2. analog
  3. 1339551139

Audio Desk Record Cleaner-Anyone buy one yet

I may never get to own one of these due to the price, but if I could I would say that it may the best upgrade to any analog system. I had the opportunity recently to have a couple of records cleaned on one. The two Lp's I had cleaned are one of many copies I have purchased thru the years in search of a good clean copy. The title is the 2 disk set "Renaissance Live at Carnegie Hall". I took one of my copies over in hopes that I would get back that sought after clean copy. However I will preface my comments about the Audio Desk with the cold hard fact that once a record reaches a level of surface noise and contamination, nothing can make it new again. However once the Audio Desk completed it's 8 minute process, the improvements were immediately evident. First thing to take notice of, absolutely the cleanest and shiniest black vinyl I think I have ever seen. The LP's looked better than new under light. But the real test is listening. As I have listened to the title many many times from my first copy back in the 70's and never on LP, CD or Imported CD have I heard the detail of the recording. On disk #1 the cleanest of the two the LP was much cleaner than I have been able to obtain on my VPI 16.5 using Walker 4 Step, Mobile Fidelity Enzime, L'Art Du son, and various other solutions. My guess is the Audio Desk cleaned an additional 50-70% of the surface noise from the album. The depth of information in the Annie Haslam's Vocals, the clarity of the Bass that I had written off as muddled recording failure was now revealing the individual notes each taking their own space in the music field. The orchestra was fully present and not crowded together as before. Now on to disk 2, the disappointment of permanantly damaged grooves was inescapable. However the music that came thru had much more information to re-write the recall of this recording burned in my memory from previous listening sessions. On Scherazade with the verbal introduction to the song, I heard instruments and voices in nthe back ground that I had never noticed before. Little plucks of strings and puffs on brass as the orchestra was making sure they were ready to perform. I will say that an additional cleaning of 20-30 percent of this album was still obvious but to my disappointment, the Audio Desk is not a miracle worker, but a pretty damn good magician. I think 3800.00 is a lot of money for just about anything these days, but is it worth the 3800.00? Yes if you value and love your record collection. I have an LP12 with many upgrades and Lyra Kleos Cartridge. This record cleaner is just 800.00 more than the cartridge and when I put the two in perspective they both can bring a much higher level of performance to your turntable. Unfortunatly you need both and I sadley can only afford one. The financial curse of audiophilia continues....
128x128theo
mikelavigne
2,200 posts
 
at RMAF i learned about another 'trick' for the 'white wipers' from the 'Elusive Disc' guy who was demo'ing the Audio Desk.

he said to take a 'twist tie', those wires with a paper wrap, and insert the twist tie (laying flat against the flat back of the white wiper) behind the white wiper in the slot carefully. basically start them both together and gently, slowly, push them in.

this will push the white wiper out just a bit and help it wipe better. he said a wire by itself is not enough.

the paper will keep the twist tie from damaging the white wiper and it's probably good if the twist tie is slightly sticking out at the end so it can be grabbed by a pliers for easy extraction. i might also apply a small amount of vasoline to the back of the twist tie so it slides in easier if it won't slide in smoothly.

i've not yet tried it but it does sound like it would work.
orthobiz
2 posts
 
Any updates? I am thinking of buying one but would keep my Loricraft for precleaning really dirty ones and in case the ADS breaks down.

thanks,

Paul
gpgr4blu
1,094 posts
 
Hi Paul:
Still happy. After 6 months and 300 clean records. I would happily purchase again.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Orthobiz, my only problem with this machine is evaporation of the cleaning fluid. I often go for weeks without cleaning and the fluid does evaporate. Also in the summer, I leave Texas for months. The only real solution is draining the unit into a bottle.

Apart from this this unit is far and away the most convenient and thorough record cleaner I have owned and I have owned even the original Keith Mooks, VPIs including one with a delgrin tube, the Loricraft unit, etc.

In my experience, the recent units are entirely dependable.
rockitman's avatar
rockitman
417 posts
 
As an auto deske owner here's my take. It's a great finish cleaning unit. If your records are old or even new but have mold release gunk, mold or fingerprint oils, the auto deske will not clean them. For best results...ie cleaning for the first time, I scrub the records with disk doctor brushes first using my cleaning fluid of choice, then I dry them off with a micro fibre towel and put it in the auto desk for the final rinse/ clean/dry. Once that is done then the auto desk is great to keep them clean ( dust free) and the complete drying w/o static.
More to discover