Reviewed by Paul Russell August 17, 1998.

Manufacturer: CD Playright

Product Reviewed: Max CD Value Pack, Model #950

Introduction:

What do you do with damaged CD's, CD-ROM's, or DVD's?   Do you use them as attractive coasters?  Do you decorate your Christmas tree with them?  Hang on to your socks folks there may be a way to save them, and in the process save you money!  Does this scenario sound familiar?  You're putting your favorite CD/DVD/CD-ROM into the player and it slips from your hands.  With cat-like reflexes you try to grab it, but instead you end up grinding it to a halt.  With your heart all a flutter you survey the damage.  !@#$%^&* cursing and swearing you find it to be scratched.  But they're supposed to be indestructible, right?   Wrong!  It skips so bad you give up in sheer frustration.  Instead of sending it to the optical-disc-graveyard in the sky there's a way to turn a horrible misadventure into a fleeting memory.

The Product:

CD Playright has the products to cure all that ails your discs.  Whether the problems are caused by dirt, scratches, or deep gouges the disc can be restored to its original brilliance.  I did my homework and decided on their Max CD Value Pack.  

This one has everything:

• Maintenance Kit: enough for 12 repairs, restore even the most damaged disc. 

• CD/DVD Quick Shield: 4 oz bottle, protect your discs before scratches happen.

• CD Quick Wipes: 100 wipes to clean and maintain your discs.

• 2 replacement CD Jewel cases.

• CD Bridge: holds 20 CD's.

I'm not one to take press releases/product information as fact.  I've seen a lot of products in the past that didn't even come close to their claims.  I'll believe in a product when I see the results with my own eyes.  So I put the Max CD Value Pack to the test.  When it arrived I tore open the box, envisioning the great wonders I could accomplish.  I went through my collection of some 300 CD's, 200 CD-ROM's, and 120 DVD's.  I tried to find the best, worst disc from each category.  As luck would have it I found the perfect candidates.  I set up a mini-laboratory and went to work torture testing the "Max Kit". 

The Test:

I started off with an easy one.  (Test 1) A DVD that wouldn't track properly due to obvious dirt (fingerprints).  After a quick cleaning, less than 2 minutes, the problem was resolved.  Okay, maybe that was a little too easy.  (Test 2) I found a DVD that had a lot of minor scratches.  For the most part the playback was good, but chapter 17 would not play from the beginning.  The first 2 to 3 minutes were lost.  I followed the instructions with the Maintenance Kit and repaired the scratches one by one.   25 minutes later I was done.  I put the DVD into my player and went into the Chapter Selection Menu.  I chose chapter 17 and it played without any hesitation.   I skipped ahead a few chapters then went back, I jumped backwards and forwards each time chapter 17 would play!  Not bad, it fixes DVD's, but what about CD-ROM's?  (Test 3) For about a year now I've had a CD-ROM sitting on my game shelf collecting dust.  I can't remember how, but it got scratched up pretty bad and my drive couldn't read it.  Following the same process as Test 2 I repaired the scratches and gave the CD-ROM a coating of CD/DVD Quick Shield.  This one took a little longer, about 35 minutes.  I put the CD-ROM into the drive and, guess what, AutoPlay detected it.  In minutes I was immersed in a much-needed game!  For my final test (Test 4) I chose my all time favorite CD.   This one is rare and expensive.  The problem on this one was simple, while getting out of my car the CD case slipped from my hand, the CD landed hard, without thinking I picked it up and the CD slid along the rough pavement as I fumbled to grasp it.   The damage was done, and as a result the last two tracks never played right.   They skipped from start to finish.  Honestly I didn't think the CD Playrights product could fix it, but it couldn't hurt to try.  As in Test 2 & 3 I repaired the light scratches, then I moved onto the deep scratches.  The largest of the deep scratches was about half a centimeter long!  I worked away feverishly to repair each and every scratch.  I had to go over two of the deep scratches several times to "fill them in", but it worked.  Lastly I sprayed a coating of CD/DVD Quick Shield to help protect my hard work.  The total time for the repair was just under 1 hour.  I gently set the CD into my player and hit the play button.  I listened to the CD right from the beginning trying to hear if I had caused any more problems.   With a sigh of relief the first 7 tracks played the same.  Now it was time for tracks 8 & 9, the ones I thought I would never hear again.  THEY PLAYED!!!!!   Not only did they play, but they sounded just like I remembered them.  I couldn't believe the Maintenance Kit repaired it!  Giddy with joy I programmed the CD player to only play those tracks, and I'm still listening to them (3 hours after the test). 

The Overview:

As I mentioned earlier it's pretty hard to convince me of a products worth, but I saw the results with my own eyes.  Even better I was the one who did it.   There were no parlor tricks, no slight of hand, just a little elbow grease.   >From my calculations it would have cost me around $250 to replace the 2 DVD's, the CD-ROM, and the CD.  With a retail price of $35.95 the CD Playright Max CD Value Pack is a bargain.  I can now take solace in knowing if/when an accident happens to any of my discs I'll stand a good chance of being able to fix it.  I guess I'll have to go out and buy coasters just like everyone else, and that's fine with me!

Test 1 - Dirty DVD:

Test 2 - Scratched DVD:

Test 3 - Scratched CD-ROM:

Test 4 - Really Scratched CD:

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