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
Good luck with your future acquisition, barnettk.

I'm a little jealous. Many quiet records are in your future. Let us know where you purchased and experience.
@tablejockey 

There is a place here in Atlanta that retails them. Going to call tomorrow. Hopefully they have a demo I can check it. 
Correction on the cavitation frequency of the Degritter. I meant to say it operates at 120 kHz. Not 120 Hz. Big difference. 
Called and spoke to the local dealer about the Degritter. I have an appt for Friday morning to go and see a demo. He has to order it because the last one in stock was sold last week. Few weeks lead time to get one but that’s ok. No hurry. I will let you guys know how I like it. 
@barnettk   I am glad to report to you that after cleaning my first dozen records yesterday on my new Degritter, the results are rather staggering.  I cleaned and then listened to several records that I am very familiar with in order to have the best understanding possible.  I used records of various SQ levels in order to get a grip on the range of what the machine can provide.  What I found was that with records of less than satisfactory vinyl quality but great music and detail (such as true vinyl noise due to lower grade pressing and/or grade of vinyl) that problem can not be eliminated.  I used the album from Jeff Beck, "Truth" for that example  However, where there is noise from micro sized debris and remaining contaminants from previous cleanings, the noise floor is substantially reduced to nearly zero.  That aspect was very impressive.  More importantly, is what I realized in musical information.  The finest nuance of information was revealed in an almost startling way.  Guitar strings trailed off like I have never heard before.  Sizzle cymbals seemed to go on forever.  Layers of musical information had an overall improved dimension, whereby everything seemed more well defined.  
My system is sensitive and of very high resolution.  I have always heard a depth of music that I had thought was fabulous.  I heard it better than ever last night.  I had no idea just how much I was missing by only using a vacuum RCM.  Ultra Sonic is the state-of-the-art for vinyl record cleaning.  There is no two ways about that.
Enjoy your forthcoming purchase.  It easily qualifies as a newly added component to my hi-fi system.