@atmasphere ,
Ralph,
I bought my first system in Jan. 1972. I could only afford 3 records, that weekend. Of course, the collection started to grow as soon as I could afford them. Tics, crackles, pops started to become annoying along with the phono Hiss at loud levels. Then, I saw a "parastat" record cleaner. Small tubular cleaner, You were supposed to wet the inside foam with distilled water. I did not like the water part, because it left water on the record. So, I used it dry. Then came the "Discwasher", which I still use occasionally for a quick touch up. I did not like the fluid, I probably used too much. Also, left wet areas on the record. I used it on every record side dry until 1989, when my wife bought me a VPI 16.5 for our 1st Christmas in Alaska.
It did not take long, to become a believer in wet vacuuming records.
I now put a tremendous effort into cleaning my records. - Rinse with RO, 5 minute soak with L'Art du Son, Rinse with RO, then cycle in my Audiodesk US cleaner, Finally, 2 rinses with RO with my VPI and a pickup tube that has only been used for these rinses.Then, finally on a Furutek De' Mag and a quick De' Stat. To me, it is worth the effort and time. Especially, since I have a Technics SL1200G modded with a Triplanar tonearm that Ralph modded for me last year.
Do I get every record CD clean ? NO. But damn close on most and have removed troublesome tics, crackles, and pops, that could not be done otherwise.
From 1972 till recently, I have just accepted, that records, will have these occasional pops and tics. Ralph, you know that I follow your posts and agree with what you have to say until now. At Axpona 2018, I had a chance to sit and listen to your system. I think that, you went to visit the Technics room. There was a third guy selling 'Nipper' dogs and Tri was there. My wife bought me a nipper dog and talked to Tri.
While listening to your system, I heard occasional and small tics and pops. You must accept these as I do and just ignore them. They were there on your system, records that morning. So, do your records play at CD clean ??? Or do you accept the occasional tics and pops. Yes, I have been a vinyl guy since 1972. That's 46 years of vinyl. Used and new records have or get tics and pops. I do have Many, that play CD quiet but IMO, it is impossible to get every track or record to play CD quiet All the time.
With my cleaning regime, I hear details, timbre, sonics that you could not retrieve otherwise. If you search these threads, you will find others like Ralph, that do not clean their records and claim that guys like me are wasting time and money. You will also find guys like me. If we could actually get Chicago guys to get together, we could do some kind of A/B, shootout etc. The Chicago Audio Society is worthless. I have reached out to Chicago guys, to get together before and have had no responses. So, it is a lone endeavor to clean records or not. Your choice. IMO, I agree with slaw, that Ralphs take, is a bit of overreach.
Best to All on this Journey
