs sound much better than before. My precious gold disc sounded closer to the 180g vinyl afterwards.
Happy listening !
Mr Z