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
Well the jury is still out for me on the US machine. I think maybe I need to find a dirty record of which I have none to actually see what this think will do. So maybe both my cleaning test and listing test is skewed from the perspective of I’m cleaning clean records or relatively clean anyway. Might go to the record store and find a dirty record. Just a little reluctant to test it with my cartridge just to prove a point. 
Ultrasonic, distilled water, 20 drops of Tergikleen in 6 gallon tank. That's what you need for best results in my experience.
I recently added an Amazon ultrasonic cleaner bundle, and I use that then vacuum with my Record Doctor.  I couldn’t be happier.

20 drops of Tergikleen and distilled water and my records sound better than ever.
Which looks???
The ONLY thing that matters is the sound. Many hours of scrubbing and vacuuming over the years wasted. I've cleaned "clean" records and they sound like better presses every time.
Try a different jury.

Based on my readings, I tend to think that ultrasonic is now the way to clean discs, whether new or old.

Just get it. It is a one-time investment anyway, and should you want to dispose of it, someone will get it.