KLaudio or Degritter Mark II

@antinn First and foremost, thanks so much for your kind attention to my record cleaning madness!  Also, a correction of a typo I made:

Rotation speed for my final ultrasonic rinse cycle(s) is/was 0.5 RPM; not 5 RPM.

In answer to your questions/observations/constructive feedback:

(1)  I did, indeed, use 15ml of Tergitol.  Using 0.9ml to achieve a 0.015% concentration seemed like so vanishingly little.  I did not encounter any issues or problems with foaming.  Also, I continue to struggle with the idea of possibly using a little alcohol in the cleaning process, either in the US cleaning cycle or the Knosti pre-cleaning step, because the records I've been cleaning (i.e.  my core collection) are already very, very clean.

(2)  If I reduce my throughput, so to speak, to 2 records instead of 3, the records would be spaced by approximately 1.25".  Would that make a huge or significant difference?  Would 1 record at a time be better still?  Also, what impact would this have on rotational speed?

(3)  Thanks!

(4)  That looks like the US machine I have except mine is a 6-liter capacity; not 6.5 liters.  I set the heat to 26 Celsius.  Toward the end of a 15-minute cleaning cycle the tank fluid sometimes reaches 30 Celsius.  If it gets higher than that, I allow for extra cooling time.

(5)  Thanks!  It appears this filter pump is doing its job because I'm starting to notice some discoloration (dirt) captured by the filter.  I did not expect dramatic results in this regard because of how clean my core collection is.

(6)  Thanks!  According to LAST's marketing/advertising, this solution or treatment is supposed to meld or bond on a molecular level with PVC, last for at least 200 plays or more, etc., etc., etc.  As such, I assumed this would not amount to a film or residue, per se.  However, now that I think of this a bit more, if this treatment has a life span of 200 plays or more, then I suppose it's reasonable to assume it is gradually etched off or eroded by the stylus and ultimately becomes a residue.  This ushers in a whole new set of questions!  Since I haven't played any records on my relatively new TT that haven't been ultrasonically cleaned, first, and treated with LAST, I would wonder if LAST actually does contribute to significantly less surface noise and at what cost of fidelity.

@oldaudiophile, 

(1)  I did, indeed, use 15ml of Tergitol.  Using 0.9ml to achieve a 0.015% concentration seemed like so vanishingly little.  I did not encounter any issues or problems with foaming.  Also, I continue to struggle with the idea of possibly using a little alcohol in the cleaning process, either in the US cleaning cycle or the Knosti pre-cleaning step, because the records I've been cleaning (i.e.  my core collection) are already very, very clean.

Tergitol 15-S-9 is a very powerful nonionic surfactant.  The critical micelle concentration (CMC) as listed in the book is 52-ppm =~0.0052%.  The CMC is the concentration that gives the lowest surface tension.  Greater than the CMC, micelles are formed, and they are what provide detergency.   There is little benefit of more than 5XCMC - you do not get better cleaning, only a higher residue bath that can be more difficult to rinse.  Otherwise, do not worry about the alcohol.

(2)  If I reduce my throughput, so to speak, to 2 records instead of 3, the records would be spaced by approximately 1.25".  Would that make a huge or significant difference?  Would 1 record at a time be better still?  Also, what impact would this have on rotational speed?

Your process is fine, just try to increase the spacing between the records, and keep the records away from the tank walls.  Reducing to cleaning just 2-records spaced 1.25" apart may have some subtle benefit - it opens the space between the records reduces the 'load' on the tank but leave the rotation speed at 0.5-rpm.  A rotation speed of 0.5-rpm is proving pretty much optimal for bottom firing UT record cleaning based on user's reports.

Based on your observation that the water can heat 4C (7.2F) in 15-min = ~0.5F/min, something is happening.  The P1 12L Elamsonic heats at about 50% higher, and the P60 6L Elamsonic heats at about 2X.  

According to LAST's marketing/advertising, this solution or treatment is supposed to meld or bond on a molecular level with PVC...

That has been disputed and proven wrong many times.  It just a fluorinated solvent with a very low vapor pressure (high boiling point) fluorinated oil dissolved in it.  When the solvent evaporates, the fluorinated oil (its used in vacuum pumps and satellites) remains behind.  The fluorinated oil is very stable and will not meld or bond to the record.  If you search this forum, @wizzzard who is a chemist, did a very good job of analyzing LAST. 

Take care,

Neil

I had the KLAudio for several years. At the beginning of the year, I made a switch to the Degritter Mk II. 

For me, it’s no contest. The Degritter is better at cleaning. Period. I think this is because you can use a cleaning agent with it, whereas you can’t (or shouldn’t) with the KLA. And it’s easier to use. It’s a super piece of hardware and software. 

jpan, I just want to compliment you on the beauty of your room and carefully chosen system.

On the current subject, I could never afford the KLAudio.  I had the Mark I and recently upgraded to Mark II with Degritter’s trade-in offer.  I very much like the upgrade —smoother operation, excellent results. Great company.

@randyk 

Thank you!

How cool is it that you could easily upgrade to the Mk II? Here’s to Estonian innovation!