jm1
05-25-2006, 04:16 PM
To start, this thread will be about a subject that some may find very controversial. If you find that you can not accept the finding of this author or others who have tried this or a similar process, please move on to another thread without replying with any snide, offhand or witty remarks. Neither I nor anyone else is forcing you to read this post and respond. Some threads within the forum have had a tendency to escalate out of control thereby reducing the effectiveness of any positive contributions.
Several weeks ago, I found a reference about a NESPA #1 CD Finalizer. Normally I would have placed an inline link to the manufacturer’s site, but all I have found to date has been a site in an Asian language. I did manage to find two reviews of the unit at 6moons (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/nanotech/nespa.html) and Positive Feedback (http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue23/clock_nespa.htm) along with a user (http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=tweaks&n=131198&review=1) review at Audio Asylum. There are also several threads on Audio Asylum and Audiogon regarding the NESPA #1 and NESPA Pro units.
I will not go into the details of how the NESPA units function as this is not quite the intent of this thread. The 6moons review has a good explanation of the unit and proposes a theory as to why these machines work. Please read this review for further details.
After reading the 6moon’s review, I started to ponder about the machine and the process in general. Last weekend was hot and sunny. As I sat there watching the kids play, I could envision someone leaving a CD on a table, later discovering that their precious disc had been exposed to direct sunlight for some unknown time. After agonizing for a period of time over the possibility that the disc could be ruined and might not play on their SOTA system, they finally muster the courage to insert the disc and press play. The disc plays, immediately calming their fears that the music was forever lost and life continues on, only now its better than before.
I was then brought back to reality by the happy screaming of two kids. Reflecting on that prior vision, I thought that since it was a sunny day, I would try to expose a disc to some direct sunlight for several minutes and see what happened. I listened to one song, went outside with a disc in hand and let the disc warm in the glow of the sun. My wife looked at me, then the disc, rolled her eyes while shaking her head and made some comment. When I thought the discs were done, I tried to go back to listen to the results. I was not able to listen to the results as both the kids and wife demanded my attention. I listened later in the evening, but it was inconclusive if there were any differences.
Not wanting (nor able according to the wife) to spend another $1000 on audio equipment, I pondered more and came to the conclusion that a bright light should work as the NESPA units appear to use a halogen bulb. I recalled seeing some powerful spotlights and conducted more online research to see if others had tried this approach. Sure enough, someone had tried several different intensities and finally ended using a 10M candlepower spotlight. On my way home yesterday, I stopped at Canadian Tire. They had several different intensities and happened to have a Sunforce 10M candlepower (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669471&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1148573232749&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443278249&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true)spotlight on sale. What luck!
I happen have two copies of a Stevie Wonder two disc set due to shipping errors by a mail order company. I thought this would be a perfect candidate for trying this process as I could listen to an ‘exposed’ and ‘unexposed’ copy of the disc. I took one CD set and exposed each disc to one minute of light by putting a disc on the floor and placing the spotlight over the disc. I did note while exposing disc one that it had what looked to be fine scratches in one spot. I then gave the wife all four CD so she could shuffle them so I would not know which disc had been exposed.
Later last evening, I had the opportunity to directly compare the discs against each other. All discs were placed label up on the coffee table. Disc one was compared to disc one; disc two to disc two. I repeated this process for almost one hour periodically reshuffling the discs. It was apparent that one of the pair was distinctly better sounding that the other. At the conclusion of comparing both disc one's and disc two's of the set, I then turned over both disc one’s to examine the playing surface. The better sounding disc had the fine scratches I noted while exposing the disc to the spotlight.
I exposed a CD of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' performed by Tafelmusik. I have used this disc in the past to audition equipment for potential purchase and for listening to several high end systems in local retailer’s facilities. I listened pre and post exposure. I found that post exposure, the music was more alive and I would swear that I heard sounds I have not noted in the past.
What I found is that exposure to the high intensity spotlight may have lowered the background noise of the disc. I found that everything had a more precise location within the soundstage with better separation. There was more detail and texture to every type of sound (instrument or vocal). Overall, I am quite pleased with the results.
I am quite perplexed as how exposure to a high intensity light might affect change on a CD. Was it the intensity of the light or was it the heat from the bulb? What physical property of the disc changed? At this point, I am not sure, but it does not appear to harm the disc in any manor. Maybe in time as more experiment with this process, explanations will be presented clarifying the changes.
I will be continuing to expose discs in my collection in the coming days to hear what changes present themselves. So far, this has been a rewarding experience for a minimal investment. I plan on keeping the two distinct copies of the Stevie Wonder; one exposed and one not exposed. If the wife is willing, I would like to perform the test on her as I have not explained exactly why I am doing this to the discs.
This has been my experience to date with this process with my system in my acoustic environment. Due to the subtitle, yet significant nature of the changes, I would like to put forth that all may not be able to experience these changes within the context of their system and acoustical environment. It may sound harsh and I may get into trouble for saying this, but I do not want someone trying this, finding no difference, then saying here or elsewhere that this is a bunch of BS. I have two identical sets of discs that sound distinctly different and the only thing I did to one set was to shine a large flashlight on them for one minute.
Now might be the appropriate time to retrieve all the LPs from storage and purchase a turntable and phono pre. At least if I made some changes to make the TT setup sound better, I might be able to formulate a plausible explanation of why it improved.
Till next tweak,
JM1
PS – Sorry for the length; this was much longer than anticipated.
Several weeks ago, I found a reference about a NESPA #1 CD Finalizer. Normally I would have placed an inline link to the manufacturer’s site, but all I have found to date has been a site in an Asian language. I did manage to find two reviews of the unit at 6moons (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/nanotech/nespa.html) and Positive Feedback (http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue23/clock_nespa.htm) along with a user (http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=tweaks&n=131198&review=1) review at Audio Asylum. There are also several threads on Audio Asylum and Audiogon regarding the NESPA #1 and NESPA Pro units.
I will not go into the details of how the NESPA units function as this is not quite the intent of this thread. The 6moons review has a good explanation of the unit and proposes a theory as to why these machines work. Please read this review for further details.
After reading the 6moon’s review, I started to ponder about the machine and the process in general. Last weekend was hot and sunny. As I sat there watching the kids play, I could envision someone leaving a CD on a table, later discovering that their precious disc had been exposed to direct sunlight for some unknown time. After agonizing for a period of time over the possibility that the disc could be ruined and might not play on their SOTA system, they finally muster the courage to insert the disc and press play. The disc plays, immediately calming their fears that the music was forever lost and life continues on, only now its better than before.
I was then brought back to reality by the happy screaming of two kids. Reflecting on that prior vision, I thought that since it was a sunny day, I would try to expose a disc to some direct sunlight for several minutes and see what happened. I listened to one song, went outside with a disc in hand and let the disc warm in the glow of the sun. My wife looked at me, then the disc, rolled her eyes while shaking her head and made some comment. When I thought the discs were done, I tried to go back to listen to the results. I was not able to listen to the results as both the kids and wife demanded my attention. I listened later in the evening, but it was inconclusive if there were any differences.
Not wanting (nor able according to the wife) to spend another $1000 on audio equipment, I pondered more and came to the conclusion that a bright light should work as the NESPA units appear to use a halogen bulb. I recalled seeing some powerful spotlights and conducted more online research to see if others had tried this approach. Sure enough, someone had tried several different intensities and finally ended using a 10M candlepower spotlight. On my way home yesterday, I stopped at Canadian Tire. They had several different intensities and happened to have a Sunforce 10M candlepower (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669471&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1148573232749&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443278249&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true)spotlight on sale. What luck!
I happen have two copies of a Stevie Wonder two disc set due to shipping errors by a mail order company. I thought this would be a perfect candidate for trying this process as I could listen to an ‘exposed’ and ‘unexposed’ copy of the disc. I took one CD set and exposed each disc to one minute of light by putting a disc on the floor and placing the spotlight over the disc. I did note while exposing disc one that it had what looked to be fine scratches in one spot. I then gave the wife all four CD so she could shuffle them so I would not know which disc had been exposed.
Later last evening, I had the opportunity to directly compare the discs against each other. All discs were placed label up on the coffee table. Disc one was compared to disc one; disc two to disc two. I repeated this process for almost one hour periodically reshuffling the discs. It was apparent that one of the pair was distinctly better sounding that the other. At the conclusion of comparing both disc one's and disc two's of the set, I then turned over both disc one’s to examine the playing surface. The better sounding disc had the fine scratches I noted while exposing the disc to the spotlight.
I exposed a CD of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' performed by Tafelmusik. I have used this disc in the past to audition equipment for potential purchase and for listening to several high end systems in local retailer’s facilities. I listened pre and post exposure. I found that post exposure, the music was more alive and I would swear that I heard sounds I have not noted in the past.
What I found is that exposure to the high intensity spotlight may have lowered the background noise of the disc. I found that everything had a more precise location within the soundstage with better separation. There was more detail and texture to every type of sound (instrument or vocal). Overall, I am quite pleased with the results.
I am quite perplexed as how exposure to a high intensity light might affect change on a CD. Was it the intensity of the light or was it the heat from the bulb? What physical property of the disc changed? At this point, I am not sure, but it does not appear to harm the disc in any manor. Maybe in time as more experiment with this process, explanations will be presented clarifying the changes.
I will be continuing to expose discs in my collection in the coming days to hear what changes present themselves. So far, this has been a rewarding experience for a minimal investment. I plan on keeping the two distinct copies of the Stevie Wonder; one exposed and one not exposed. If the wife is willing, I would like to perform the test on her as I have not explained exactly why I am doing this to the discs.
This has been my experience to date with this process with my system in my acoustic environment. Due to the subtitle, yet significant nature of the changes, I would like to put forth that all may not be able to experience these changes within the context of their system and acoustical environment. It may sound harsh and I may get into trouble for saying this, but I do not want someone trying this, finding no difference, then saying here or elsewhere that this is a bunch of BS. I have two identical sets of discs that sound distinctly different and the only thing I did to one set was to shine a large flashlight on them for one minute.
Now might be the appropriate time to retrieve all the LPs from storage and purchase a turntable and phono pre. At least if I made some changes to make the TT setup sound better, I might be able to formulate a plausible explanation of why it improved.
Till next tweak,
JM1
PS – Sorry for the length; this was much longer than anticipated.