Vinyl “Pops & Clicks” eliminators


I’m betting a polarizing topic, but I ask the question as a truly curious audiophile who has just not honestly had the opportunity to do any real research on this category of products....so, am not asking as either a proponent nor opponent of this technology.   So, a few obvious items: (1) it’s best to work with clean, unblemished LP’s (for multiple reasons) and (2) obviously a product designed to “remove” an audible defect is also going to affect the audible spectrum; but in what ways, exactly, both desirable and undesirable do these devices affect the music?

I’m talking specifically about devices like the Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-1, but I’ve literally done zero research so far on how many devices like this even exist.   The “Sweetvinyl” box comes to mind only because I see their ad in TAS mag, but I don’t know if there are other companies with similar products.   
Question is....we all have LPs in our collection that we acquired and for whatever reason were not kept “clean” and have scratches resulting in audible pops/clicks.   Are these devices — essentially selective filters — selective enough to do their job on imperfect records without destroying the surrounding harmonics?    Or do we just discard & reacquire any scratched records we own?   Or is this a “better” solution?

I’m gonna guess that literally 10% maximum of the Agon’ers who reply here have ever owned/heard these products used, so maybe let’s all just mention whether our opinion, our response, is based on real-life observations, or just theoretical replies.    Both have value, but for different reasons.

Best,
Jim
jhajeski

Showing 2 responses by 16f4

I see SweetVinyl will be an exhibitor at Capital Audiofest this weekend.  I may stop by and check out the SC-1 and SC-2. http://capitalaudiofest.com/exhibitors-and-brands/

well, just got home from Capital Audiofest.  I checked out the Sugar Cube systems.  Personally, I thought the bass was a bit more pronounced after the signal passed through.  Not so much that it affected my enjoyment of the music.  Would I spend the money for either models?  Probably not.  The system does in real time what I can do with my WaveRepair software.  My guess is if you have enough money to buy this equipment you probably have enough to buy a new pristine copy of whatever record you want to clean.