Is Auric Illuminator really that illuminating? |
Click here to learn more about ‘Auric Illuminator’ |
Bernard Wong’s comments:
(19 Sept 2000)
 I received the gel at 5 pm today and immediately treated a few of my CDs with it. It really WORKS! The difference in sound is indeed significant (as if I've upgraded my CD player). I could hear more background details that I could not hear before. The bass became tighter and deeper with the highs clearer and more defined. I heard no tonal change in vocals though but then again the gel is not for that rite? Overall the music became more alive and a bit more realistic with better separation between instruments. Background vocals and instruments were clearly audible contributing to a more musical experience. Thanks for bringing in this great product! IT ROCKS.
My humble system set up: |
|
|
Martin Ng’s comments:
(22 Sept 2000)
After getting the Auric illuminator on this Tuesday, I have tried it (both the gel and the stop pen) last night, the result was ...hmm.... amazing! Really amazing! The 1st CD I tried was Kenny G "Live", 1st track title "Going Home". Before applying the Auric illuminator, the sound was good but still far behind LP, especially the bass and the atmosphere. After applying the Auric illuminator, the bass was deeper and sound more solid, the atmosphere was better and closer to LP, the most important thing was that I could hear more details. The next CD I tried was “Jazz at the Pawnshop”, 3rd track title "High Life". After applying the Auric Illuminator, I could hear more details and background sound (there were really a lot of background sound as it's recorded in a bar). Again, it's closer to LP. Then I tried pop music, I used David Bowie's soundtrack Cat People "main title" to test the punch. Wow, the drums was more solid and the details improved a lot after applying the Auric Illuminator. David Bowie's voice became as sexy as an puzzy cat (although his voice is sexy enough). What is the composition of the gel, how could it make it? Frankly speaking, if anybody does not satisfy with his CD system, try the Auric Illuminator first before changing the system. It's more cost effective.  Well done, Joe! Please keep up your good work to bring in such an cost effective and amazing product to us.
|
|
|
Joseph Luk’s comments:
(23 Sept 2000)
I happily received from 1388’s special delivery a box of Auric Illuminator (AI) on Tuesday. Of course, nothing is free of charge except for delivery charge, I immediately settled by giving the delivery man a SGD60 cheque payable to 1388 Technology. Until Wednesday night, finally I was able to spare 2 hours on testing the AI with my favorite CDs. Frankly speaking I had been looking forward to that moment for quite some time. When lifting up the box cover, I found three elements inside: Followed with few minutes on understanding the operating instructions provided, I started my test. The test in fact was very simple but effective one. I began with an old EMI CD “Relaxing Violin” track 1 “Massenet - Meditation” recorded in 1979. I replayed this track twice on my Philips CD950 player so as to enable myself to memorize the music playback quality and particularly its various weaknesses. To be more precise, the playback was done along with my favorite Statmat MKII and CD stabilizer on top, but no treatment of AI gel. Right after, I applied the AI gel to the CD but I purposely did not blacken the in-outside edges of the CD in order to test out how powerful is the gel alone. Once done, I replayed the same track without using the Statmat and CD stabilizer. Not a fair comparison game? So what, since Joe told me few times about the superior of AI gel, its performance should be able to beat my Statmat plus CD stabilizer easily. Did I expect too much, too high? Why not? Take it as a challenge! The magic moment came. The playback with AI gel turned me into astonishments. The improvement was so obvious that I was immediately convinced with its performance, higher resolution, opened and spacious sound stage, and the music was much smoother, lively and natural sounded than ever. Subsequently I used the AI pen to blacken the in-outside edges of the CD and replayed the same track. However, the improvement was with a little and mild effect only when compared with the earlier one. I believe the AI gel’s performance is too superior that it has over-shadowed the AI pen’s effect. Nevertheless, the AI pen can also serve a good way to identify gel-treated CDs by coloring their in-outside edges to black. Last, I took out a newer EMI CD “Classic Kennedy” recorded in 1999 for going through the same test circle, although the same result was already expected. Yes, I got the same result. No doubt, the AI gel wins out. What bothered me immediately was should I remove my favorite Statmat and CD stabilizer to cold storage? Eventually, I decided to make a trial by using them along with AI gel + pen for one last playback. Wow! This even bought a bit further improvement. Thank God! When thinking of, one box of Auric Illuminator costs me only SGD 60 and it can be used for approx. 400 CDs, or even just for 200 CDs on a very luxurious treatment. This costs me only 35cents per disc for a high return of improved playback sound. I definitely have no hesitations on using this magic gel from now onwards. |
|
|
Chong Sim Ming asked:
(23 Sept 2000)
Greetings to all, I was a loyal Hi-Fi Corner customer before it closed down few years ago. I am curious to know more about this sensational product that has kept everyone talking about. I know a lot of products can do wonder to the sound system, e.g. sun mook, sonic enhancer, green pen, just to name a few. I would not hesitate to try out the product but then you know I have not turned on my Hi-Fi for donkey months - don't know whether it is still functioning. Well, I think it is time to try it out on my system after hearing so many positive comments about this product. Before I commit further "investment" (being a prudent investor - got burnt in shares, so have to be more careful in future investments...), I would like to know two things: 1st: Is this a one-time application or I have to apply the gel everytime I play the disc? 2nd: What's the shelf life of this product - 1 year, 2 years or what. Your reply is most appreciated. Regards. |
|
|
Joe Lee responded:
(23 Sept 2000)
 Thank your very much for being our loyal customer and now our 1388 member. According to the manufacturer, after the treatment, Auric Illuminating effect should last permanently. Unless you clean the optical disc with water or some kind of alcohol, otherwise it should last forever and there is no need for re-treatment.
How true it is? I really don’t know. As the product is very new to the market, perhaps after a few months or so we may receive feedback on this issue. |
|
|
Stanley’s comments:
(26 Sept 2000)
Hi Joe, I order the AI on Sunday and it was delivered to my doorstep Monday. Very admirable! There's definitely improvement in sound; but I'm not going to mention this cause this could be subjective and system dependent. But I'm truely happy with the change it brings. What I wish to share is - it fixed one of my spoiled CD. I had a CD which can't play anymore. There were apparent though slight scratch. It produced annoying though low level 'tat tat..' sound everytime I played it. After applying the AI, the tat tat noise is completely gone and can be played like normal. Imagine the $60 spent in salvaging a beloved CD costed me $25. It surely is a steal! Bravo, Joe! Please keep digging out stuff as good as this! |
|
|
Stanley continued:
(28 Sept 2000)
...In fact to be honest, I've heard (and so does my wife) significant improvement with the AI. Especially for good recording CD's like Hugo... The most significant improvement is the increased 'continuity' in music flow. This translate itself into much better instrument/vocal timbre and more detail. Well, I dare not say more to avoid pretending to be a guru infront of a real guru Joe. For your information, I've the CD "Luk Siu Fung" (yes, Cheng Siu Chau and Cheung Tak Lan that one almost 20 yrs ago from the TVB episode) which my wife loves very much. After I upgraded to my present Wadia and dCS digital combo, the 'tat tat..' noise came out. I don't understand but that's the only CD having this problem. So I bought a new one (well, you know these "Crown" label is expensive). I've tried "Finyl", and "Discsolution" and couldn't help. Until this AI... Maybe AI can't cure others, but it surely did fix mine. (abstracted) |
|
|
FM Chan’s comments:
(1 Oct 2000)
Dear Joe, I have been testing the AI for the last one week or so and in my opinion, it works. Even though I do not have "golden ears" (like some of Richard Seah's friends), I am able to hear many improvements. These include tighter bass, better seperation of instruments, a lower noise floor, greater ability to hear background details. The best of all is that the music is more involving. Thank you for making the AI available. The only problem with this is that I now spend whatever spare time I have applying the AI on all my CDs (groan!).. |
|
|
Andy Casrol’s comments:
(3 Oct 2000)
Extra work to be done! Thanks for introducing such a wonderful product to those who really cannnot afford to spent much more than $60 to upgrade and moreover with a $500 improvemnt...maybe more (I dare to say). I didn't knew that such wonderful product until 1388 introduced to us. When I first applied on my old CD - Carol Kidd “When I dream”, I didn't believe that Carol voice is so lively and musically infront of me and of course the seperation of front and back music were also amazing. But that did not convince me so I decided to put in another CD to try. The result: Teresa Tang collection - 'Wo Lao'! Her voice already so sweet and beautiful plus the Auric illuminator her voice is so melody until I decided to remove those green pen on all my old CD and redo with the Auric illuminator on it. That’s why I call it “X-tra work to be done”. Keep it up the good job to all the member from 1388 (don't give all the credit to Joe). Well done! So, when is the discounted CD CHECK disc available and hope for more good stuff from 1388.com. |
|
|
Selespeed’s comments:
(4 Oct 2000)
Dear Joe, After painstakingly "Auric-ing" my favourite CDs, I was happy that the results were worth the trouble (and the risks!!). The sound was more detailed with improved instruments separation for most pieces but not all. Noise floor was lower (which seemed like a little loss of decibel) and the mid range was also more forwards imo. The effect is not unlike placing a 5-cent coin on the power plug, I think. There were a few music pieces which my ears were not able to detect any significant difference. I have been using the Stat-mat (and still using it even after Auric) but the advantage now is that I can also get the benefits in my car CD Changer and also on VCD/DVD/LDs. Actually quite a good product! I hope no long-term side effects (like slowly eating into the disc?). Thanks and regards. |
|
|
Sani asked:
(8 Oct 2000)
So many good reviews on this AI. How about qood quality CDs?? Like XRCDs.... how much improvements does it do?? Perhaps Audio 88 should let customers try AI on one or two of their CDs for a minimal sum to further convince sceptics including myself... |
|
|
The manufacturer:
(10 Oct 2000)
Joe, I see the question by SANI dated 10/8 about using Auric Illuminator of quality CDs. I do not know about XRCDs however I understand that good results are acheived with SACDs. I do not know how much this applies to your immediate market; however I hear that Auric Illuminator does wonders on good DVD with high resolution systems. Richard thinks the DVD market is much larger than the audio. John McDonald
Audience |
|
|
Ben:
(23 Oct 2000)
Hi Joe, Last evening two friends visited my place and we tried the Auric Illuminator Gel (AI) together. We played a CD which all three of us thought that the recording was terrible and the play made us drowsy. I applied the AI and all of us were suprised. The recording improved from 'terrible' to 'so so'. What impressed us most was the drowsiness was removed...the singer blended much better with the background musicians. Needless to say, we were convinced and they're going to order the AI. |
|
|
Selespeed’s further comments:
(24 Oct 2000)
Auric Illuminator is a great value for money product. However, I have found that it does not replace the Stat Mat. Using the Stat Mat on a Auric treated CD further tightens or focusses especially the voice parts. For vocals that tend to be suffer from mid-range bloom, using Stat Mat will remove the bloom. Also softens exceptionally harsh/bright music (eg, high piano notes). Good thing I did not throw away my Stat Mat! |
|
|
The manufacturer:
(27 Oct 2000)
Using the Auric Illuminator pen, if you blacken the entire center surface area of a CD on the label side...about 3/4" from the center of the whole as well as the transparent portion of the outer rim so that the CD label and the black inked areas stop all light from passing through, you effectively make a full light mat. Our opinion is that the result is better than using a mat like the Aurex Mat, which we used previous to discovering this technique. Once the ink is applied it is less hassle than applying a mat for each playing. The audible improvement is tremendous. This also provides a great advantage for auto CD players and players that don't like mats. John McDonald
Audience |
|
|
Sam Lai’s comments:
(30 Oct 2000)
Pertining to my previous post on the Auric bottle issue, really sorry for making a mistake, I read on your site again and found it to be in one bottle size. Actually already got the Auric and was indeed result oriented, impressed. Was also trying out Joe’s S$5,000 system recommendation but the offer was gone, sadly. Was using a headphone to listen and the results was there, of course not 100% better but for S$60, is worth a try rather than chasing CDP again and again, real tired and broke... (Abstracted) |
|
|
Click here to learn more about ‘Auric Illuminator’ |
Click here to add Your Opinion |
| Forum Main Page |
