It appears that the electrostatic fields surrounding statically charged surfaces of CDs, CD players, preamps, amps and cables significantly degrade the sound. This must be true because eliminating the static surface charges with an antistatic spray dramatically improves the sound. The effect lasts a couple of days at most, and then must be renewed by respraying. In the case of CDs, what happens perhaps can be understood as the combined effect of the rotating electrostatic field coupled to the disc. As it rotates, the CD must be slightly vibrated by the repulsive and attractive electrostatic forces induced in reaction to adjacent charged surfaces. Also, the rotating electrostatic field would have some effect on signals being conducted through adjacent circuit board traces, wires, etc. The same mechanism also could explain the lesser improvement resulting from demagnetizing the disc. What is harder to understand is why destaticizing cables, CD players, etc. significantly improves the sound, though we can speculate that it is probably a noise reduction effect.

Recommended: Nordost ECO antistatic spray for all components. Source: Nordost (800) 836-2750. Radio Shack sells a much cheaper antistatic spray which is just as effective sonically on CDs.

Caution: the Radio Shack spray has not been evaluated on cables and components. The Nordost product was developed specifically for all audio components and appears to leave no residue. It should be noted that CDs should be sprayed and wiped off only on the printed side.