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Rushton's DIY approach to ultrasonic record cleaning published by Positive Feedback

Over the past several months I’ve invested a fair amount of time exploring ultrasonic cleaning because I’ve fallen way too far behind in my record cleaning. With over 6000 LPs, I needed a faster way to clean than my trusted multi-step manual wet/vac cleaning process. That manual process got the best results I’ve ever found, but I was not keeping up with my collection and it is just painful to me to play a record that I’ve not cleaned.

In exploring ultrasonic cleaning, my hope was to find that I could complete multiple LPs in a single US cleaning cycle and greatly speed up my rate of cleaning records. My goals were to FIRST do no harm and then SECOND see how close I could get to the results of my manual cleaning regimen.

My past experiences with ultrasonic cleaning demonstrations were completely underwhelming. What I heard did not approach the excellence I was achieving with my multi-step wet/vac cleaning regimen.

What I’ve learned, and now apply in my new ultrasonic cleaning regimen, are multiple elements to the cleaning process that must be used in combination to achieve the best possible results. And these results have far exceeded my expectations.

I’d thought of posting here on Audiogon the summary of what I’ve learned and am now applying as my new record cleaning regimen, but the inability to post images and to apply formatting here caused me to send my summary to David Robinson at Positive Feedback who has graciously published my comments as a guest essay. Please read that essay, and then come back here to Audiogon with comments and to share your experiences:

http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/rushton-paul-diy-approach-ultrasonic-cleaning-lps/


I look forward to some further discussion and sharing of experiences.

.


128x128rushton
nkonor
635 posts
 
astro58go,

Where do you acquire the Down with Dirty concentrate? The L' Art du Son is spendy. Also, I did not keep it refrigerated the first time I mixed it and it grew moldy in the bottle.
Thanks,
Norb
astro58go
542 posts
 
nkonor,

Got mine through Elusive Disc at 10% off = $72.00 but can make 6 gallons. According to AI, will keep for years at room temp.
astro58go
542 posts
 
A tip for any Audio Desk users, clean the underside of the wipers often. I use 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and a Qtip. You'll be surprised at how much stuff is there.

Regarding the DWDC I mentioned above, it seems to help if you shake the mixture up before applying, by a small margin. I'm not afraid of using enough to coat the lp well. (The "drop or two" method just doesn't cut it").

Happy Listening!

nkonor
635 posts
 
astro58go

Thanks for Elusive Disk info and tip on cleaning the underside of Audiodesk wiper blades.

nkonor
slaw's avatar
slaw
20,458 posts
 
FWIW:

I recently had an affirmation of my cleaning method.

I've been auditioning a phono stage (K&K Audio Trio) w volume. I'm fortunate that I live around an hour away. I've heard the same unit (w/o volume) in Kevin's system through his line stage.

Upon my first visit, we listened to Neil Young "Live at Massey Hall 1971/Classic Records", among others.

After my auditioning his Trio in my system with a volume control he rigged up for me for two weeks, I returned the unit to him.

In the mean time, I had cleaned side 3&4 with the DWDC from AI. I noticed a clearer sonic picture before I left to return the Trio.

When I arrived at Kevin's later, we listened to track 3, comparing his uncleaned and my newly cleaned NY through his statement Sonus Veritas phono.

The difference was not hard to hear at all. It was a clearer picture, as if a veil had been removed. Increase in dynamics were easily verified by us both.

Happy Listening!


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