Hyperion CD rot?

Yes, it does, sorry to say.... Believe I returned some Hyperion discs, to Phillips who had created the problem, when it first appeared, years ago. Those affected were replaced.

The best way to preserve CDs is... rip immediately for later burning should the need arise. I've found out quite late in the game, as a number of my discs (all major brands) have started aging. No bronzing on any of them, but quite a number are beginning to show look-through pinholes and I had one disc with what looked like fungus.

Irony - I found this out only after selling the HDX and going CD only again. Just today I've finished ripping my entire collection, in AIFF on a mac this time, which is fine as I've done this only for back-up / peace of mind purposes. As a test I've burned a few discs, on different brand CD-Rs at 4x speed, and happy to report I detect little or no SQ difference between copy and the originals.

In a sense, I'm back with my Leica M and Nikon film scanner. While everybody was going digital, I was taking pictures on Provia and scanning the slides.

EJ

It's worth trying the Hyperion CDs in a few different makes of drive to try and get a rip.  Sadly most of my PDO pressed discs from this time are beyond salvation and looking very brown.  I have others that seem to have black death breaking out across their surface, especially at the outer and inner edges.  These I can usually get some kind of rip, even if it's not always totally secure.

CD end up having shorter lifespan than vinyl...Probably not what customers were sold at the time..

Regarding hard drive storage: how long before the hard drive "demagnetize" and files get corrupted: 15 years, 20 years?

That thought had occurred to me.  It's why I keep at least 2 backups of files, and make a point of recopying them every 5 years or so.

These links might help

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/bronzed.asp

http://www.brainwashed.com/rot/

however the support organisations might have disappeared.

I returned several CDs about 9 or 10 years ago and had them replaced.

Thanks, but I'm managing to rip them all eventually - although several attempts are sometimes required.  I suspect any remaining replacement stock might still have the same problem.

I've got another moan about my older CDs.  Boxed sets (e.g. those in "The Complete Mozart Edition") often have those little squares of foam to cushion the discs.  These are almost all perished now, leaving bits stuck to the discs.  I've had to clean and "de-sticky" quite a few discs as a result.  I'm now throwing the foam away as soon as I come across it, and replacing it with felt squares should I feel it necessary.

I agree that those foam squares are a pain that I have with several old classical box sets. They seam to have stuck to the cds.

Hyperion have been very accommodating recently so worth getting in touch.

Agreed about those flipping foam squares.

Dungassin, any hints about how to remove the residue?  Thanks.

I have yet to have any CDs fail, and I have a few that go back to 1986, luckily they rip and play with no issues (even though my musical tastes have moved on )  Does how you store them fast track or prevent ageing?

Simon

Most came off with washing up liquid and warm water.  For a couple of stubbord discs I resorted to a proprietary "sticky stuff remover", and made sure i washed the discs with warm soapy water and rinsed well.

mine just sit in their jewel cases on the purpose made shelves in my study.  I try to keep direct sunlight off them, but no other special precautions.

Dung,

You made me go and look at all my Fat Boy CDs.

It was a hour i could of spent Listening.

NO FOAM PROBS HERE,THANK GOD.

Stu.

Thanks Dungassin - I'll try the warm soapy water first.

Any hints on the sticky stuff remover?  I assume it's not organic solvent based.  My concern about using something other than water was the possibility of removing the lacquer layer on the label side as that's all there is between fresh air and the silvering itself.