I steam cleaned my records for a while about 2 years ago. IMO, the steam and heat altered the sound of the record. Not permenantly. I found you could reverse the results by thoroughly cleaning the record. I found the sound became thin in the mids and somewhat harsh in the upper frequencies. Other audiophile friends came to the same conclusions. We stopped steam cleaning after these findings.
record cleaning findings/puzzle
Hello Gentlemen,
I have been experimenting today with steam cleaning my records. I am looking for support of my findings.
I used 2 identical records ( as well as others ) one I cleaned with the vpi 16.5 and my homebrew 25% isopropyl(99%), 75% distilled water (pharmacy)
Steps
1.Mo-fi brush one 2-3 cycle with cleaner, vacuum 2 cycle
2.audioquest brush, distilled water rinse 2 cycle, vacuum
3.Play
(The brushes were just ones I had around, I did not pick these for any particular reason)
The other record was cleaned with the same brushes, same method, but I also used the hand held steamer during steps 1 and 2. I kept the steam on the record 2-4 inches away, for duration of scrubbing.
I assume there is a sonic print to my solution, is achohol typically bright/harsh sounding?
Between the 2, at first I found the steamed ones to sound more organic, maybe slightly rolled off in the highs, but just warmer and more detailed everywhere else except the highs.
When I play the Alcohol only, cleaned record the highs are more present/forward, and noticeable, but upon further listening I notice a lack of depth because of it. trick details.
Here's the good part:
I then switched the cleaning methods for both records ( and others as well) and the sonic footprints followed each method onto each record. I did this back and forth 3 times with this pair and four times on another single record.
I am assuming I am hearing my solution, but could the steam somehow be reacting with my brushes and maybe melting them, or leaving something I am hearing on the surface which is damping the highs. At first I thought I wrecked the records, then I started to notice the inner details in the rest of the spectrum other then the highs, and when I added my solution again, the highs came back, now sounding to strong and glaring.
Which is the real sound of this record?
Has anyone else found this too?
Thanks,
Mike
I have been experimenting today with steam cleaning my records. I am looking for support of my findings.
I used 2 identical records ( as well as others ) one I cleaned with the vpi 16.5 and my homebrew 25% isopropyl(99%), 75% distilled water (pharmacy)
Steps
1.Mo-fi brush one 2-3 cycle with cleaner, vacuum 2 cycle
2.audioquest brush, distilled water rinse 2 cycle, vacuum
3.Play
(The brushes were just ones I had around, I did not pick these for any particular reason)
The other record was cleaned with the same brushes, same method, but I also used the hand held steamer during steps 1 and 2. I kept the steam on the record 2-4 inches away, for duration of scrubbing.
I assume there is a sonic print to my solution, is achohol typically bright/harsh sounding?
Between the 2, at first I found the steamed ones to sound more organic, maybe slightly rolled off in the highs, but just warmer and more detailed everywhere else except the highs.
When I play the Alcohol only, cleaned record the highs are more present/forward, and noticeable, but upon further listening I notice a lack of depth because of it. trick details.
Here's the good part:
I then switched the cleaning methods for both records ( and others as well) and the sonic footprints followed each method onto each record. I did this back and forth 3 times with this pair and four times on another single record.
I am assuming I am hearing my solution, but could the steam somehow be reacting with my brushes and maybe melting them, or leaving something I am hearing on the surface which is damping the highs. At first I thought I wrecked the records, then I started to notice the inner details in the rest of the spectrum other then the highs, and when I added my solution again, the highs came back, now sounding to strong and glaring.
Which is the real sound of this record?
Has anyone else found this too?
Thanks,
Mike
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- 31 posts total
- 31 posts total