Optrix
CD Cleaner/Treatment

In times past I have refrained, in these pages, from discussing any surface treatments for compact discs. Partly due to an uneasy feeling (in the wake of the Armor-All fiasco), and partly because I felt that, in time, more was to come. That time has arrived. Let me expand.
       A few months back I happened on to a very fine surface treatment product for CDs and Laser discs, one that I felt opened new doors of performance in digital reproduction by super-cleansing the polycarbonate layer of the compact disc. All was roses until another sample from a different manufacturer wafted in. A product, by the way, that I would not have found quite so soon had it not been for the kind recommendation of another careful listener. Here is the story.
        After a recommendation on behalf of our common acquaintance, I received a call from Mr. John Murphy of Compact Dynamics Co. He told be about a new product his Company had released designed to clean and polish the "play" side of CDs, DVDs, Laser discs and CD ROMs. He offered to send a sample and I gladly accepted. A spritz bottle of Optrix arrived a few days later.
       Before I get to my listening notes, let me briefly describe how the product came to be. Developer John Murphy, is a chemist by trade. I learned that Optrix came out of specialized research into improving vision through eyeglasses. A very specific (Patented #5,699,189) ) mix of materials was developed. As it happens, much of the technology and chemistry for that application transfers directly to use with CDs.
        The goal for Optrix was to a) remove mold release compounds (an oily mix designed to help the disc release from the manufacturing press) from the disc and b) improve the refractive index (i.e., increase optical clarity) of the surface to reduce diffraction of the laser light. And, most importantly, these goals must be achieved with a mix of ingredients that would be totally innocuous to the polycarbonate surface of the compact disc. A non-acidic mixture of carbon, hydrogen and non-ionic oxygen was the answer -- all "user-friendly" ingredients. More, only the highest purity, completely colorless materials are used in Optrix.
        Why is cleaning/treating the disc so important? The laser optical system of compact disc and laser disc players are very sensitive to the spilled (scattered) light, a result of reflection off the untreated disc. Scattered light adds optical noise to the digital signal, reducing quality. An optically noisy laser signal results in sound contaminated with low-level grain and background haze. Optrix applies a micro-thin film to the surface of CDs and laser discs to increase optical clarity, thus reducing the amount of spilling and contamination.
       So much for the technology, how does this stuff "sound"? In a word, transparent. Optrix dissolves another barrier between you and the music. You simply hear more information, much more! Everything, top to bottom, is cleaner less restrained more refined and more focused. My listening notes were brief, but to the point: Cleaner, tighter, bigger, clearer -- Wow!
       I'm hooked on Optrix. Listening to untreated CDs now, makes me think of the first few minutes after rolling out of bed in the morning, a time when sight is slightly clouded and dulled.
       The process of application is simple. Spray the disc with three squirts of Optrix and wipe dry and repeat. Then, do the label side of the CD once. Note: I experimented with several materials for drying the surface after treatment. Without question, I obtained the best results when using Kimwipes Delicate Task Wipes or Kodak Lens Cleaning Tissue (very expensive). Frankly, I think you will be amazed at what this stuff can do. Optrix works wonders on DVDs, Laser discs, CD-ROM, eyeglasses, computer or TV screens.

 Sixteen Bucks... by far, the cheapest tweak I know of!

You were right -- Optrix is a wonderful product.  Even my non-audiophile wife (whose favorite expression is "Turn that down!") said "Wow!"  I'm recommending it (and you) to many of my audiophile friends. 
Paul F.