Experiences with the Degritter RCM

the HumminGuru is a 40 khz device.  Much cheaper, but Apparently not in the same class as a Degritter.

Couple things to observe: one, using these devices as workhorses may lead to failure. It depends on how heavily you rely on them. Note questions in the thread I mentioned above about transducer life.

Some folks will use these machines as their sole cleaning method, typically for new or pristine records. In other instances, a pre-clean is involved, particularly with used or older records. That can be done manually and then rinsed with some sort of "pure" (distilled, D/I, etc.) water. I use a vacuum machine as my main cleaning tool-- a big Monks (Omni- with thread). The ultrasonic is then used to complement the results. The combined methods are synergistic. If a valuable old record in need, I will finish with a rinse step on the Monks, rather than air dry, which is often how the made for LP machines dry the record.

The other concern to think about is whether you want to use a surfactant in the ultrasonic bath. If you do, you should also give thought to how you will remove any residue of chemistry. A few folks have gone the route of multiple baths- the DeGritter allows you to switch out tanks, but having not used it (I have a KL with no surfactant), I have to imagine some residue of the chemistry will appear in the "rinse" bath. The other alternative is rinse/vacuum outside of the ultrasonic bath. Some folks may not hear any sonic signature from the surfactant. There are also various filtering methods, but I’m not sure those are meant so much to purify the rinse bath of surfactants, but instead to remove any grit, grime or detritus that was removed from the record.

Neil Antin has written extensively about this-- I published his work so I’m biased, but it is available for free. Neil also posts to the ’Gon. @antinn

The point here isn’t to overwhelm you with work, or to complexify the subject. There are good practices, in chemistry, materials science and the like that Neil has pulled together across various disciplines.

There is obviously a desire for simple, one button, no touch record cleaning. Convenience and "good enough" as well as cost may be factors.

If you spend the time to research this and work with the records to compare results, you’ll find a work flow that suits your needs. You don’t have to spend big bucks to do this, but like anything, cheap, good and robust is hard--it’s usually two out of three. And my impression--simply my personal observation- is that right now, the DeGritter is "the one" in the made for LP ultrasonic cleaning machines. But there can be field failures in all of these devices. Transducers and motors cannot last forever.

​​​​PS: @grislybutter for me, once a record is effectively cleaned there is no reason to reclean unless you get fingerprints on the playing surface. Touch ups can be done using some relatively easy to buy material that takes a few seconds. I don't use dry brushes. 

Thanks so much everyone for your input. Some very in depth advice. That's why I choose this forum. I don't believe the unit will be overused. Just personal attention to certain records. I've developed a nice routine with the Okki but so much has been observed in reviews of the Degritter enhancing listening experience. Just a shot in the dark to hear yinz guys opinions. Good cheers to you.

Like @grislybutter I am interested to know how many here hear contamination and surface noise on most of their records.   @juanmanuelfangioii says he cleans every record each time he plays it - Juan Manuel, why not play one without cleaning first and see if you hear noise.

I have used a Nitty Gritty for many years.  If I hear noise when playing a disc, I clean that disc.  I then put it in a fresh Nagaoka inner sleeve so I know I've cleaned it.  I guess I have cleaned about 25% of my LPs, most of which were purchased used.

Do you know what?  I hardly ever hear noise again on the cleaned records.  I have very rarely had to clean one a second time.

Don't be obsessive.  If you can't hear noise, why worry?  It might be said that contamination at a level that cannot be heard might damage the records.  Well I have had some for over 60 years and see and hear no damage.