An Audiophile in Seattle "This Is The Best Audio Tweak I Ever Made to My Digital Front End!"

Рет қаралды 14,366

3 жыл бұрын

Audience Auric Illuminator CD Enhancer unboxing.
audience-av.com/illuminator/
www.thecableco.com
*Or they will ship overseas direct!...
Audience
1-800-565-4390
120 N. Pacific St. Suite K9 San Marcos, CA 92069
audience-av.com/contact/

Пікірлер: 80

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

audience-av.com/illuminator/

@rafaelgomezsanchez4593 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for your demonstration and advice

@marlonhouston6685 Жыл бұрын

Bro I don't care what nobody say. This is not NO SNAKE OIL. This is the real deal. I've bought mine in Feb 2022 and never used it. I just used it today, I just bought an old smooth jazz CD and MAN it was a helluva night and day difference. I just wanna say thank you man. Also I did do the 2 step process and had no problems ripping it to iTunes and it sound phenomenal. FYI Hey I just wanted you to know that I just purchased the SR Purple Fuse for my Marantz AV 8802A Processor and I just cant wait to get it. We'll stay in touch. 😉

@vpconcepts9838 Жыл бұрын

That's great to hear! I use 2 coats for the best results. I also bought 3 lens cloths. After applying with the provided rag, I use the 3 cloths to take it off. I breath on the cd (like fogging a glass) and that lifts the material off much better! Use a light (I use my stove) to check the cd afterwards to see that the product is all the way off. Thanks for sharing your experience Marlon! 👌🎼💯✨

@marlonhouston6685 Жыл бұрын

@@vpconcepts9838 I just added to the message. about the SR Purple Fuse.

@vpconcepts9838 Жыл бұрын

👍💯🎼🎉✨

@tonyharrison2542 3 жыл бұрын

vpconcepts, you are forever riding that cutting edge man! I really admire and appreciate your devotion and energy to this crazy hobby we all love so much. Looking forward to the next one.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tony! More on using the pen with this kit and my system upgrade arriving for Christmas soon! 👌🎼✨

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Hey guys! I did use the black marker with great results after all! I had a CD that skipped in one spot on track one. Treating it with the illuminator made it skip for 4 sec and then it kept playing. So I said "Hmmmm" and with the black pen added, it lowered the skip to 2 sec! No more getting up to FF on that track anymore. There's not even a scratch on the disk so I don't know why it skips at all. Maybe my new player coming on Christmas will play through it. The point is, it made the laser track better with the pen treatment added. Also there was an even lower noise floor. Inky blacks ( no pun intended!) 👌🎼✨

@samsquanch67 3 жыл бұрын

Great info!

@scottyo64 3 жыл бұрын

I am going to have to give the treatment a try. I love doing tweaks to my system!

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

I did end up using the black pen with outstanding results that I will share in my next video! 👌🎼✨

@brucecrum4467 2 жыл бұрын

I really liked OptriX, whis it was still around I tried this on a few CDs and it seems to make it to mello

@vpconcepts9838 2 жыл бұрын

I had treated all my CDs with optrix too. It clouded up & oxidized my CDs. For me this took the digital edge out of the music without the sacrifice of detail. I used 2 coats & the pen. Thanks for the great input Bruce!

@brucecrum4467 2 жыл бұрын

@@vpconcepts9838 I’m going to try two coats thanks

@sidvicious3129 3 жыл бұрын

Keep bringing it man. I’m into vinyl, CDs, streaming through Tidal-MQA and I’m a huge headphone buff with four headphone amps-2 tubes amps and two solid state headphone amps. I have about 13-14 pairs of headphones. My headphone amplifiers have their own power conditioner. I have the Audioquest Dragon fly red connected through my laptop and I’m thinking about buying the cobalt that you have there. I also have two personal audio devices that I will play my headphones through when I take walks or use the treadmill. None of this includes my main system which is in the living room. I’m very much looking forward to your tweaks and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God knows that we could all use it during these interesting times and your channel is a healthy distraction. Keep up. The good work.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sid! I'm looking at the Audeze LCD Xc for my next headphones. Hopefully January. I just bought a big upgrade coming for Christmas! See ya on KZfaq then! 🎧💫🎼✨

@mcintoshkid 3 жыл бұрын

hey my friend About Auric Illuminator ,i got mine yesterday and i could not believe it,YES IT WORKS,..i got a lot cds from the 80s ,and the sound gets noticeably improved. For example, I heard the pelvis of the drums on a song that was not there before the CD was cleaned,thankyou this is a great audio tweak,greetings from switzerland

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome my friend!! Yes, details really come out of the mix and float in the air. Such an affordable tweak for large results! 👌🎼✨

@johnhovanec6240 3 жыл бұрын

Try Craig progold and deoxit contact cleaner,that stuff works pretty good.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Yes John, I used to use that in my system before switching to Kontak. Good stuff! 👌🎼✨

@gioponti6359 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting! I‘d love to know whether this cd treatment would also affect the scan quality of CDs, i.e. replay of file A, obtained from untreated scanned CD, vs replay of file B obtained from treated CD. Any thought?

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

I commented somewhere on this wall that a skipping cd I had now plays after treatment. Good stuff this is! Thanks for watching! 👍🎼✨

@benoitdugas745 3 жыл бұрын

Love your passion and my HD 600 as well. Good work!

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Benoit! 🎧🎼✨

@victorrivera6375 3 жыл бұрын

I've recently started tuning in and enjoy your videos. I learned something today and that is that I've used the auric conditioned many moons ago and was not applying it correctly i believe. I didn't let it dry... may need to revisit this product. The marker on the edge is suppose to keep the cd laser light from spilling over as it were providing more data. At least that's how i understood it. I would like your thoughts on the nordost red dawn rev2 speaker cables and the kimber kable 8tc if you've hard any experience with them? I have the Yaqin 13s integrated tube amp, music hall cd 25.2, B&W 705 speakers using analysis Oval interconnects. I was thinking of purchasing a set of the kimber kables.. not that i need them...lol

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Victor! Yes I have since treated 350 discs with the Illuminator & the pen and A/B each time. What an improvement with each one! I have not heard the red Dawn, however I have had a lot of experience with the Kimber 8TC. The 8TC can be a bit clinical with solid state amps and revealing speakers. However with tube gear and B&W speakers it can be heaven! I sold 8TC to so many B&W users I lost count, they all loved the pairing. If you are in Las Vegas I Know a dealer you can purchase through-Greg at Lifestyle AVI 702-524-9618. If not, you can call Kimber direct and they will mail it to you. Lonny Gould-Kimber kable. 801-621-5530. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨

@GastonBulbous 3 жыл бұрын

As someone who buys (and sells) used CDs as a hobby, I find this product horrifying. The inked edge of a CD alone would destroy the entire collector or resale value of any disc to which it is applied. As for the gel you wipe off and on, it seems the application process would introduce fine scratches to the disc, particularly after multiple wipes and “buffing” with a cloth. And is there a residue? Does any of this residue (from the inking on the discs as well) have a chance of soiling your beautiful playback equipment? Again, just a horrifying product. I think it would be better to simply keep one’s CDs in clean mint condition and then never touch any of the surfaces.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

The ink comes off with a little alcohol & the gel with a little dawn dish soap... and boom, back to normal. Use a lens cloth to buff off. The results in audio bliss far outweighs a few micro scratches that you can buff out if you see one anyways. This is a cd and not a record please remember! :-)

@cvc1 3 жыл бұрын

Hey bud, dig your channel.. I purchased this item and was wondering how long you leave the product on your cds to dry before you buff it away.. Thanks!

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Once you rub it on, blow on the cd for 5 sec and you will see it haze up. To get it off, pretend that you are defogging a pair of glasses with your breath...it will buff right off. 👌✨🎼

@stevenewtons7873 3 жыл бұрын

The Densen de Magic available for free on KZfaq is also very effective. From tnt audio: "I have had, in fact, the feeling that the sound, at the end of the treatment, appeared cleaner and more transparent, with beneficial effects in regard to the soundstage. It seems as if a light curtain, that somehow darkened the musical signal, had been removed. The most evident improvement is in the higher end of the spectrum, where the sound clears, eliminating in some cases, a certain feeling of granularity on the upper midrange, but beneficial effects are also appreciated on the micro-contrast and naturalness of emission."

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

I'll never play another cd without Auric Illuminator again. Takes away all the digital nasties 👌🎼✨

@cv507 9 ай бұрын

had to applie id once every few träcks with my öld DeFvnkt ärcäm 85... necessäry CD vv had the phone clerk? tell me cd players sound different the wäy you well öper8 them..? imaginatiön ? skip bettäir then #??

@Audiofreak71 3 жыл бұрын

Video looks great 👍 I’m watching on my iPhone 12 Pro Max as well and it’s looking crispy. Interesting tweaks I’ve never thought of anti static changing the sound of my system , I do know of that tweak for vinyl but not for the overall system , so I’ll have to look into it . P.S. I haven’t forgotten about you , I’m still looking forward to linking up for some system listening.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Lance! 🙏🏻🔥✅🎼✨

@jmsafree Жыл бұрын

Hi, I bought the Illuminator after seeing your review. I do have one question about the polishing cloths. I am using the cloths up faster than the fluid. I asked the Manufacturer for a recommendation for replacement cloths to use until I needed another bottle. They could not give me a recommendation. There are so many options for non-abrasive, disposable microfiber cloths. I am afraid that I might scratch the surface with a stiff disposable cloth. I was wondering if you had any recommendation for a commercial polishing cloth product that is safe for the cds. Thanks. Joe

@vpconcepts9838 Жыл бұрын

Sure! I use these. The white cloth in the box to apply, then the green to wipe off, the red to get the rest, then the blue to polish. I apply twice for 2 coats. Wash the cloths after about 8-10 CDs. Sometimes you will have faint swirl marks, but it does not effect play at all. And make sure you "fog up" the cd with your breath after it dries. It makes it much easier to remove. Best of luck!: www.ebay.com/itm/353047747835?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cCLHNH1wRQK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=3-AMvxNKQA2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

@jmsafree Жыл бұрын

@@vpconcepts9838 Thank you!!

@vpconcepts9838 Жыл бұрын

👍💯🎼✨

@mcintoshkid 3 жыл бұрын

hello my friend,i am using a Isotek power conditioner also i got the isotek cd, when i play the cd on my mcintosh transporter after then i can truely measuring the magnet factor on my speakers with an app on my phone,and they shows clearly less interference sorry my bad english..happy christmas to you.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Great to know my friend! Thank you for the great feedback always! 👊🎼✨

@stercaland 2 жыл бұрын

Good great God of Zion . . . Daaaauuuummm! Like for real, the image just locked dead center and what I call fuzziness around instruments just got clearer. It does make a difference just like the CD Stoplight did back in the 90’s. Yeah I know the “experts” at ahem Consumer Reports and their like claimed the tweaks snake oil . . . then again they’re the ones who’d say a $99 Symphonic CD player from Wal-Mart sounded better than a $1,000 Meridian simply because the cheap one measured better.

@vpconcepts9838 2 жыл бұрын

For sure! 😂👌🎼💯💥

@verbatim_transfer 11 ай бұрын

if a cd has fingerprints, should it first be cleaned with alcohol before applying the auric illuminator gel?

@vpconcepts9838 11 ай бұрын

The gel removes fingerprints and molds in the plastic etc..no need to clean first. 👍🎼✨

@R1Zig 2 жыл бұрын

I used to do the "Auric Illuminator" treatment on my CD's during the mid 2000's. I also used the "Anti-Stat Mat" by Ringmat developments (I know a totally different product) along with the Illuminator. It definitely works....but I stopped treating my CD's with it after a few years as all of the treated CD's developed a haze on the treated surfaces. Washing it the CD with mild soapy water got rid of the haze, but I just wasn't going to treat all the CD's again. The sonic benefits for me at least did not outweigh the labour of washing and treating the CD's again. I stopped using the Statmat too because my CD player mechanism opens and closes a little fast and it would move the mat out of position which would cause balance issues obviously. Had to also open the player more times than I cared to, to retrieve the thing from the inside of the machine. The mat is something I would definitely use again if there was a better way to secure it in place. I was always blown away by the difference in soundstage width and detail within the stage when using it. I actually forgot I owned one until watching your video. Thanks for your content :)

@vpconcepts9838 2 жыл бұрын

Great feedback! I tried the Mat but it dulled the sound in my setup, no haze from the Illuminator, but have had it using the optrix treatment. This hobby never gets old! Buying a Nakamichi tape deck now. Thanks for watching Sigurd! 👌🎼✨

@Sriverkiller86 2 жыл бұрын

Do you have a recommendation for an sacd player that is possibly less than $3K?

@vpconcepts9838 2 жыл бұрын

Many choices! You could do something used for that, like a McIntosh. Or new, something like this. New always has the warranty with with it, which is piece of mind. 👌🎼✨ www.musicdirect.com/disc-player/Marantz-SA-KI-RUBY-SACDCD-Player-and-DAC?gclid=CjwKCAjwve2TBhByEiwAaktM1ASMKbGzki_DZgHhdDA4FpjKaRaSqz2lKevUev8S_iXz5liw4ESCHRoCp1YQAvD_BwE

@wm2357 3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to hear a comparison before and after.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

The next time I get a cd that's not gonna get me demonetized I will!! But to see for yourself, pick up a kit & give it a try. It won't disappoint. Thanks for watching! 😉👍🎼✨

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461 3 жыл бұрын

🤗 I guess this is the latest video 😉 Thanks for SHARING …LOVE THE TRY IT AND SEE ATTITUDE 🤗 I don’t play CDs much …and as my name suggests I am retired on a BUDGET … BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY GIVE IT A TRY 😁😍😍😍

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

LOL, Thanks! Here is my latest video for you... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gquqocehzbutYI0.html Best! 👍🎼✨

@frankieknuckles9610 3 жыл бұрын

What about a liquid enhancer for all the metal contacts on the back plate of your amp. Is that a scam or does it work?

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

I use a cleaner from the UK called Kontak. Gave much better imaging to the system. 👌🎼✨ www.thecableco.com/electrical-contact-cleaner.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8dH-BRD_ARIsAC24uma_pSb3KxVvSilbmHfcxxYOvV5L5TYU_aauq9dx9M_7E6ONzExJUGcaAv-CEALw_wcB

@LorenzoNW 3 жыл бұрын

Part of realizing high-end sound is maintenance. All your metal contacts begin to oxidize after about a year. That means the audio signal and power is passing through all your expensive cables and then through a thin layer of rust before entering into your components! That also applies to tube pins and sockets. Oxidation results in a degradation of sound that’s very noticeable if you own a revealing high-end stereo. This is not voodoo or a scam; it’s simple physics. The best contact enhancer on the market is Nano Liquid by Furutech but it’s expensive. But a little goes a long way. Don’t buy off of Ebay. There’s about 100% chance that any Furutech product on Ebay is a knock-off. The second best that I’m aware of is Stabilant 22. It’s less expensive but hard to find. First deoxidize all your contacts with 99.9% isopropyl alcohol using foam (not cotton) swabs. Lower percentage isopropyl alcohols contain water, obviously bad for electrical contacts. Cotton swabs will leave micro fibers that impede a good connection. You can buy a pack of medium and small foam swabs on Amazon for not much money. After the alcohol evaporates, apply the enhancer. This should be done annually.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

@@LorenzoNW All correct. However when using WBT connectors on your interconnects, do not use alcohol. The polymers in the special plastics will dissolve and turn green. Keeping your contacts clean annually is a must! 👍🎼✨

@RealHIFIHelp 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting.

@roberthart9886 3 жыл бұрын

I have tried many products over the decades every one of them eventually oxidize, but it's hard to see. The result is the disks lose their sparkle. Best is to wash all discs in a very light soapy warm pure water. Machina Dynamica sell NEW Dark Matter which looks like thin mica. Cut to shape and glue on the CD tray. This is beyond amazing

@brucecrum4467 2 жыл бұрын

Ok have heard of or tried UltraBit Diamond-Plus3. Very very interesting

@vpconcepts9838 2 жыл бұрын

Haven't heard of that? 🤩👌🎼✨

@brucecrum4467 2 жыл бұрын

@@vpconcepts9838 if you’ve got too much money lying around it would be interesting to hear your take

@joemaison3597 3 жыл бұрын

I have got into the habit of using an anti static carbon brush on my cds. It not only removes surface dust but once or twice, it removed a bit of fluff and bits of plastic stuck to the surface due to static electricity I guess. That couild have gummed up the cd drive. I read that that static electricity can muck up the laser reading. Easy job. Hold the cd in your hand with the thump in the centre hole and spin it a finger while using the brush from the centre outwards. I believe the sound is better two. Nicer bass. If you have the know how, the cd player should be removed once in a while (plug out of outlet) and the cd lens gently clean with isopropyl and a soft brush. You would be surprised how much gunk accumulates inside sometimes.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Yup!! I hit mine with my de-stat record gun once in a while in winter too. Static in audio is the enemy! LOL 🤣👌🎼✨

@gnoter2 3 жыл бұрын

Black marker's now!? CD treatment!? ... Mapleshade (Pierre Sprey) use to promote the use of a 2 step CD treatment yrs ago! ... Green markers on edges of CD's ... I didn't really hear a difference? Meh!?... But, I'll try this for the fun of it! $50!? ... Mapleshade's elixar was $25ish, a bottle, the best I can recollect? If my CD playback can approach vinyl sonics? ... 😁

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Yes the green pen had issues flaking off. This does not. I tell ya 3 people in one room were blown away doing an A/B test. My player & the chord transport sang with this. So did my Old meridian as a transport. So I believe any player will change its sound drastically using this. Let us know what you think! Cheapest audio tweak I've ever found with the most in return. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨

@hahtbites 3 жыл бұрын

How in the world does this change 0’s and 1’s?

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

It doesn't. It gives the laser better focus resulting in a better read..which results in less jitter (less harshness & fuller presentation) thanks for asking and watching Tony! 👍🎼✨

@Baerchenization 3 жыл бұрын

I have a tweak for people with wooden floors and brute house keepers ;) It is granite plinths for speakers. One idea is decoupling. But if you have speaker spikes, even with spike shoes it is much better on granite than on wood or carpet, i.e. not fucking them up potentially. And then it is much better when vacuuming, because it you bump the vacuum in to granite, nothing happens ;) It also looks good to have e.g. polished black granite plinths, or whatever your preferred colour. Now, you can buy some from an "audio" company for that purpose, but they probably just rip you off. So better find a local fitter/manufacturer of granite kitchen work tops, drop them an email and they will be happy to help you, as they do have a lot of cut-offs for which they have no use otherwise. Aim at 75-100 bucks per piece.

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

Yup! I did a video on this on my channel in the past. 👌🎼✨

@noelcostantino1308 8 ай бұрын

You can make a salad with

@vonjuergen 3 жыл бұрын

CD 🤭😆🙃😂

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

#rules and so does my Vinyl rig 🏆🔥🎼✨

@virtualdynamics 3 жыл бұрын

If your. tweaker aI have something for you to try. You can contact me at high fidelity cables I would like to chat. Use info e-mail of sales one. Rick Nice review BTW!

@vpconcepts9838 3 жыл бұрын

If your talking about the cylinder, I have tried the 0.5 and one 3 levels up from that 😉👌

@virtualdynamics 3 жыл бұрын

@@vpconcepts9838 No a new product you may like.

@hawkster27 2 жыл бұрын

Based on this video, plus numerous ecstatic printed reviews, I bought the Auric Illuminator. vpconcepts, I'm glad it worked for you. For me, nada. Total waste of 50 bucks. The very definition of snake oil. A worthless product. I even used the damn black marker. I decided to sell it after treating three CDs, but I couldn't even unload it on ebay for a dollar, because I guess everyone there is smarter than me. And, it's not like I have some high-zoot esoteric system that resolves everything perfectly. Just an Oppo BDP-205 and Martin-Logan 60XTs.

@vpconcepts9838 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your input Leo. I have received over 50 comments through my personal e-mail on how happy this product has made CD users, even on modest systems. However as in all things nothing is 100% & certainly not snake oil. For such a low cost to try, for such a great gain reported by many, I'm glad you put your money where your mouth is and tried it for yourself. I respect that and wish you all the best with your setup in the future. 🙏🏻🎼✨