Thanks Ryder - it’s the ‘new’ records that seem to be suffering - I don’t think they were damaged to start with. I read somewhere that all new records leave the manufacturing process with grime on them (was it 45rpm Audiophile?) so passed some through the machine. I’m sure my recently purchased version of ‘Avalon’ is not as good as it was. Some sound OK though - thankfully.
Frustrating that a damaged part has stopped play - need to get my head around this.
I’ll be ruminating on it til the replacement part arrives.
I always clean new records before playing. What might be worth trying though is to play a new record first and then clean it. If it gets more crackly they something is wrong.
It sounds like a fault of some kind.
This is the first negative comment on the Degritter RCM (with the exception of its high cost). Please can you let us know how you get on with Degritter’s response to this?
Thanks
Sorry to hear that. I’ve found ticks and pops can sometimes be a result of static build up and for no reason that I can define, static can sometimes (but not normally) be worse after a run through the HummingGuru than it was before. Any chance that’s what’s happening for you Isca?
I have been in touch with Degritter, as I require a replacement filter part (the thread in the metal tube isn’t quite right). I’ve explained the problem with the crackling and they have apologised. The problem has afflicted 95% of the records I’ve cleaned - I was quite down about it a few nights ago.
Degritter have suggested that my description may indicate a static electricity build up from the drying fans blowing on the record. I’ve been advised to 1) shorten the drying time to as short time as possible and 2) clean the record with pure distilled water without the cleaning fluid to see whether it makes a difference.
They have apologised for the inconvenience and if these recommendations do not help, they will schedule a phone call.
The spare part for the filter has already been shipped - and I am reassured by their latest message this afternoon: “I can assure you that we will solve that issue.”
I’ve been given some additional instructions in the meantime, including taking a fibre cloth, soaking it IPA then wiping the record to see if there is an improvement.
I don’t think it is the same IPA that I am familiar with.
If the filter fixes the issue that will be intresting. The Dg filters the cleaning fluid as it cleans, the Hg doesnt. So any debris that is released in the Hg process can ( if light) float around and reattach itself. Whereas, subject to flow rates, the Dg will attempt to filter and keep its cleaning fluid , clean.
The Hg sort of assumes any debris will drop to the bottom and be drawn out at the end.
Don’t know if this is related, but as a bit of an experiment I sent a batch of newish record to a hifi dealer to get an ultrasonic clean. When they came back they were super clean, but very noisy and static.
The dealer explained that as the ultrasonics clean much deeper into the grooves this can release untapped stuff deep in there. I wasn’t entirely convinced, and gave the records a spin in my knotsi cleaning bath with an alcohol based vinyl shelter fluid. This worked for me and all the horrible static and noise went away.
I think it was he the fluid I used that made a difference as the ultrasonic machine just used distilled water, and I have always found the fluid to be very effective to get rid of static.
You should use a surfactant with an ultrasonic. I completely rid static from all my records with my Degritter, using very pure distilled water and Tergikleen
I’ve just ordered a Degritter Mark II - announced yesterday.
Doesn’t look like massive upgrade over the original model, and probably not one that existing owners would look to move on up to. But not being a current owner I thought I’d wait for the new model.
Any current owners see the upsides of the upgrades highlighted in the press release?
It’s expected in December. I think they were perhaps a little premature in announcing it.
Looks good - a modest upgrade - which is somewhat reassuring to those of us with a Mark 1.
On that, my Degritter is being replaced and it should arrive later this week. Not sure what was wrong with mine but it seemed to make a fair proportion of my (new) LPs sound worse. We tried swapping the fluid, deep cleaning etc, which only made a minor improvement.
Degritter’s customer service continues to impress. I only hope I hear an audio improvement going forward.
It’s around £100 more I believe.
There was a different model shown by Degritter at the Munich show that will be launched next year and that will be considerably more expensive. That will be dual frequency and have 2 water tanks for separate wash and rinse.