Magnetization & Demagnetization any conclusions?

Hi Jim,

Love those cleaning solutions!

I always thought this demag concept was more audiophile snake-oil and never gave it any serious consideration. My mind was changed when Doug and Paul gave a demonstration of the results. I was impressed with the difference but still not willing to fork out even $200 for a Talisman. Thanks to some research by Paul, the device in use is under $100 and I think you can score bulk tape erasers for even less on e-bay.

Again, if this were simply manipulating static charges I should be able to rub a demag'ed lp on my cat and make the playback change. Or simply sliding them in and out of their jackets in the frigid weather here in New England is plenty static enough to affect a change. But it doesn't. I should be able to hold the lp in my hands and touch a ground, or better yet touch the ground with the lp, and remove the effects. Again, it doesn't happen. I've not been doing this as long as Doug but I do agree that the effect of demag'ing does not seem to go away even after a few months. The static is always there, especially when the humidity levels are down around 20%. I don't believe that the static charges built up on vinyl are strong enough to have an effect on the magnetic field orientation, however small it is in an lp. Static charges are surface charges.

I believe we all know how much better things sound when static is controlled. But all you need do is remove what ever static safeguards are in place and you will hear the detrimental effects. This is not true of the demag effects. You can disconnect the ground wire, not use the Zerostat (which, BTW, I don't use any anti-static device other than grouding), whatever. You will still hear the effect of demag'ing.

It would also make sense that the strength of the demag'ing tool will decide how well, or maybe how long, the magnetic fields stay re-oriented after a treatment. Maybe why the Talisman needs to be used over and over.

The claim is that the particles are in the pigment, not in the plastics. I'm curious if any of your contacts are familiar with the compounds used to color LPs? I'd be interested in hearing feedback from your contacts on the claims in the Furutech white paper. If we accept for the moment that the pigment is the key to this, I would expect that non-colored vinyl should not respond to the demag at all. I think I have a clear lp somewhere. If so I'll give it a try.

Hi Dan_ed,

Thanks for the compliment. As I mentioned, I have never tried any type of demagnitizing device on records or CD's for that matter. I can only pass on what a couple of people think that would have some degree of knowledge about the subject. I do, however, respect your opinion about this. You would certainly know more about the results that you are getting than someone who has not tried using one of these devices.

With a little luck, the next time I'm at Music Direct I can get Mark or Michael to do a comparitive demonstration for me.

Best regards to all.

Jim Pendleton
Osage Audio Products, LLC

That's always the best thing, try it for yourself. BTW, I'm not trying to refute any physicists or chemists. I certainly don't know exactly what is taking place. I am curious to know what these guys have to say about what may or may not be happening, but then they would have to consider the whole picture. Magnetics, statics, cartridge signal generation, what solution is used to color the vinyl, etc. It may be easier to explain what is happening with ceedees and other digital medium.

Den ed with all due respect dont most manufacturers state that there product is the one you want, better that the rest. And give reasons to prove it.
Its like you said you need to do your own trial and error, use and do what your ears like. Because like our finger prints i think we all hear a little differently.
BTW i use both Talisman, and Ionoclast.
Getting ready to have a lot of fun cleaning about 40 lps. yea right.
My all have a very musical New Year

Well, that was the point I was trying to make. The Talisman and the Ionoclast do two separate operations. The post of Mapleshade's response read to me like they were saying that the devices that address magnetics didn't work as well as the Ionoclast. But the Ionoclast only addresses static. Don't use a screwdriver to drive a nail.