2. analog
  3. 180353-156573

Ultrasonic record cleaners

I have a modest lp collection, mixed bag of original college age purchases, used records before the current renewed interest, and some newer albums to replace some older issues from the p mount needle days.  Have a vpi 16 machine and audio intelligent form 6 fluid. I’m not finding a significant improvement on my noisier issues.  The price of ultrasonic cleaners have come down to a price I would consider.  Appreciate the experiences of those who have purchased the ultrasonic machines, are they superior to my vpi and are the less expensive models effective?

TIA

tennisdoc56
chowkwan
167 posts
 

Sanctus from Bach Mass in B Minor conducted by Karl Richter.

First clean VPI with Walker 4 step.

Second clean Audio Desk.

After cleaning with the Audio Desk there is a quantum leap in sound quality compared to the VPI only cleaned record. More detail and warmer in tone at the same time.

Guess that rig.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rhHcKSXormI?feature=share

Nagra Phono stage, Nagra Pre, Manley 440 and 500, Super ET8, Hsu subwoofer, NBS wire.

 

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

An ultrasonic cleaner or any cleaner for that matter is not going to fix a noisy record. You will have a clean noisy record just like you have now. You are better off spending money on new quiet records. 

lewm
13,001 posts
 

What does it mean when you say that an ultra sonic record cleaning machine is “laboratory grade”? Is that just a euphemism for “expensive”?

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
5,943 posts
 
mijostyn

An ultrasonic cleaner or any cleaner for that matter is not going to fix a noisy record.

That depends on what you mean by "noisy record." Many a noisy record is merely a dirty record. Those records absolutely sound quieter after cleaning.

drbond
419 posts
 

@mijostyn

More thorough ultrasonic cleaning following many of the recommendations here did make my noisy records much quieter. . .(but these were mostly sealed records, without a scratch that played very noisily (tons of static-type noise (from what? maybe the plastic from the inner sleeve deteriorated onto the LP?). After noting significant improvement, I put a couple through an even longer cleaning process, and I’m curious to see if I can make them even quieter. . .

 

@lewm

"Laboratory grade" means that it is standardized, and validated to perform as described.  Consumer products can otherwise make empty promises.

More to discover