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Walker Audio Prelude LP Cleaning Solution

I did not want to post this as a full review as this is my initial first impression using the newly released Walker Audio Prelude LP Cleaning Solutions.

Prelude is a 3-step process consisting of enzymes, premixed cleaning solution and an ultra pure water rinse (made via a 7 stage filtration process). I comes nicely packaged with the following: a 64 ounce container of ultra pure water, a 16 ounce squeeze bottle of premixed cleaning solution, a second bottle of water in a 16 ounce squeeze bottle, an empty 4 ounce squeeze bottle, and a jar of enzyme powder, along with a small scoop and a slightly larger scoop.

Lloyd’s research indicates that enzymes in a solution only have a life cycle of 8-10 hours before they die off. By keeping the enzymes in a powder form, and only mixing enough to be used during a cleaning session ensures they stay active.

If you plan on cleaning 5-6 or so LP sides at a time (which is what I have been doing), use the small scoop in the enzyme powder. Place the powder in the empty 4-ounce bottle. Add some of the water from the 16-ounce container up to the “A” mark on the 4-ounce bottle and shake to mix. Apply to the pads of a cleaning brush and lightly scrub the LP as it spins on your RCM. Let it sit for 15-30 seconds and vacuum off.

Using a second brush, apply the premixed cleaning solution to the pad and apply to the LP as above. Let sit for a few seconds and vacuum off. Do not let either solution dry on the LP.

Using a third brush, use the ultra pure water as a final rinse and vacuum off.

I have had lots of experience with different LP cleaning products, including Disc Doctor, Audio Intelligent, and L’Art du Son. The AI solutions are similar to Prelude in that they also use the enzyme solution as a pre-treat prior to cleaning. The AI enzyme come premixed, unlike the Prelude. The enzyme powder formula of Prelude ensures that the enzymes stay viable until they are needed. I really like the AI solutions when I used them, and missed them when Paul sold the business.

That said, The Walker Audio Prelude is the best of the AI, kicked up several notches. Lloyd Walker has hit another one out of the ballpark. After cleaning several LPs that I thought I knew backward and forward, I can report the following: surfaces are dead silent, with no residue what so ever from any of the three steps. There is no static build up, and even well played LPs have that shiny right out of the sleeve look to them.

Focus, detail and transparency are the first three words that come to mind when describing what I am hearing. The inner detail on familiar LPs lets me hear for the first time things that have been there but never fleshed out of the grooves the way it is after using Prelude. At least, that's what MY ears are telling me. The music just leaps out from the utter blackness of the grooves. And, your records are REALLY clean. What else could you expect from one of the true masters of the analog arts? Who better to bring such a great product to the market for LP lovers than the man who builds what I consider to be the finest LP playback product in the world?

Give Lloyd a call and talk to him yourself about Walker Audio Prelude. I have no financial connection to Walker Audio other than the fact that I am a very happy customer and use many of their products in my system.

Kudos to Lloyd, Felicia, and Fred for creating another great Walker Audio product.
slipknot1
morris
29 posts
 
Slipknot,

Great review. I just ordered some of the Walker fluid to give it a try. Previously, I've only used Disc Doctor, so it should be a pretty nice upgrade. Just curious, do you think the Walker superclean water could be substituted with the battery water suggested by Crem1 or some other type of clean, distilled water? I have a Nitty Gritty RCM, but I may try to clean the records manually (with t-shirts or lint-free cloths), which may require extra water.

Mark
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,611 posts
 
We're all crazy. I can't believe the amount of conversation we have and attention that we pay to cleaning records.....I'm guilty of it too. This is an insane hobby. All for the sake of good sound. I should have stopped with my first receiver and cassette deck.
jejune
29 posts
 
Crem, take it as an attack if you are that defensive. YOU seemed to be saying that folks at NASA were testing the efficacy of steam cleaning vinyl records. No? If they were doing this as part of a taxpayer funded activity, I consider it a waste of money. If you are just talking about people who happen to work at NASA who are doing some sort of home testing, I'd only ask, so what? That's all.
crem1
672 posts
 
What I was relaying is that persons that apply science for a living find no fault with the idea in practice or other wise.

H2O products that are deionized & demineralized allow for a "clean" water to initiate the cleaning process. NASA has spent MILLIONS on the cleaning of spacecrafts / robots/ space probes before lift off in the past 30+ years . So what if some of that knowledge trickeles down to us? So how much am I spending? About $4 ga. for water that is almost as clean as that used in reactors. And as for a steam cleaner how about the Perfection sold @ Walgreens of $30.

Personally, I do not want to bring politics into this thread. If you are that hung up on "taxpayer funded activity"-- work to stop the war.

NASA recognizes the effiacy of steam cleaning. As for weither the idea is worthwild to you depends on the state of your collection & the price you will pay to improve the sound you hear.

Remember, LLoyds air bearing TT costs between 25-40k, a Raven 5-10k and we haven't even gotten to the tone-arn or pick-up. I have friends that don't think twice dropping $$$$+ to improve their sound . Lloyds products do not come cheap . This product costs $85'isk and wont't last a lifetime.

All I'm suggesting is that for a very modest investment under $50, one may considerably improve the quality of playback provided the vinyl is free of abuse of manufacturing defects , and also experiment wth Lloyds or any other LP cleaner. End of story.
jejune
29 posts
 
Gee, I'm sure we are all comforted to know that YOU are the the end of the story arbiter. The real end is that your earlier post was either intentionally or unintentionally written to make folks think that there were "heads" at NASA testing steam cleaning on vinyl records and consulting with you on same. Now, it appears that you really meant that you are adopting some trickle down theory of technology that these "scientific" types have employed in other areas and of cleaning and with other goals and MATERIALS in mind. We won't even go into the issue that some of these same folks whose efforts we are supposed to trust implicitly okayed certain o-rings and heat tiles which, shall we say, did not pass the stress test. Luckily, matters of vinyl records are not so critical and the track record of these folks with respect to producing transferable technology is much better on an overall basis.

So, if you have tried lining up your records along with the sport coat you just popped out of the suit case, fine. Just don't bring NASA into it as if they are the cornerstone of your research on the topic.

With respect to ultra clean water and its efficacy as a cleaning agent, I do not think there can any longer be a debate. However, I would prefer to trust the folks with the knowledge who have done specific tests with this water in combination with a wide variety of surfactants and other ingredients SPECIFICALLY with respect to how they react and perform on VINYL RECORDS. There are very, very few of them around and those couple are not touting steam cleaning. But, the next time I want a good cleaning on the trailing edge of my shuttle flaps, I'll see what NASA has in mind.

Guessing it won't be the end of the story.
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