Expert: Cleggsan - 1/6/2012

Question
QUESTION: Greetings !  Happy New Year !
I am not at all familiar with CDS so wanted to ask a question. I recently ordered a music CD which plays well on my machine except for 3 tracks.  The music plays OK but there is a static sound which is most intrusive.  Is the CD dirty ?  How can I clean it where it won't be destroyed and the static swish can be removed ?  I have a perfectly excellent player which I clean quite frequently so it must be this particular CD as the others ones play just fine.  Again, this CD in question plays well..just 3 out of the 21 tracks have this odd swishy noise.  
Please advise !  Thanks!

ANSWER: It could be some form of dirt or defect on the disc. Or, it could be defective from the producer, manufacturer.  A good check it to play the disc on other cd player to see if the defect is the same and at the same places on the playlist.

The ability of a player to detect and correct errors varies from player to player.  The disc you have may play fine on other players; it may have checked out ok from the pressing company.

If it plays defectively on other players - after cleaning it - you may want to exchange it for another.

CLEAN: Don't use any special cleaning fluids.  Here is best way.  Use warm water and drop or two dish liquid soap.  Clean using soft lint free cloth.  Rinse using running warm water and set in dish rack to dry naturally.

Hope this helps.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice !
I followed your suggestion and played the same CD on my PC...there were absolutely no problems there so I assume that it must be my player that is dirty since only 3 of the tracks on that CD have that 'swishy' sound on my player.
So what is the best, most effective, and economical way to cleaning the CD player ?  
Please advise !
Many Thanks & Happy New Year 2012 !

Answer
It could be the player - but I doubt it.

Here is only certain and safe way to clean the player. Use cotton q-tip and just reach in and flick off the surface of the optical lens a few times.

Mostly when a cd player does not track well - which produces drop out spots when playing a weak, dirty or defective place on the cd - it is due to the tracking and focus alignment of the optical pickup system. Unfortunately, it requires special test equipment to make that adjustment.  It more cost effective, mostly, unless you have a very expensive player, to just replace it with a new one.  Cost of a new cd player is $25 and up for a good one and $5 to $10 for a good but used one at the local thrift shop.

Does this help?  Hope so.