The 5 Tweaks

[supervij]

Randomly surfing about on the net for sites related to hi-res audio, I found the following page:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue1/swartz.htm

It details five tweaks (some simple, some involved) that one can perform on a disc (whether CD, DVD or SACD -- no mention of DVD-A) that can transform a disc from lifeless and dull to being "more dynamic, more detailed, less veiled, cleaner and clearer".

Just out of curiousity, has anyone performed any of these tweaks on their discs, and what was the result?

cheers,
supervij

 

[ifarrell]

Not that I have any expertise on the matter, but those "Shakti Stones" look to be the very definition of snake oil.

Edit: URL removed... Let's not give them traffic. - Admin

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Everything n that site is snakeoil. I'm very glad that these people have dedicated their lives to audio and not medicine.

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

Not that I have any expertise on the matter, but those "Shakti Stones" look to be the very definition of snake oil.
And not just for audio!

SHAKTI On-Lines breakthrough technology optimizes your car's ECU for increased horsepower and faster 0 to 60 times!

OMG! I gotta get these for my WRX! See the, uh, incredible details!

 

[ifarrell]

Heh, a classy company to be sure. Sorry about that URL.

 

[supervij]

The one where they use a marker on the disc actually got me curious. I mean, people do use that tweak to defeat copy protection, so I conceded the remote possibility that it might help in some other area. But yeah, I sorta figured it was all nonsense. The most I've ever done is to clean a disc with some sort of specially made spray -- the typical disc cleaning fluid. It didn't seem to change the sound quality in any way. The fluorescent light and coloured paper seemed especially silly.

Sometimes I feel bad about those rich guys who actually buy these Shakti Stones and the like; then I feel ridiculous for feeling bad about rich guys, let alone rich guys who are senseless enough to buy these things.

cheers,
supervij