Miracle Wraps review

[PinkFloyd]

That's now four of us who have "tried" the miracle wraps and four of us who all agree that they DO improve the sound quality. Those that haven't "tried" them are still cracking jokes (or claiming they can't work) I have asked Neno to offer up some more samples so I can try these inside amps etc. (wrap them round capacitors etc.) and will do my best to get a few samples to pass around the members.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2011 20:23:00 GMT PinkFloyd said:

That's now four of us who have "tried" the miracle wraps and four of us who all agree that they DO improve the sound quality. Those that haven't "tried" them are still cracking jokes (or claiming they can't work) I have asked Neno to offer up some more samples so I can try these inside amps etc. (wrap them round capacitors etc.) and will do my best to get a few samples to pass around the members.

Mike
4 out of 4 suggests that they are doing something, but from what I can see so far, there seems to be very little said about exactly where they are positioned,etc. It seems to be a hit and miss exercise so far as to how and where they are being attached. Photos from the others involved ?
Alex

[leo]

Trying to resist Trying these things inside the equipment would be interesting to see which parts of the circuitry is most affected

[Chris53]

Nov 11, 2011 20:41:41 GMT @sandyk said:

Nov 11, 2011 20:23:00 GMT PinkFloyd said:

That's now four of us who have "tried" the miracle wraps and four of us who all agree that they DO improve the sound quality. Those that haven't "tried" them are still cracking jokes (or claiming they can't work) I have asked Neno to offer up some more samples so I can try these inside amps etc. (wrap them round capacitors etc.) and will do my best to get a few samples to pass around the members.

Mike
4 out of 4 suggests that they are doing something, but from what I can see so far, there seems to be very little said about exactly where they are positioned,etc. It seems to be a hit and miss exercise so far as to how and where they are being attached. Photos from the others involved ?
Alex

Camera not handy here but there nothing "hit and miss" about how I applied the Miracle Wraps. I followed the instructions and placed them over the phono plugs on the Rega Apollo. There isn't room to "wrap" them individually so I "double wrapped" them as they advise. Here's their photo:

[Deleted]

from what I can see so far, there seems to be very little said about exactly where they are positioned,etc.

Alex, the instructions are explicit about where they are placed. On the input plugs and on the mains input. The plugs can be wrapped separately or together.

However, I don't understand what they may be doing at all. (or not)

I'll get them back to you Mike. (Although, the funny thing is I'm actually not keen on taking them off and I really don't know why!!)

Ian

[PinkFloyd]

I've been in touch with Nenno and he is going to make a few which will fit around parts "inside" equipment, specially for the DIYers.... Leo, leave it with me, I'll try and get some that you can test inside equipment.

Alex, I was much the same as Chris...... wrapped them around the mains cables and the interconnects.... The bigs ones I wrapped three or four mains cables in one wrap.

You can see by looking at them that there's not much "visual" stuff going on and (if anything else) are more likely to make you think "nah".... usually the "visuals / appearance" have a LOT to do with a perceived placebo improvement.... I went into this thinking nothing but "you gotta be joking" BUT was quite amazed when I found they were actually making the listen a lot more musical and enjoyable, they seemed to allow more of the good stuff to come through, the "stuff" that is subtle but the stuff that adds the icing to the cake.

It was the same song, the same equipment, but all of a sudden there was emotion, there was panache, there was musicality and all of it in an effortless, flowing and aurally seductive package. As you know, I sent my samples on to Ian to try and am genuinely missing that extra presence to the sound. It was not as pronounced as a "loudness button" type effect, it was a lot more subtle than that, it just seemed to make listening a lot more relaxed and communicative.

I think it was Ian that said they were too expensive? Well, let's put it into perspective.... some mad people pay £1,000 for a 1 metre length of cable which does NOTHING (apart from look good / placebo effect) others pay £50 for "one" black gate capacitor (and spend a year waiting for it to "burn in"), they may even pay £2500 for a new CD player which is only marginally "different" in sound from the one it has replaced.... let's not forget these "mains conditioners", Oak coned feet, magic pebbles, quantum clips and all that other overpriced stuff which gives marginal (if ANY) improvement. Lets go totally crazy and consider these strange people who pay hundreds of pounds for a cryogenically frozen 13amp mains fuse, the people who get Peter Belt to "Belt" their listening room, the people who buy...... etc. etc., so on and so forth.

I have "auditioned" most of the above (thankfully for free / certainly wouldn't PAY for it) and have heard ZILCH improvement,,, the "gold / frozen" fuse was an absolute JOKE (IMO)... the bloody thing came in a WOODEN box and was sitting there on a bed of red velvet like it was a crown jewel or something! It was a fekkin' 13 amp fuse... a polished turd.... could I hear an amazing improvement with this fuse fitted into a mains plug? NO!!!!!!

So, in the scheme of things, we seem to have something that actually WORKS (with the Miracle wraps)... they look like something you would apply to an open wound or line your "panties" with (if you were a female) and they don't come with any gold, rhodium, silver and are not deep frozen in a boutique freezer... we automatically declare "they are not worth 35 Euros".... why are they not worth 35 Euros? Because they look like tampons?

We are forgetting the most important thing here............. the "music". I had already had them down as no hopers just by looking at them but my EARS kicked in and told me otherwise. I will say it again, they are not audio "bling" and the rear end of your equipment will look like it's being held together by NHS bandages BUT your ears may tell you that it was money well spent

They are certainly not "wife friendly" (the main reason I don't have a wife is my system would sound like crap "but look good"), they may not even be "man" friendly (in the appearance dept.) but, my god..... they sure are ear friendly

Ian..... I'm going to do a little experiment with you and I trust you will be TOTALLY honest (as usual).... I would like you to remove your Miracle wraps and send them on to Leo so he can have a go with them (and I know he will be BRUTALLY honest / upfront too)..... Lets see if you can live without them in your system That's the best way for you to ascertain if they are "worth it"

What price Audio Nirvana?

Mike.

[PinkFloyd]

I'll get them back to you Mike

Ian,

No.... please PM Leo and ask him to provide you with his shipping details.... I'd love his take on these and know he will be brutally honest (one way or the other)..... you know what I'm talking about Leo, remember my rave review of the Mr. Doudou amp and you quite simply said it was shite when I sent it to you Turns out you were right, BTW

Ian, you're right, 35 euros is a lot for a musical tampon so let's get as many opinions as possible before recommending them / not recommending them.... I always use my ears and say it as I hear it but thankfully I have you guys here these days so am not limited to "one" pair of ears.

[Deleted]

OK Mike. I've pm'ed Leo and I'll get them off to him.

I've been looking all night for the piece of paper that came with them and I can't find it. Either a heli has blown it under something or it's got picked up.

I'll keep looking - although it just tells you to wrap up with the technical bumph.

Anyway, I'll get the little pads off to Leo.

Ian

[Deleted]

Mike
The posted reports by the 4 of you seem to suggest that they are reducing the effects of EMI, rather like Stillpoints ERS cloth or paper.
Alex

www.stereotimes.com/acc030903a.shtml

[leo]

Thanks Mike,
I've learned not to judge anything before giving it a go especially things what some see as mad tweaks . They either work for us or don't

[Deleted]

Leo, I've sent them on to you and I miss them already!! It's just crackers, but I feel a bit wobbly about taking them off.

Anyway, they're gone now and I'd actually like to treat the whole of my system with them, but the cost!!!!

If anyone had suggested listening to my system with the cables wrapped up in these and I hadn't tried them, I'd have laughed. Now I'm not sure.

In fact, I haven't switched my amp on since they've gone .... I kind of don't want to hear any difference, if you see what I mean.

I'm currently testing a rather nice new amp that hasn't gone out yet as well but these wraps got my attention and I've been listening to my own system more than the one I'm supposed to be testing!!

If I installed them, it would mean 5 or 6 of these things and the cost is really quite high. I'm still not sure if I'm hearing things but to me, my system just sounded a little more relaxed. I also felt that it focused better at lower volume and my ears were just a tad closer to the music.

I also know that what I'm saying sounds a bit barmy!! If what Alex is saying is what's happening, I'd be very relieved if I'm honest. Alex, it's kind of similar to how your rips change the sound so I guess that some wouldn't hear a diiference since they don't hear it with your files. Those rips also kind of bring you closer with a more relaxed sound. (which some don't like I guess since they think the treble may seem to have receded) For me it's more rounded and I can't believe that a simple wrap would do this.

I might try a kebab on it tonight 'cos I actually miss them now they've gone. I think Mike felt the same when he forwarded them to me.

Oh well!!

Oh - Leo, here is the paper that I can't find. Nenno has sent me the link:

www.referencetweaks.com/manualwraps.pdf

Ian

[mrarroyo]

My samples were installed just as per the instructions and if I took pictures they would show what you can see in the Miracle Wraps website.

[Deleted]

I also know that what I'm saying sounds a bit barmy!! If what Alex is saying is what's happening, I'd be very relieved if I'm honest. Alex, it's kind of similar to how your rips change the sound so I guess that some wouldn't hear a diiference since they don't hear it with your files.

Ian
Nenno has told me that the wraps do reduce EMI in the vicinity of 70 to 90%, but that is only part of the story.I am assured that the differences are likely to be even more apparent with higher resolution equipment. More details can be seen at www.referencetweaks.com/

Regards
Alex

[Chris53]

I wish I could afford to add the Mains version of the Miracle Wraps to these interconnect ones.

I'd love to try one on the CD player's mains and one on the Panda's mains. Goodness knows how it would sound. Too poor and married at the moment. I should sell some of the excess gear I have to finance it.

[Deleted]

Nenno has told me that the wraps do reduce EMI in the vicinity of 70 to 90%

Oh. Thank goodness for that. I thought I must be going round the bend if I'm honest. I found myself missing them!

At least if there's a possible explanation it makes me feel better. When Mike said that he was going to send them, I really had no expectations whatsoever and was not really 'psyched' up to hear any improvement.

In fact, when they arrived, I wrapped everything up and didn't play anything for a couple of hours because I actually forgot about them. It was later that I noticed what I felt was a difference to what I normally get, which reminded me that I was supposed to have listened to them earlier.

Here's the worst part .... a day after they've come off - same music - it's receded to what it was. The volume is back up and the bass depth isn't there. It hasn't retained the 'mellowness' that I felt had appeared. I'm sure it has changed!

If it is cutting out EMI to that extent, there must be cheaper alternatives and maybe that's what I'm detecting? My wife would go nuts if I kitted out my whole system with these. What you see and the cost just feel uncomfortable to me. The cost to kit out my system is the price of another amp really.

I've been test running this new amp for the past few weeks and I feel that it's extremely good. However, it's going to retail at quite a high price with a decent power supply and I tried these wraps with just the V8 and I felt that the V8 suddenly developed the kind of depth exhibited by the other amp.

However, now the other amp sounds better again.

For a basic set up, a mains wrap and two interconnect wraps is 100 euros. It's that price that holds me back since there's no point in wrapping one place and not another, I guess. That price is also a special offer. At 50 euros, I'd consider it but 100? (Normal price 120?)

It's a really difficult one because as you say Mike, the sound seems to change but somethings stops me paying that much for a wrap. In fact, the one Alex pointed out was far cheaper - so now I'm wondering, would that do the same thing?

You are also right when you said, 'how would I feel when it had gone'. I can't believe that I do actually miss them and that now, I feel that they were doing something because my amp is back as it was, I think. Mad isn't it?

Encase the amp in lead?

Ian

[Deleted]

Ian
Perhaps if you had tried the Miracle Wraps on the other amplifier, the gap may have become even wider ?
Perhaps it's just as well I haven't tried them, as I am already getting into enough strife reporting the "impossible" differences that I have already posted about ! ;D
Besides which, these days I can't justify or afford that kind of expenditure.
Regards
Alex

[Deleted]

Perhaps it's just as well I haven't tried them, as I am already getting into enough strife reporting the "impossible" differences that I have already posted about !

Don't worry about that Alex. Least of my worries. We all know it's impossible so it's placebo!!

Now I've taken it away, I'm kind of feel something is missing. I'm now going through the exact same repertoire and imo it's this:

a) The treble seems more forward and slightly more 'tizzy.' Some people like the forward treble (as was shown by some on your rips) but it kind of 'shimmers' more with the wraps.
b) Bass depth has receded slightly so the system sounds comparatively more edgy.
c) I'm back at higher volume to get presence.
d) The music just doesn't seem quite so close.
e) The presentation seems more relaxed.
f) The V8 kind of resembled the Sunrise in sound sig. (I really like the Sunrise a lot in spite of its colouration) The V8 seemed weightier but retained a better clarity as well with the wraps.

It sounds really nuts, I know!! It would be nice if you could hear them too as the 'upside down' representative. (Australia!!) Who's the right way up anyway? (Good title for a song there!!)

My V8 really came on song with them and the amp that I'm testing was also affected. (Both valve amps though)

However, my mind is still fighting with that price - 100 euros, special offer!!! That's another heli, or another set of custom fits for my iems.

Ian

[Deleted]

It would be nice if you could hear them too as the 'upside down' representative.

Hi Ian
Overseas P and P can make these kinds of exercises costly,
but I really wouldn't want to get to like them too much, and then have to pass them on again ! Us old farts have to be canny with our money.
Regards
Alex

[Deleted]

I really wouldn't want to get to like them too much, and then have to pass them on again !

That's what's happened to me.

[leo]

Thanks Ian, will let you know soon as they arrive, just sorry your missing them already

Oh ta for the link, will have a look at that

[Deleted]

just sorry your missing them already

Yes, it's weird! My system just ain't the same. However, now it's off I think I can identify what has changed more clearly. (Whether in my mind or actual, I don't know)

[leo]

The wraps arrived safely . Odd looking things , will give em a go later

[Deleted]

They're not much to look at are they, Leo? Very underwhelming.

[jonclancy]

Any news, Leo?

Sounds like your ERS suggestion was pretty accurate!

[Deleted]

You haven't heard any difference have you, Leo?