Ultrasonic: should I do it?

It is worth it if you play a lot of records

You're obviously dedicated to record play.

Stop thinking, and do it. Unquestionably worth it. I would go AD. Doesn't get much better, clean and dried, ready to go in a reasonable time.

Look where we are at now....life is too short and weird to not indulge in a few things.

I don't have UL yet, but I will go AD eventually.
I've tried the AD numerous times, it's the real deal. The other are likely fine, those without drying....forget it. I want a machine that operates like a toaster-drop a slice in, wait a little...done.

 

The Audio Desk is a high cost convenience. (I actually own one). And when it breaks down, a high cost repair.
Check this out.. www.vibratollc.com
I actually own one.

I get a kick out of people who recommend products with no actual experience with them.

I bought the Degritter about a year ago. I'm not looking back. It's easy to use and has done a very nice job cleaning my vinyl. In addition to new units they sometimes have B-stock available for a discount off MSRP which is what I bought.

Folks,Thank you all for your advice; I decided to go with the Audio Desk Pro - got a demo unit at a great price.

Another Degritter here, I tried an Audiodesk but was expecting too much at the time as it didn’t clean one of my test records down to 17D3 depth, my cartridge at the time and having a particularly fine microridge stylus and then read I about the  difficulty of repairing it when the pump or fan went. I’ve no actual knowledge if the Degritter is better in this respect but it won’t be worse. I still keep a VPI16.5 for use with an enzyme cleaner for those discs that are too much for US alone (mould spots for example).

I remember when the big thing was steam.  Nobody does this anymore?
I never did because it seemed like too much effort and mess, but I would bet a good steam followed by an ultrasonic would really get to the bottom of those grooves.  Maybe.  

Friend had an Audiodesk and he didn't think it was worth the $$$. Brought some of my LPs over and it did a good job but I bought the Kirmuss then cleaned the same albums. Wow so much blacker background and better dynamics. I do not do all the steps per Kirmuss and it works fine.

I own an Audio Desk cleaner. I also own a Spin Clean and a Loricraft. I use the  Spin Clean first. At least 60 revolutions to knock the bark off’em. Then I clean them on the Loricraft with a cleaner that can remove oils, soaps, and grease, such as Keith Monks or the Disc Doctor fluids. Then it goes to the Audio Desk then back to the Loricraft for an enzyme wash and a thorough distilled water rinse. Then to the Mobile Fidelity sleeve.

The Audio Desk does not remove oils very well. And while it loosens dirt in the grooves of the record, it does not remove this debris with the efficiency of the Loricraft or any other quality vacuum operated record cleaning machine.

Everyone, thanks for keeping the conversation going.So far, my Audio Desk has worked fine and I do notice the difference in my records.
Regafan: I see you rinse your records at the end; did you find that improves sound quality after using the Audio Desk? I don't have a Loricraft so I cannot duplicate what you do, but I do have a Spin Clean and am considering a final distilled water rinse.

I actually rinse after every step. 

I use a plastic eye dropper to evenly distribute the Spin Clean fluid over the entire surface of the cleaning brushes. This way the lead in grooves and the first track and a half are affected by the cleaning solution. I use the prescribed amount (1 large capful) and no more.

I have taken albums from the Audio Desk and placed them in the Spin Clean sans cleaning fluid and was amazed at how much debris was removed from the record. The Spin Clean rinse works. I go about 16 to 20 turns in total, but equally in both directions. Because there is no cleaning fluid used for the rinse there is no floculant. The fine particles removed from the record will not be suspended at the bottom of the Spin Clean tub. Instead, they will go to the bottom of the tub and adhere to the plastic. Only a soap and water cleaning with a brush will remove this film. I wash my brushes in the clothes washes with a tiny bit of detergent and 1\2 to 3\4 of a cap of bleach added to the bleach portal. Hot wash, cold rinse.

Because of the tenacious nature of these particles, the enzyme wash was incorporated into my regimen. 

Long story made short: always rinse. The Spin Clean used as a rinsing tool works well.


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