Tweakers' Asylum

Posted by kenster (A) on May 15, 2007 at 02:50:20

In Reply to: REVIEW: Acoustic Revive RIO-5 II Accessory posted by Quint on May 13, 2007 at 08:12:42:

Very nice/detailed review Quint.

The RIO-5 ll certainly sounds interesting and from your review, does seem to have a positive effect on CD's that R treated with it. Have U tried treating a DVD to see if there are any visual improvements?
If your setup to playback vinyl, it would be interesting to see if there R any benefits on records.

Since I make my living repairing and maintaining equipment that changes gas molecules into positively charged ions and implanting these ions into silicon substrates, I may be able to shed some light on the operating aspects of the RIO-5 ll.

A positively charged ion is a molecule that has lost one or more of it's valence shell electrons and thus is termed a posively charged ion. This ion is now easily attracted to a magnetic field or an electrostatic field since it is trying to regain the lost valence shell electron(s).

A negatively charged ion is a molecule that has additional valence shell electrons with respect to it's natural molecular structure and these electrons are easily given up when in close proximity of a positively charged ion or an electrostatic field and will neutralize that field.

The best I can surmise is that when the RIO-5 ll is used, it will neutralize any electrostatic charge build-up on the CD/DVD and this will allow the laser to more accurately read the data on the CD/DVD which results in less error correction needed in the laser readback circuitry.

In addition, just what role the Tourmaline plays is somewhat strange. As per Wikipedia "Tourmaline crystals when warmed become positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other." This seems at odds with the Minus ion generator product description.

I've included the Wikipedia link for further perusing.

$600 is a bit steep for a CD tweak but then again, there is the Audio Desk Systeme for $699 which trues the shape of the CD and trims the edge to 38 degrees. I heard a demo of this unit and damded if it didn't change the sound for the better!

Cheers,

~kenster

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourmaline   (Open in New Window)

• Re: Acoustic Revive RIO-5 II Accessory - Quint 04:32:54 05/15/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Acoustic Revive RIO-5 II Accessory posted by kenster on May 15, 2007 at 02:50:20:

  Thanks, Kenster!

  Well, you certainly seem eminently qualified to explain exactly what the RIO does. Personally, it's way over my head, but I find one thing interesting: If it's working on eliminating electrostatic charges, then why do destatic devices like the Walker Talisman and AR's own RD-3 seem to build on the benefits of the RIO? Wouldn't they operate on the same principle and thus be redundant?

  I HAVE tried it on DVDs, but not vinyl. (It would be tough to do on LPs, because they're so much bigger than CDs, and the RIO isn't nearly big enough for the whole disc to lie atop of--not even close, in fact.) It seems to have an equally significant effect on video, yielding greater color contrast, deeper blacks, and better edge definition. The audio on DVDs is also better, of course.

  That Tourmaline link was very interesting. Thanks. I don't know exactly how AR utilizes it in the RIO, but however it's used, the net effect is positive.
  
  

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