Degritter brand ultrasonic record cleaner

@tswisla I’ll know soon…Just ordered more of a DIY set up with a multi frequency Ultrasonic tank and the Clenervinyl rotisserie.

The Degritter seems more convenient, but with the other one I can do 10 at a time, so I can get through more of them.
I’ll need to find a dirty example, and then do a before and after.(Once the gear all arrives)

Anyone with a RCM try a noisy record cleaned with RCM and then compared to cleaning after Degritter?  Is it really superior to a RCM in terms of sound quality or is it mainly the convenience factor?

@dodgealum Please check PM.

I have one in silver in a sealed box just arrived from a authorized dealer. Circumstances have me considering a sale. Please PM if you are interested.

PM sent

I have one in silver in a sealed box just arrived from a authorized dealer. Circumstances have me considering a sale. Please PM if you are interested.

I got a DeGritter earlier this year and cleaned hundreds of records with it - works great, does what it's supposed to with no problems or issues whatsoever...

I'm half Estonian so I wish them great success. From all indications, an excellent product.

The Degritter is simply amazing. I’ll be posting my Klaudio machine for sale shortly. 

If anyone sees a demo model, or wants to change color, then please sing out.I am heavily lean towards one of these.

Well, I just purchased one from a local dealer. It's quite nice! My previous LP cleaning machines are … a Nitty Gritty (still miss it ... what a difference that made although boy was it loud and a bit of work … still, it was lovely to meet Gayle when I had it overhauled back when I loved in Southern California), an Okki Noki, and an iSonic Ultrasonic cleaner (about to go on eBay). The Degritter is the easiest by far, just put in an LP and it is done roughly ten minutes later. 

My own observations regarding sound is that it does reduce noise a little bit, although it can only do so much on old and abused records, especially since virtually all of my LPs have been vacuumed on the Okki Nokki or Nitty Gritty and my AMG Viella V12 does a ludicrously good job with tracking. What the Degritter does do well is improve dynamic range and the low end. I haven't heard any loss of high frequencies, but that could be the characteristics of different systems.

Back to the Viella for a minute. The Okki Noki is $500, the Degritter is $3,000. I was using the Okki Nokki with a Clearaudio Performance DC that cost me something like $4,000 counting tonearm and cartridge. The Viella V12 cost more like $27,000. The Clearaudio Performance is fantastic and I'm selling it to my best friend. But the V12 is even better. We are talking 95% vs 99.9% here but one thing that I would have never expected with the V12 is that it tracks so much better that much of the static and noise that marred my LP experience is gone now due to better tracking. The same happened when I moved from a Thorens TD 160 MKII to the Performance DC. 

So what's the lesson here? To me, spending roughly 10-15% of what your turntable cost on some form of record cleaner makes sense, but I wouldn't recommend spending more unless you plan on buying a new turntable soon. And if you've spent a considerable sum on your turntable, well then, a Degritter is as easy to use as any technology could be.

One way to look at the price of a machine such as The Degritter is: if your local used-record store were to charge you $1 to clean an LP on an USC, would you do it? Well, if you have 3,000 LP's in your music library (a reasonable number), buying and using it, The Degritter will have paid for itself. Charge other LP owners of your acquaintances (not friends, of course ;-) a buck a record, and make your money back!

Finally is right @prof! I'll bet the Degritter company was so back-ordered they didn't have a spare to send him (at no cost to him). Plus, they were selling every machine they could make, no need for a review. Fremer gets most the new-release/reissue LP's he reviews for free, and industry-accommodation pricing on equipment (around half retail).

Good to see Fremer finally got around to reviewing the Degritter.He gave it a big thumbs up.

Good to hear. I appreciate the info.

I've had mine for a few months. It's the best purchase I've ever made and the company is great. I did have a bad power switch that crapped out after 2 months. They quickly sent me a new switch and simple instruction on how to pop it on. Very responsive.

My experience has been that It makes every record sound better.

I'm strongly considering one of these so I'm giving this thread a bump. Any more reflections on its effectiveness or dependability? Thanks.

Is there any outlet for rental of such gear? I have close to 1,000 vinyl records I would like to digitize and this would obviously be an amazing first step. However, given the insane price tag, I am curious if there is any such place to rent a unit like this. Thanks for the help!

Hi group,
I’m looking at buying a Degritter. In case of service, is there a US repair option or does it have to go back to Europe?
How have people found the reliability of the unit?

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.

I get my Degritter on Thursday! After going back and forth for about a year, I just decided what the hell. It's not like having that money is going to do me any good if the world is coming to an end :)

Me 2 !!!! Updates please

@ric
Hey Audiogon... it's 2020!

No lie.

@restock if you are still around, I would love to hear your comparison of the Degritter to Clearaudio double matrix.

Thanks

I’m glad you were able to sort it out.  Please update us when the replacement arrives and you are able to enjoy what it can properly accomplish with some transducer help...

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!

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

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?  

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

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

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).

Based on reviews here and elsewhere I have added the Degritter to my Santa list.
Hope the wife is reading this.......

That's like using someone else's toothbrush!

YUK!

I use a Hunts brush.....does a good job...no need for a multi-thousand dollar machine that takes up space and is a pia to use.  I hardly ever use my NittyGritty...just not worth the trouble.

Vortrex.
If you read the question and answer at bottom of the listing it says all you need to know.

Albert Porter is/was a KL user and now he’s selling Degritter. Would be interesting to get his thoughts. 

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

Right @kozzmo999, and the price had crept up to $3000. Not cheap, but lower priced than both the KL Audio and Audiodesk @ $4000. A DIY ultrasonic cleaner can be put together for under $1000, but the Degritter has it all.

just to give a bump here to peoples experience with the degritter....personally these guys seem to be the most knowledgeable and believable of the non diy options out there....I just noticed that Music Direct has the degritter listed on their site and in stock.....

Example showing the latest firmware update that was posted yesterday. The machine is constantly evolving. 
30/10/2019 
Change log 

– New user interface design
User interface of the machine was changed to incorporate larger fonts with better readability. Also, the menu and settings pages were changed.

– Washing program movements were altered
Record revolution direction was changed to have less of a chance of foam ending up on record. 

– Drying cycle revolves record at a slower rate
This slightly improves drying times. Also, triple drying for one record sector was removed, as the slower drying revolutions provides similar results.

– Fix for “No Water”
Fix for rare cases where “No Water” error appears even when water is present.

– Fix for water incomplete draining
Fix for rare cases where the machine did not drain all the water before starting drying cycle, resulting in wet records. 

– HEAVY program length reduced
HEAVY program length was reduced from 8min to 6min.

– Longer water cooling cycle
Water cooling cycle was extended from 2min to 3min. This cools water more and prevents multiple cooling cycles during one program.

audiotomb - I've had both.  The Degritter has 3 major advantages.  Filter, removable water tank, and the entire system is controlled by firmware which the user can easily update.  I've found the Degritter to clean better and is much easier to use/maintain.  It's also quieter and cheaper.

this is a rebirth of the  objection made by flat earthers in the late 80's when record cleaning machines  became popular and record cleaning started to approach today's fetish levels.

I have a KL Audio and Loricraft
99.5% KL only
it has taken my vinyl collection to major heights in noise floor, low level detail and tonality.


what is it about the Degritter that so surpases the KL?
seems only a few people have experienced both

design? Sonic characteristics?

I am looking forward to your report, too, restock!

Looking forward to your report, restock!

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.

Has anyone compared the Audio Desk vs Degritter? Considering them both for about the same price. 

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.

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. 

*bump* for question ^^^^

Curious about other Degritter owners:  what are your impressions of the sound after washing?