Hi group,I own an Audio Desk Systeme ultrasonic cleaner; I have a question for other owners:After it finishes its cleaning cycle, do you rinse your records in distilled water? I have not been doing that, but wonder if I should include that step in my cleaning regimen.The ADS cleans vinyl ultrasonically, in water that does include a cleaning solution.
I no longer own an Audio Desk, but when I did I used far less than the full bottle of fluid for each tankful of distilled water. Not to save money, but some people were complaining about foaming as I recall and I figured less is better if it still does the job (reduce surface tension to enhance cavitation effect). Records that had been cleaned in the Audio Desk showed water clinging to the surface in way that was different than other records, which suggested to me that some residue of the surfactant from the AD remained. I couldn't hear a sonic signature from the AD fluid, particularly at reduced amounts, but the idea of leaving some chemical on the record did cause me to change my process. On the other hand, I know plenty of people who are very happy with their ADs and I have played records that came from them without a problem. I currently do a rinse cycle using different equipment, but part of that is due to how I prefer to dry the records after an ultrasonic cleaning.
Don't forget that there are different grades of purity in distilled waters. The kind you buy at Walmart is not as pure as "laboratory grade" DW. Do some research...
I've never used an Audio Desk but I do have a Klaudio US machine, which I think is terrific. As an FYI, Klaudio recommends that its machine be used only with distilled water. That has worked very well for me and I've never seen a need for using any additives. My records tend to be reasonably clean to start with, so that may make a difference. YMMV.
Audiophilia nervosa is a psychological disorder. There is no vaccine. There is however a foolproof cure. Its called: relax. Realize your system sucks, always has, always will, and there simply is nothing you can do about it, because nothing ever is perfect. That's just the way things are. Situation normal. So: relax.
I have had my ADS about 3 yrs now and what I have been doing is changing fluid mix about every 50 albums. I figure it is cheap and keeps the solution at a premium level and cleaner. I have not seen any signs of residue and feel confident they are clean. I do use a Furutech de-stat on each side each time I play along with a the anti static brush. so far much happier than I was with the VPI 16.5 which in itself is a great machine.
I connect the tank drain to some hose that travels to filter "1 then another length of hose to filter #2, then another length of hose to the RV pump, then a long length of hose that I manually hold inside the tank when the pump is running.
The second filter isn’t necessary. I was experimenting and tried it this way. What’s more important is filter surface area. The 10" filter provides this. I like the clear filter housing because you can see what’s going on.I change water about every 6 weeks. I pull the tank drain hose off, take the tank to the sink and empty it. Tank back in place now. Put the hose into a new gallon of distilled water, hold the hose into the tank at the other end, turn on the pump and this washes the line/filter out. This pumping process takes 30 seconds. Empty the tank into the sink again. Reinstall everything and add fresh water. I use Versa-Clean at 2oz. per gallon.
l give it a few turns in my SpinClean after the US
I do too. My US is a cheap $100 one. I guess it does it’s job. I see residues even after cleaning about 50 brand new records. (I had bought about 100 sealed classical albums mostly from late 70s and 80s). I feel new records made recently are worse. They are dirtier and also sound terrible especially those selling at around $20.
After looking at your photos they appear to show the filters mounted on the suction side of the pump Bayite . If this is correct - If I might offer a suggestion - install the filter(s) at the pump discharge side. The filters will present a pressure drop and the pump suction side only has about 7-ft of suction head. Check the filter cartridge max differential pressure rating - most will be >15 psid (>35-ft head equivalent) so to get maximum use, fine filters are generally installed at the pump discharge - and your pump has an maximum discharge head of 80 psi.
Since you are pumping relative clean water (no stones & pebbles) you do not need a suction strainer. If you do replumb, since you do not have a differential pressure gauge on the filter or pump - keep an eye on the filter and pump noise and the power supply temp, As the filter loads and water flow pressure drop increases - the pump discharge head (being a positive displacement pump) will increase to maintain flow until it reaches its maximum. But its maximum (80 psid) can collapse most disposable filters. But as the pump discharge increases so will its noise and the 120VAC/12VDC power supply will heat up because the pump is drawing more current.
Installing a fine filter at the suction does keep the fluid clean to the pump - but this a positive displacement pump and its uses a diaphragm to control valves to draw-in/discharge-out water and they are not as sensitive to debris as a centrifugal pump. The general recommendation for a pump suction strainer is one of 50 mesh - but that is equal to 300 microns - that is a pretty big particle. Small pump suction strainers have low pressure drop and are widely available -
Amazon.com: SHURFLO (255-313) 1/2" Twist-On Pipe Strainer: Automotive
if you wanted to install one - for raw water usage they are recommended. FYI - If you plumbed a centrifugal pump with those fine filters at the suction, the centrifugal pump would have cavitated and pretty much destroyed its self. Centrifugal pumps do not have much suction lift.
I have the Audiodesk and the answer is simply NO. Unless you plug into the RV as mentioned. You have distilled water with 70% alcohol already, or if you still have their cleaning agent.
I have the Audiodesk and the answer is simply NO. Unless you plug into the RV as mentioned. You have distilled water with 70% alcohol already, or if you still have their cleaning agent.
I’m not sure I understand the above reference, but be aware that using alcohol in your Audiodesk Vinyl Cleaner Pro will void your warranty. Do so at your own risk.
Audiophilia nervosa is a psychological disorder. There is no vaccine. There is however a foolproof cure. Its called: relax. Realize your system sucks, always has, always will, and there simply is nothing you can do about it, because nothing ever is perfect. That’s just the way things are. Situation normal. So: relax.
Wise words from @millercarbon. The biggest impediment to clean records is a complicated cleaning system that you soon grow tired of, and stop using after the new wears off.
We use the recommended method with our Vinyl Cleaner Pro, don’t think twice about it, and enjoy clean records that easily match the cleaning quality of the three-step (A-I fluid) process we used with our Loricraft machine (excellent, results with the A-I fluids, but labor intensive).
On our Audiodesk page (where I survey cleaning methods), I quote Wayne Gretzky: “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take".
Photographers with the ideal, full-frame Nikon or Canon rig with (of course) the holy trinity of zoom lenses soon grow tired of lugging a 20 pound rig with them. The camera you don’t have is the photo you don’t take.
In the same way, the perfect cleaning protocol that is too laborious to use is the record you don’t clean.
I have a Degritter US cleaner and a VPI 16.5, the VPI was bought some years ago now. The US is automatic but for the really dirty discs you can’t beat an enzyme cleaner and the VPI is good for that. I’ve not noticed much benefit from a post US water wash if the US has done the job but sometimes it doesn’t so the vacuum gives another option.
My ultrasonic fluid contains some things other than water, so I definitely want to get all that stuff off. After the US cleaning, I give each record a spin on my Keith Monks-style vacuum machine and do a three part rinse with MFSL Wash, MFSL rinse, followed by HPLC water, vacing between each step. After a cleaning session, I pump the fluid through a filter and into a gallon jug for storage.
I can't believe this is even a question. You have a record spinning is a tepid pool of it's own filth and then gets air dry by a fan and people are wondering if they should rinse the record with clean distilled water. Really, I mean you really can't figure this out? RINSE the record.
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