Welcome to the Community
Welcome to CDRot.Com!
I read an article in the San Francisco Chronical one day (I can’t find the news story online, else I’d post a link here) about how CDs are rotting and decided to make a site about it. This issue really hit me hard because I have a lot of CDs that really can’t be replaced. They are really old, limited print dance music CDs that just can’t be found ANYWHERE! So hence I was really shocked when I found out that the makers of these CDs are to blame…at least partially! My lack of care for them is also to blame (ie not putting them back in case after listening). But there was never any sort of warning about potential damage.
As you will see on this site, the CD makers said the disc should last 50-100 years under normal use…this is hardly the case! When I first found out about this I contacted friends to see if they were experiencing the same problems as myself and were as interested as I was in finding more out about this. So I’ve added a Tell a Friend about CD Rot feature to this site so you can let your friends know about this!
At this site you will find REAL INFORMATION that was carefully researched focusing on this trend of “CD Rot” or degredation of the sound quality, and overall playability.
Also, we will get into the various issues behind a CD production and longevity. CD manufacturers have been making faulty products for decades now. The cheap foil on the top of the compact disc can easily scratch, rendening it almost useless.
This website was also made for you! Its point is to let anyone interested leave comments and even write articles about their experences. I ask all consumers and CD manufactures to continue the dialog that I’ve carefully researched for you.
I would personally like to see what happens with this. I’m tired of buying CD repair kits and would like to see the makers take some responsibility for making claims that just aren’t true. Signup for our newsletter so you can stay informed on the latest news regarding all of this.
Thanks for coming to the site and hope to see you around often. Feel free to contact me anytime….phil at cdrot.com
best,
Phil
PS: I’ve put in controls so that not just anyone can post a new article. Register to post , then email me and I’ll be able to give you full access.
June 5th, 2004 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for starting this site what a great idea!
Any chance of creating a regularly updated and printable spreadsheet format type database listing brands of CD’s, DVD, Gaming Discs that have a history of deterioration or increased chance based on factors such as date of manufacture, materials, etc.?
April 30th, 2005 at 9:51 am
I APPRECIATE THAT INFO FOR REAL, I HAVE ALL KINDS OF CDS THAT ARE SCRATCHED FROM LETTIN PEOPLE BORROW THEM, AFTER I DO THIS TO ALL OF THEM, NO ONE WILL EVEN LOOK AT MY CDS. IM GOING TO TELL EVERYONE THAT I KNOW, MY MOM IS EVEN GOING TO DO IT. WELL, TAKE IT EZ AND THANKS AGAIN
April 2nd, 2006 at 8:21 am
Good to see your site. I have collected Dance Music since 1987 and have come across a number of CD’s with problems. I will try to send some pics in the future.
First I had about 50 UK CD’s and CD singles from the late 80’s and early 90’s made by the P.D.O. pressing plant in Blackburn, England. These CD’s began to darken/bronze on the label side in varying degrees. I sent PDO many of the discs in 1994 and they replaced many but not all of the discs (some were even bootlegs pressed there they couldn’t replace!). To this day I have some, and have bought some thru ebay, that continue to bronze. Luckily I have had no info loss and have backed them up on CD-R. PDO has been good about recognizing and helping with this problem and even have a website set up for customers.
Second I have about 40 UK CD’s and CD singles made at the UK Swindon pressing plant in the early 90’s, including a number of Pet Shop Boys discs. I always try to keep my CD’s in controlled enviroments but when I moved from Chicago to Ohio in the cold winter of 1995 I loaded a van with all my CD’s and I am sure it stayed very cold for awhile only to warm up when I brought them back into the house. Nearly all these CD’s ended up with a sticky crystalline film on the info side, in many cases clouding the CD and making the it completely unplayable. Calls to EMI Swindon before they closed down in 2002 (very suddenly how suprising!) were not too helpful although one engineer hinted at some type of release from the CD layers (maybe a gas?) when exposed to a temperature shift. They suggested using isopropyl alcohol to clean the CD’s which has worked in some cases but leaves its own film. They said it was a rare problem and they didn’t have replacements for the few affected. I have copied some but not all to preserve the music and I will probably need to replace some if I can find them.
I have seen other defects on occasion such as pinholes in early Warner Brothers US CD’s, silver flaking off the edge of a few CD’s, and other weird spots appearing on the edges of UK CD singles.
In all these cases it comes down to one thing: poor manufacturing methods in order to cut costs. Makes one paranoid as I love my music and want it to last!!