Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Furutech RD-2 CD demagnetizer Accessory by Jon L

Model:	RD-2 CD demagnetizer
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$500
Description:	cleans CD of magneticism
Manufacturer URL:	Furutech
Manufacturer URL:	Furutech

Review by Jon L ( A ) on June 11, 2003 at 10:20:06
IP Address: 162.119.232.100

Add Your Review
for the RD-2 CD demagnetizer

16/44 format CD's will be the end of us. Such poor recording/mastering for most CD's to undermine our audiophile efforts at every step. I mean, what good is our ultra-tweaked, multi kilobuck gear when the source CD is pure GarBAGE most of the time? I've tried Auric Illuminator, Walker Vivid, among others, and my current strategy is thus:
1) Use Green CD Stoplight on outer edge and middle "ring"
2) Use Bedini Ultra Clarifier for CD's that tend to have dullness, blurred detail, or loose bass.
3) Use Furutech RD-2 for CD's that sound a bit bright and digital.
It's puzzling why Bedini and Furutech gives you different results given presumably similar theory, but they do.
Bedini tends to "clear up" the midrange/treble and makes detail in this area more obvious. Things sounds clearer and subjectively a bit brighter, at least partly b/c the bass quanity becomes less/more tight. So I tend to use Bedini for those dull, muddy sounding CD's with too much bass.
Furutech sounds similar to Walker Vivid but less objectionable IMO and NOT permanent, which is why I use it instead of Vivid. Things sound smoother, more organic, a litttle less bright/digital. Bass quantity also lessens and tightens, however, like Bedini. Midrange/treble doesn't lose clarity really, but loses a bit of edge, becoming more listenalbe. I use it on my older, edgier CD's.
The differences are not night-and-day, but it is heard repeatedly and reliably.
For well-recorded CD's, I only use CD Stoplight pen and neither Bedini nor Furutech. Why mess with what's already a good thing?

Product Weakness: saa
Product Strengths: see above

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	see inmate system
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	saa
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	saa
Speakers:	saa
Cables/Interconnects:	saa
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	saa
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner