I received my Degritter yesterday.
I've got it up and running, just beginning to clean records. So far so good!
Degritter brand ultrasonic record cleaner
I received notification yesterday that the Degritter ultrasonic record cleaner is finally making it into production. I have been watching the company for about a year, as the cleaner has moved from prototype to beta testing , and now to a limited production of the finalized (we’ll see ;-) version. The design is excellent, eliminating my reservations about the high-priced (around $4,000) ultrasonic cleaners, at a little over half their price (just over $2,000, last I read). The Degritter uses 120kHz as it’s ultrasonic frequency, and features water filtering and disc drying. It also looks cool, like a 1950’s toaster! Details available on the companys website.
116 responses Add your response
Will give more detail later, but so far I'm awfully glad I went this route vs something like a VPI, Okki Nokki or other machines. This machine really suites my needs. Drop record in, press button and walk away, return to US cleaned and dried record! The extra cost for such convenience to me is well worth it, against the time/labor/noise etc involved in other methods. |
I have been in contact with the folks who created The Degritter and have found them to answer all my questions quickly and with a level of detail that inspires confidence. Having just recently gotten back in the the vinyl game, I find it would be helpful to have a product that is easy to use and gets the job done without all the fuss. The Degritter seems to check all the boxes and seems like a real engineered product. Most everything else seems just shy of DIY. @prof Having had the unit a while can you provide an update? Does the unit meet your expectations and would you purchase again? Any pitfalls? You mentioned a 2nd tank as for a clean wash if one adds their cleaner to the distilled water. I had the same idea. Also, your list of reasons of getting it are exactly like mine. If I could clean up both new and old vinyl and get rid of most of the pops and ticks that would be great. So far surface noise has not been terrible just pesky ticks and the occasional pop. As good as vinyl has been overall I think digital sources like SACD, CD, or something else for some genes or content may win out for playback - especially of the source material is very quiet. For example, the new Brian Eno half-speed masters may be a bit too noisy on vinyl for me. But the vice of most of my albums have been great. So I would like to clean them up as much as possible without having to make a sacrifice at the alter of the vinyl Gods. Thanks for the feedback. |
I got mine a couple days ago. There have been some issues but I think (hope) we’re past that now. The company has been very responsive and helpful. Coming from a KL machine there are so many things better about the Degritter. I had one new album that was very noisy since I bought it. Probably should have thrown it out after cleaning it with the KL 10 times and no improvement. I cleaned it once on the Degritter and it’s 95% quiet now! I’m putting every record through a heavy wash and I swear even records with no issues sound noticeably better afterwards. |
The Degritter machine met my expectations. Nice looking, very easy to use, great user interface, excellent flexibility in how you want to wash the records. Being able to drop a record in, push a button and walk away was what I wanted. There was one software glitch (machine didn't automatically turn off after 15 minutes as it is supposed to) but that was purportedly fixed with updated software that I have yet to download and install. But nothing that has impeded the use of the machine. It's nice that the Degritter can be updated by the user as new software is released - they can tweak how the machine works based on user feedback and their own research. Just to try, I did get a second tank. So if I want I can do a wash with surfactant, then insert the second tank to wash off the surfactant. Not sure this has made any difference. It's tough to know because I only ever have one copy of a record to wash, they are all going to be in different shape sonically, so it's hard to compare multiple cleaning methods. As for sonic results, like any record cleaner it depends on the shape of the record and the nature of it's noise. Obviously this machine won't get rid of pops and ticks caused by actual damage to the record, only if it's caused by debris that can be scoured out. Overall I'd say I hear an appreciable difference with every record after cleaning - smoother, less hash, somewhat less pops and ticks. There have been the occasional jaw-dropping difference. One record went from sounding like it had been taken directly from a trash compactor - hard to even hear the music through the noise - to sounding almost brand new after a wash in the Degritter. I hadn't thought such a thing possible until I heard it. Downsides? Sometimes I'm not sure I prefer the sound of the washed record to the unwashed record. It can sometimes make a record sound in a way a bit more CD-like than vinyl. Can sometimes seem to lose a little bit of life/air/leading edge after a wash. |
Yes the Degritter is very flexible and user programmable. I got two water tanks for my Degritter for when I want to do as you’ve mentioned - a second wash to remove any left over surfactant. Though the usual presets combine wash and dry, you can select to only wash the record - 3 presents from light/med/heavy wash times. Or only dry. So I do a heavy wash with the surfactant tank, with no dry time selected. When it’s finished I switch in the water-only tank and select a quick wash/dry cycle. |
Says here it is in stock: https://degritter.com/product/degritter-rcm/ I just picked one up. They had a few blemished units offered at a discount on the site so I grabbed one of those. I have been using it for a couple weeks. It works quite well in my opinion. I just bought the adapters for 7" and 10" records too as I have a fairly decent number of those records. I don’t do a second rinse though. The cleaner has an antistatic property to it and I find that this has definitely helped in my situation. |
Interesting. The US site says out of stock. https://us.degritter.com/product/degritter-rcm/ |
I have to sell a couple of my vintage drumsets before I can buy a Degritter. Audiogon member Simon (folkfreak) invited me over to his place in NE Portland to hear his system (and quite a system it is!), and while I was there he cleaned an LP I brought with me on his KL Audio machine. After hearing some of my records through his Magico loudspeakers (which have an elevated high end in comparison with those I’m accustomed to), I learned I HAVE to get an URC of my own! |
On 07-14-2019, Prof said: “Downsides? Sometimes I'm not sure I prefer the sound of the washed record to the unwashed record. It can sometimes make a record sound in a way a bit more CD-like than vinyl. Can sometimes seem to lose a little bit of life/air/leading edge after a wash.” Hello Prof, and everyone, I do not have a Degritter, so I hope I’m not too off-topic here, but I do have lots of DIY ultrasonic record cleaning experience, and my theory and experience with this is that a totally clean record can sound like what you are describing, especially if the lubricating surface of the vinyl becomes more “dry” such as it does with many cleaning fluids and methods. I use a post-wash and vacuum removal with a VERY diluted solution of L’Art du Son cleaning fluid. For me, this eliminates the problem you are describing. If you are interested, you can read more about it in my posts (redcars) here: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/timas-diy-rcm.26013/page-3#post-581681 There are posts both before and after this post if you want to dig into this further. The principle that I am recommending is not dependent on the method or products used in ultrasonic cleaning. Best, Don |
I’m not good at putting it into words but I prefer the sound of any album run through the Degritter. This is including new ones right from the package. I’m going back through my entire collection and putting each record through a heavy wash as a starting point. To me it’s more open and interesting sounding after a Degritter wash. |
Sounds good vortex. I notice what seems to be more subtle, rich quality to the sound after cleaning. And a washed record seems more "transparent" like my speakers disappear and soundstage better in a way. Probably due to a drop in the background noise floor, giving a deeper impression of the soundfield. |
On 07-14-2019, Prof said: “Downsides? Sometimes I'm not sure I prefer the sound of the washed record to the unwashed record. It can sometimes make a record sound in a way a bit more CD-like than vinyl. Can sometimes seem to lose a little bit of life/air/leading edge after a wash.” On 08-18-2019, redcar said: “I do not have a Degritter, so I hope I’m not too off-topic here, but I do have lots of DIY ultrasonic record cleaning experience, and my theory and experience with this is that a totally clean record can sound like what you are describing, especially if the lubricating surface of the vinyl becomes more “dry” such as it does with many cleaning fluids and methods. I use a post-wash and vacuum removal with a VERY diluted solution of L’Art du Son cleaning fluid. For me, this eliminates the problem you are describing. I noticed the same issue when cleaning with the KLAudio. I moved to the Clearaudio Double Matrix Sonic with Audio Intelligent Cleaning Fluid which does not have the problem of losing a little bit of life/air/leading edge after a wash. A Degritter from my initial Degritter order just arrived and I have yet to try it to find how it compares to the Clearaudio. From initial inspection and discussions with Degritter, I find the Degritter a much better thought through concept than either the KLAudio or AudioDesk. I will report back once I had some chance to try it out properly. |
Example showing the latest firmware update that was posted yesterday. The machine is constantly evolving. 30/10/2019 Change log – New user interface design – Washing program movements were altered – Drying cycle revolves record at a slower rate – Fix for “No Water” – Fix for water incomplete draining – HEAVY program length reduced – Longer water cooling cycle |
They are also being sold right here on Audiogon too at same $3000 and claimed to be in USA stock. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9if53-degritter-ultrasonic-record-cleaner-cleaning-systems |
@stringreen, so a sweep with the Hunt brush (which I also own, along with a Decca, Audioquest, and Discwasher) gets all the "stuff" out of the grooves and off the surfaces of the used LP's you add to your collection? Or you don't buy used? I've bought more used this year than new, and there's no way I'm gonna use my stylus to remove the gunk from the groove of a previously owned LP. That's like using someone else's toothbrush! |
Am fortunate to be a member of the weekly listening sessions at Albert Porter's house and a KL owner. Our response to the Degritters results are uniformly positive. In fact records played after Degritter cleaning seem to play louder!!!(assume this comes from a lower noise floor and a sense of greater dynamic range-we assume that the greater cleaning efficacy is due to the higher cleaning frequency). |
FYI, I've started a series of reviews of the unit - here's the first vid, more to come over the next several dayshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWKjmP4x6i8 |
I sat on the fence since the Degritter became available and finally ordered one a few months ago. Had to wait about 2 months before it finally arrived, due to the Pandemic. I have had it about a week and have only ran a few Lps thru it, but not sure if it is working correctly. I have ran a couple of new Lps through the Degritter, on the maximum cleaning cycle, and they seem 'clean' coming out... about the same as going in, except that when I inspect the record there seems to be tiny specs of lint/paper still stuck on the suface and in the grooves. Last night I cleaned an album multiple times using the maximum setting and then finally added 1.5 ml of the cleaner, as I was just using distilled water at first because these are all new records I'm 'cleaning'. The lint/paper specs come loose after a little rubbing with my finger, but shouldn't the Degritter be doing this? Is there a way to check that the transducers are operating as they should? How am I to know if all that is running is the pump or fan? Is there something in the software I can check on the screen? I have a Keith Monks KMAL twin platter RCM which I have almost completed rebuilding/modifying.. I replaced the original vacuum pump with a new, more powerful modern pump (same one they use on their new model)replaced both the arm motor and the thread spool motor with custom Industrial HD motors that turn 1/2 the speed of the originals and also slowed both platters speed from 100 rpm, down to 50 rpm. Also added a vacuum gauge. Cleaning a record now will take 2x longer (was 1 minute per side, now will be 2 minute per side), but I was not comfortable with the high rpm of both the platters original speed. I believe this will be a better cleaning RCM, as the vacuum arm will be working the same area with slightly more vacuum (also adjustable) than before and safer on the records than the original design. Everyone stay well! Rick |
You can look at the version of your software on the “info screen” last selection on the rotating knob. Current version is 2.2.9v8 i did update the firmware on mine when I received it. Over 200 albums cleaned and nothing similar to any dust residue you are experiencing. Is the water tank properly filling? |
Hello drrsutliff, Actually, the current version on my machine is the most current version: 2.2.16v8 As for the machine, I checked it by testing the amp draw (I'm an Electrician by trade) using 2 different clamp-on Amp meters to reference each other during the cleaning cycle, which during the 'quick' clean cycle the amperage fluctuated between .24A -.42a... never going higher than 50 watts, which would amount to just what the pump and fan used.Obviously, since the transducers use 300 watts, that circuit is not working. Thanks for the suggestions and have a great day! Rick |
Degritter is just a total pleasure to deal with. Some of the best customer service I have ever experienced! The faulty machine is now on its way back to Estonia. One of the corners of the shipping box is got a pretty good crushed corner, probably evident of an impact that caused the damage. Very much looking forward to getting the new Degritter so I can see how well it works when the transducers function properly I did a little more exploring a couple days ago and found the problem on the transducer amplifier board. I would post a picture of what I found but this site makes it too difficult to post pictures... Hey Audiogon... it's 2020! |
I’ve been using a Degritter for about a week. Some of my older albums had some mould growth and it didn’t entirely remove that, even on heavy, so an enzyme cleaner and my existing VPI are still required. Apart from mould the Degritter seems to be enough and much less of a chore than all that mucking about with fluids and brushes. |
