Walker Audio Prelude Record Cleaning Question -

Mark: No disrespect intended, but I think that lumping single stage distilled (or simple RO for example) in with a reagent grade water like this:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/casco-nerl-water-reagent-grade-9800-5.html

is a bit of a stretch. While true ultrapure might undergo a slightly more stringent ultrafiltration (as well as ultraviolet radiation) than a Type 1 Reagent grade like that above. I'd bet that a good reagent grade would certainly be a lot closer (possibly very close to, possibly better-we'll never know without testing both products) to the ultrapure that AIVS, Mo Fi and Walker market with there products than any single stage distilled or Walmart type "purer" water.

The price is also quite a bit different. Not cheap, mind you, but not "audiophile" priced either.

Johnny/42659, I have done careful comparisons on the water used for the rinse step. In my listening comparisons, the UltraPure water made a SIGNIFICANT improvement over standard distilled water (such as readily available from the grocery store or pharmacy) when used on the rinse step, regardless of cleaning system used (Disc Doctor, AIVS or Walker Audio Prelude). What I consistently hear in my system using the ultra pure water versus generic distilled water are: quieter surface, a "blacker" background and greater resolution of harmonic overtone details.

If you're going to the trouble and expense of using a three or four step cleaning process, my experience is that you'll be short changing your yourself on the rinse if you don't use an ultra pure water.

As Sonofjim and Hdm observe, using a reagent grade water may be a pretty good alternative to the ultra pure water sold by Walker and AIVS. While there are variations in reagent grade water and none may match all the steps being taken by Walker, AIVS and other audiophile providers, as pointed out by Markd51, the NERL Reagent Grade, Type 1, water sets a pretty high standard. Several people posting here have tried it and reported positive experiences with it as a reasonable alternative. The challenge is to be willing to buy in bulk or to find some audio friends willing to share an order.

I'll add that, in addition to using the ultra pure water rinse, Walker Audio's Step Four High Resolution Rinse makes yet a further improvement in the results I get. If you like the overall results you're getting with Prelude, you should try the recently introduced Step Four Rinse.
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Thanks for your compairson Rushton between the two waters. I just recently ran out of the Walker Ultra Pure water from my first kit so I was courious if anyone else tried a A/B compairson.

I have not tried the step Four high Resoultion rinse yet. I have been very happy with the Prelude Three step process so far but I might give step four a try some time in the future.

Tom Port who sells the Walker record cleaning fluids and is very pleased with them claims to have mixed results with the Walker Step Four. He says some records sound better with it while others do not. He does not use it but many others like your self are very happy with it. I guess each person will have to try for themselfs.

Johnny

 
I'm in agreement with Hdm's post.

Having compared the Walker Prelude water with the 9800-5 NERL Diagnostics Reagent Grade water I hear no sonic difference between either used with both the old (2x water) and new (1 water + 1 hi-rez rinse) Prelude regimens and my Loricraft RCM. No special methodology is claimed that a critic would find flawless. (I do believe the new Step-4 Rinse is superior to water only.)

There is however significant cost difference based on 5 gal quantities, with the Walker and AIVS water being 8-10 times more expensive. Each box of NERL includes an analysis (cf. Rushton's pointer) and claims to meet standards for Clinical Laboratory Reagent Water. For my purposes the NERL Reagent Grade water substitutes just fine for Lloyd's water.

That there is a sonic difference between distilled water and other waters has been discussed previously in this useful thread.
 
Tim
 

With all that scrubbing and rinsing when does anyone have any time to listen to records?