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to buy or not to buy (ultrasonic record cleaner)

Hi Audiogoners,

So I have been considering investing in an ultrasonic record cleaning maching. Prob like some of you I question the ROI. So. I have a friend that purchased one and luckily he allowed me to take it for a spin (no pun intended).

I wanted to compare the results to my record cleaning system which is a Spin clean ($150) and a Record doctor record Vacuum ($300). I wont say what brand of ultrasonic cleaner I tested as not to disparage, or promote that brand publicly to be fair. if you want to know which one you can send me a private msg.

so to keep it simple I will let you judge for yourself. I have posted two pics taken with a USB microscope to my virtual systems page. Test1 and test 2. One of these pics was taken after cleaning with my system and the other with the ultrasonic cleaner

Can you tell which one is the ultrasonic??

should be intersting
barnettk
barnettk OP
410 posts
 
Oh and I forgot to mention that both pics were taken of the exact same spot on the record. 
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
If it's the same record, did you clean it with your system first and then the ultrasonic, or vice versa?  They do seem different, though I couldn't tell you if one was cleaner than the other.
barnettk OP
410 posts
 
I cleaned it first with my system then cleaned it with the ultrasonic. Unfortunately with my system I can’t clean only one side nor with the ultrasonic but my thinking was if the ultrasonic was so much better I wanted to see a major difference after using it. Truthfully I cannot. 
tablejockey
3,894 posts
 
"Can you tell which one is the ultrasonic??"

My guess is the pic on right. The grooves do appear cleaner.

I've been waffling for years in purchasing a machine. MIC Amazon specials are becoming more attractive.

Because I'm picky with my used LP purchases, my Spin Clean has been sufficient.
This is confirmed by hearing them on Uber decks.

barnettk OP
410 posts
 
Ok. Here is the thing that I think makes a difference. With the ultrasonic you use a boars hair brush and surfactant which I did use when I I did the cleaning. I am betting that if I incorporate that into my systems cleaning routine the grooves will be about as clean, but your right. Test 2 is the ultrasonic cleaner. However if there is a difference I don’t know if I could justify spending the coin for the ultrasonic. 
Furthermore. The listening test proved to be in inclusive as I heard no sonic difference between cleanings. If it was I certainly could not detect it. Also the downside. The process takes way away longer using the machine. I could clean 10 records by the time it takes me to clean one using the machine. Ok I’m getting a little bias now because that should not matter but I have over 400 albums and it will take me a year to clean them all with the ultrasonic. I guess if I were buying old dusty records maybe but I only buy new or used in mint condition. I guess for the one offs where I run across an original pressing of an old record I will just borrow the machine again lol. Now I will tell you that this machine is not one of the more expensive ones. (Under $2k) so I’m not comparing this to one of the more top of the line cleaners either. 
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