Request to users of Auric Illuminator CD treatment...

Rupertdacat · « **on:** 3 Jan 2006, 10:22 pm »

I have had some difficulties with the latest formulation of Auric Illuminator- the one that has been around for a year or so.

If you are using, or have used this product, would you please take a few moments to examine, under direct light, a couple of previously treated CDs and report here on what you find?

Thank you,

"Rupe"

Vtech2000 · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Jan 2006, 03:59 am »

I examined a disk I treated when brand new a little over 7 months ago, and under stong direct light, and whadaya know? I can see a cloudy apprearance. Not a complete fog, but like a partly cloudy sky (sweeping high stratus clouds?). Anyway, I had listened to this disk only last night, and recall it sounded fine. But now I wonder what sonic affect (if any) the cloudiness causes. I have not cleaned the disk since it was treated, and it is not a disk I listen to often.

Steve · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Jan 2006, 04:02 am »

Hi Guys,

I noticed the same thing some weeks ago. I took the cloth and buffed it again and it seemed to clear up, but maybe I should check it again.

Hope this helps.

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Jan 2006, 03:06 pm »

Hi Brad and Steve.

Thanks for your replies. This clouding of CDs with the latest formulation of Auric Illuminator has made me very unhappy. I treat CDs in batches and did 25 of them when I first got it. The CDs looked fine immediately after application, but by the next day all of them were cloudy. I never had this kind of trouble with the original formulation of AI.

Anyway... I'm wondering if I got a particularly bad batch of AI as I am unable to get rid of the cloudiness. I am hoping more people will respond to this thread to get an idea of how often this sort of problem occurs.

"Rupe"

markC · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Jan 2006, 10:57 pm »

Hey Rupe, Does the cloudiness seem to affect the sound at all? I have the older AI, and have treated quite a few disks. I'll check some of them and see if the older version is causing cloudiness.

nathanm · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Jan 2006, 11:35 pm »

That's part of the "illumination process" First the clouds start forming, and then eventually the sun will break through them, sending down beautiful beams of light across your disc. At this time you should listen to "Sun King" by the Beatles for maximum effect. After the sun sets you will need to treat the disc again, unless you see angels dancing in the clouds in which case you should leave it alone.

markC · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 02:51 am »

And if the angels come flying off the disc and land in my lap????

Phil · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 02:56 am »

I've used only the older version and it doesn't seem to cloud over time. But it did cause the last track to skip on some ECM disks. Weird. I used alcohol to remove the ink on the outer edge and the tracks played fine.

Do you think the clouding is a function of temperature?

nathanm · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 02:58 am »

If angels land in your lap you are probably hallucinating. Please note the warning label: *DO NOT DRINK!*

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 07:20 am »

I don't know it the clouding is affecting the quality of playback or not as I do not have untreated discs to compare them with. Also, the appearance of the discs is so upsetting to me that I have been avoiding them

"Rupe"

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 07:25 am »

Quote from: Phil

I've used only the older version and it doesn't seem to cloud over time. But it did cause the last track to skip on some ECM disks. Weird. I used alcohol to remove the ink on the outer edge and the tracks played fine.

Do you think the clouding is a function of temperature?

Hi Phil.

I did not have this problem with the original formulation of AI. I don't have sufficient data to be able to answer your question about the possible influence of temperature.

"Rupe"

audiojerry · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 01:17 pm »

Have you tried contacting Auric?

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 04:19 pm »

Quote from: audiojerry

Have you tried contacting Auric?

Hi Audiojerry.

Yes, I have contacted Audience- the makers of AI. They recommended that I wash the CDs with Joy dishwashing liquid. This didn't touch the cloudiness. They then recommended that I treat the CDs again. This did not work. They next recommended that I try Radio Shack scratch repair fluid. This took off some of the cloudiness, but then I noticed fine scratches on the CDs and I wasn't sure if it was due to my efforts with the AI or the Radio Shack fluid so I have not applied this again.

Audience offered me nothing else. When I asked if they would refund the $40 I paid for the AI they said they would. They rejected my thought that something was owed me for the damaged CDs.

Rather than take the refund, I suggested to Audience that I send the fluid to a third party who could act as an arbitrator. Audience did not respond to this. Nevertheless, I sent the fluid to someone who represents Audience products (not AI) and who I thought would be objective. That individual, for reasons he never explained, used only one drop of the AI (the instructions say to use 2-3). Despite that, he did observe the delayed appearance of clouding, though he viewed this as no big deal. I wish he had used the stuff as directed, as I did.

That's where things stand now. I am now trying to get some idea of how many other people have had the same problem. The thing is, unless one examines already treated CDs, and under direct light, they might not know that their CDs have been devalued. Just imagine the person unloading all your stuff after you've left this cruel world trying to explain that cloudy CDs are really O.K. Of course, its not that that bothers me so much as the psychological burden of having crappy looking CDs. I have always prided myself on the beautiful condition of my CD collection.

"Rupe"

miklorsmith · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 04:34 pm »

I've noticed this. When I rub the discs with a cloth again, the cloudiness goes away. I only treat burned discs though, so no big deal for me.

Watson · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Jan 2006, 04:37 pm »

Plenty of people have had problems with Auric Illuminator clouding their CDs. That's what it does. See for instance this thread on Audio Asylum:
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=hirez&m=203902

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Jan 2006, 08:34 am »

Quote from: Watson

Plenty of people have had problems with Auric Illuminator clouding their CDs. That's what it does. See for instance this thread on Audio Asylum:
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=hirez&m=203902

Hi Watson.

The makers of Auric Illuminator deny that it causes any clouding (or scratching).

"Rupe"

Watson · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Jan 2006, 01:50 pm »

Why would you believe anything they say?

If you search the archives on almost every audio forum, you'll read reports of clouding with Auric Illuminator. For example here:

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/203962.html
"I used to use Auric Illuminator as it had a good effect on single layer SACDs. Made the music sound cleaner and less gritty. I stopped applying it to all discs 5 years ago when I saw what it did to hybrids, leaving a cloudy surface."

and here:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1649464&postcount=9
"Only problem I have found with Auric is that it tends to get dvd's cloudy after they have been played. You have to polish dvd's more. I will fog the dvd with my breath before polishing and do this a couple of times with dvd's to avoid this effect."

and here:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1649464&postcount=9
"Todd, what about the cloudy effect left on some of my CDs by AI? I tried to rub it off, and that didn't seem to work. So I just played them."

and here:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1658744&postcount=34
"I have got cloudy CDs a few times. I suspect that it is discs where the laquer layer is defective before treatment. I first thought something had went wrong when applying AI, but I didn't do it differently. It was also impossible to wash it away and also to repair it by reapplying AI or reapplying AI after first washing the CD. It was normal discs, all of them cheap bargains and not the special SACD types where AI should not be applied."

Sounds to me like Auric Illuminator makes CDs cloudy, and has done so for years, not just in the current formulation.

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Jan 2006, 10:04 pm »

Hi Watson.

I've read testimonials from people who have not noted the problem with clouding. I was hoping to get a better idea of what percentage of individuals who have tried the current version of AI have had problems, but not enough people have responded to this thread for me to have learned much.

"Rupe"

Nick B · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 08:05 am »

I spoke with one of the Audience guys at the show about this. Nothing really new to report. He confirmed again they are aware of the reports and maybe the problem was in not allowing the liquid/gel to dry completely before buffing. That really didn't make sense to me, but I didn't pursue it. Their new formulation was in response to the Walker Vivid and this new formula is superior to the Walker. I asked if the old stuff is available and he replied it is not. I won't be taking a chance on the new product. I was quite satisfied with the old "blue goo" and never had a problem with clouding.

Rupertdacat · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Jan 2006, 02:59 am »

Quote from: Nick B

I spoke with one of the Audience guys at the show about this. Nothing really new to report. He confirmed again they are aware of the reports and maybe the problem was in not allowing the liquid/gel to dry completely before buffing. That really didn't make sense to me, but I didn't pursue it. Their new formulation was in response to the Walker Vivid and this new formula is superior to the Walker. I asked if the old stuff is available and he replied it is not. I won't be taking a chance on the new product. I was quite satisfied with the old "blue goo" and never had a problem with clouding.

Hi Nick.

Thanks for looking into this. I can assure you that the clouding problem is not due to insufficient time allowed for drying- at least, not in my experience.

"Rupe"