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I do not normally write product reviews, but this inexpensive product deserves some attention. After reading a review/post by SoftwireEngineer I decided to order and try out a Herbie's Grungebuster CD Mat. I have tried the rings that Monster sells and they did nothing that I could tell. Other then the Monster brand rings, I have not had any personal experience with CD mats. I live in N. CA., ordered the Grungebuster CD Mat yesterday afternoon and got it in the mail when I came home earlier this evening. With shipping and sales tax I paid a total of $25.27 for the Grungebuster CD Mat.

My digital front end is not the best there is, but definitely not low end nor inexpensive (see below). I love tweaks, especially inexpensive ones, so I had to give this one a try. I dropped in a CD that I am very familiar with by Kenny G (Paradise) on the transport tray with the Grungebuster CD Mat installed. Put on track #8 "falling in the moonlight" and pressed play on the remote. Fifteen seconds into the song I was saying "hey, I like this".

Ok, after about 1.5 hours of listening to CDs and tracks I am familiar with, with the Grungebuster CD Mat installed and not installed, here is what I came up with:

Every CD I listen to from now on will have this rubbery mat on it, period. The Grungebuster CD Mat in my system is worth much more then the $25 I paid!

I am not an audiophile literate person, but I will attempt to share with you in words what I heard. The PRAT was improved, sub frequency bass was more dynamic and seemed like it was boosted, The rough HF that I did not know was present was removed (the grunge in Grungebuster?). More fluid, better timed presentation and lack of HF glare and distortion resulted in the music being more emotional with a smoother more liquid like presentation. My two channel digital playback system sounded good before, now it is better.

Super glad I read the review by SoftwireEngineer and pulled the trigger on this little gem!

cdc

Product Weakness:	Cannot think of one right now.
Product Strengths:	Works as advertised and is inexpensive.

• I am glad my post was of some help .. - SoftwireEngineer 12:10:53 01/30/04 (1)
  In Reply to: Herbie's Audio Lab Grungebuster CD Mat Accessory posted by cdc on January 30, 2004 at 00:55:15:

  and thanks for the acknowledgement.
  
  

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  • Thank you for the review/post... - cdc 12:39:11 01/30/04 (0)
    In Reply to: I am glad my post was of some help .. posted by SoftwireEngineer on January 30, 2004 at 12:10:53:

    without it I never would have even thought of buying/trying out the CD mat. For me the $25 was well worth every cent. The reason I wrote the review was to share with other AA members the positive results this $25 tweak yielded me. Obviously different setups in different environments with people having differing tastes and preferences would equal differing results.

    cdc

    
    
    

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• It works...I got two extra ones. - Iczerman 08:57:14 01/30/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Herbie's Audio Lab Grungebuster CD Mat Accessory posted by cdc on January 30, 2004 at 00:55:15:

  It's worth it.
  
  

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• I wouldn't go that far - smargo 08:21:38 01/30/04 (6)
  In Reply to: Herbie's Audio Lab Grungebuster CD Mat Accessory posted by cdc on January 30, 2004 at 00:55:15:

  It's ok - I can maybe tell subtle improvements in the sound but I can't be sure. I'm using a modified sony 333es player. I mean I compared it to cd's with it and with out it and when it wasn't on a disk nothing in my brain said "you must have the grungebuster on every cd".

  Bottom line I don't really care if I use it or not.
  Didn't mean to bust your bubble. Enjoy it.

  Regards,
  smargo
  
  

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  • Re: A Better Tweak - smargo 15:44:01 01/30/04 (0)
    In Reply to: I wouldn't go that far posted by smargo on January 30, 2004 at 08:21:38:

    Is the Dynamat extreme added to the inside chassis of your cd player which in my opinion blows away the grungebuster as far as impovements to the sound. It's only $20.

    Regards,
    smargo
    
    

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  • It all depends on .. - SoftwireEngineer 12:09:41 01/30/04 (2)
    In Reply to: I wouldn't go that far posted by smargo on January 30, 2004 at 08:21:38:

    the transport and even the quality of the CD. I have some CDs which, the moment you pick it up you know is very flimsy. I am pretty sure not all CDs are made with the same thickness. Also, the transports make a lot of difference. I am sure while modding it, the modder damped the mechanism very well. So that now your CD is not wobbling while spinning. I'd be damned if you somebody spent $3K or more on their transport and they put this mat on and it made a difference. The transport better be that good.
    The mat is not going to make a difference if the transport is really bad as well. In your case, I think, you should be happy you have a good transport.
    
    
    

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    • Re: It all depends on .. - smargo 15:31:48 01/30/04 (1)
      In Reply to: It all depends on .. posted by SoftwireEngineer on January 30, 2004 at 12:09:41:

      And although it is no where on herbie's website that you have to have a criterion to purchase the mat. He doesn't say anything about a bad transport or great transport - so I'll take it that your speculating based on theory. Also The only thing modded was I added an audiocom superclock 2 which improves the sound dramatically. Also I get more improvement when I turn the display off compared to what the grungebuster added. The clock only was $299.

      smargo
      
      

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      • Does your experience trump all others? - David Porter 16:54:14 01/30/04 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: It all depends on .. posted by smargo on January 30, 2004 at 15:31:48:

        If the Grungebuster isn't a hot commodity for you, why don't you return it for a refund? It states clearly on Herbie's website, "Your mileage may vary."

        Damping a CD transport chassis can certainly improve performance. In my experience, damping the chassis made a significant improvement, similar to the kind of improvement the Grungebuster does. With me, however, the Grungebuster made the greater and more significant improvement.

        I don't pretend my experience to be authoritative, because YMMV.
        
        

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  • Your Mileage May Vary - David Porter 11:40:51 01/30/04 (0)
    In Reply to: I wouldn't go that far posted by smargo on January 30, 2004 at 08:21:38:

    Your haven't burt anyone's bubble, smargo. I've used the Grungebuster with my Sony SCD 333es and must say although there seems to be some improvement, it really isn't worth the effort of putting the CD mat on.

    On the other hand, the Grungebuster makes an amazing improvement when used with my Sony SCD 9000es. With the Grungebuster, whether used on ordinary or premium-quality CD's, the improved clarity, imaging, and tonal purity is such that I'll never involve myself in serious listening without using the Grungebuster.
    
    

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  • smargo, you pretty much summed up my experience with that mat n/t - Mr. Hanky 10:01:03 01/30/04 (0)
    In Reply to: I wouldn't go that far posted by smargo on January 30, 2004 at 08:21:38:

    n/t
    
    

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• Hey, a Seedee mat that makes Kenny G sound good.... - Ozzy 02:47:51 01/30/04 (1)
  In Reply to: Herbie's Audio Lab Grungebuster CD Mat Accessory posted by cdc on January 30, 2004 at 00:55:15:

  .....now THAT must be a helluva invention, Clem.

  
  Oz
  
  

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  • Re: Hey, a Seedee mat that makes Kenny G sound good.... - Chris 18:34:34 01/31/04 (0)
    In Reply to: Hey, a Seedee mat that makes Kenny G sound good.... posted by Ozzy on January 30, 2004 at 02:47:51:

    Yes, that must me something... any other references?
    
    

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