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Spin Clean seems to add noise to records?

Hi,
On the strength of good reviews and enthusiastic forum comments, I recently purchased a Spin Clean record cleaning system and cleaned around 20 records with it. I'm a little perplexed.
On the positive side, music sounds great: clearer, more "alive" and more dynamic. On the negative, I'd swear that quiet parts of the record, e.g., the lead in groove and and pauses between songs, sound noisier: more clicks and pops. This doesn't seem to be what a cleaner record should sound like!
Could I be doing something wrong? I've followed the directions carefully. And I could certainly see blackish crud settling to the bottom of the chamber.
The only ambiguous part is how to hold the record when you dry it off with the drying cloths. I tried holding it upright and gently wiping both sides, but that seemed to risk stressing and bending the vinyl disc. I also tried laying it on a table on top of a clean towel or a couple of the drying cloths and then wiping the top surface dry.
Let me also mention that I am using distilled water, and that I have read the "noisy records" item in Spin Clean's FAQ, here:

http://www.spincleanrecordwasher.com/faq.html#15
Eager for your thoughts and advice.
rebbi
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,656 posts
 
Thanks for the heads up! I was going to order one today and now I'll just pass.
actusreus
733 posts
 
Doug Deacon can explain it more eloquently, but the fact that you hear more clicks and pops is probably an indication that your Spin Clean does a good job cleaning the records. No RCM will clean away the mechanical damage to the grooves; clicks and pops are usually a sign there is damage to the record grooves unless the record is dirty enough to affect the tracking of the stylus. A dirty record can mask the damage by sounding more "quiet," but the separation and resolution of the instruments will also be negatively impacted. Conversely, a clean record with some groove damage may appear to have more surface noise, but will actually sound clearer and more "alive." That seems to be supported by your observation that "[o]n the positive side, music sounds great: clearer, more "alive" and more dynamic."
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,399 posts
 
I have both a spin clean and a 16.5. Both do a good job. Never notice more noise after cleaning.
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
Well said ACT, the spin clean is in fact working fine. That's why Rebbi can hear how the record really sounds. Note I love there fluid and it works very well on dirty used records. OR you can always buy a VPI cleaner for $500 !
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Actusreus,
Thanks for your thoughts. I'd thought that the cleaning might have uncovered some damage, too. It reminded me of another thread on cleaning regarding Gruv Glide spray (which I also own). Some suggest that Gruv Glide makes records sound quieter by smoothing over damage in the groove walls, while at the same time "smoothing over" musical detail, as well.
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