Same here. Wife’s going to kill me but it was her idea to get an ultrasonic cleaner
Ok here’s my underwhelming experience so far.
It arrived, unpacked, setup and inserted first album on auto. All went well, a little moisture on the surface meant I put it through a dry cycle. Must admit I did not hear a difference, but it was a 2nd hand album.
Couple days later, the machine would not complete a cycle as something was causing the power adapter / switch to short. The charming people in HK sent me a new switch after studying a video I made of the issue. The replacement switch arrived this week; yesterday I could not get the machine to complete a cycle - only part of the album rotated. Also noted that this time no moisture was left on the vinyl.
This morning I tried again using the automatic cycle, which completed on several albums. However, I think I’m missing something as they don’t seem to be being cleaned. There’s no moisture on the surface of the vinyl, and I can’t hear a change in SQ. In fact, a wipe with a cloth was more effective.
Any idea what I’m doing wrong, or am I expecting too much?
I don’t know what’s going on specifically. In particular what “only part of an album rotated” means. Maybe @Camphuw can clarify
However, maybe a few things to keep in mind:
- There are different kinds of surface noise and a cleaner cannot work magic. Some albums I recently purchased were simply poor pressings with surface noise. No cleaner can change this.
- However, noise related to dirt, pops caused by dust, etc. should definitely be improved by cleaning.
- I’m surprised by “they don’t seem to be being cleaned” as for me it’s even visually obvious that they are cleaned
- SQ improvements of records that are already reasonably clean should not be expected to be night and day
- “A wipe with a cloth seems more effective” makes me think that I may be missing something in the description, because this is completely contradictory to my experience.
Another thing, considering the technical issues that your unit had: Is it emitting a high-pitched “zzzZzzzZzzzZ” kind of sound when cleaning?
I had that happen a week or so ago, temporarily removing the filter in the bottom of the reservoir worked for me for the odd album that refused to turn. I cannot claim it was my idea, another forum member posted about it!
…found the post:
Where’s the Clearaudio LP edge shaver when you need it eh!?
@Camphuw says : « several albums don’t seem to be being cleaned « . Is it because of the looks of the lps or because the sound quality hasn’t improved ?
I assume that the plane of the album would rotate 360 degrees once inserted in the slot and the cleaning cycle begun.
Ah yes - it’s making a noise, and the light on the switching unit blinks.
Good question - observation and listening. Will try again this evening.
I first used mine on a LP I have previously run through my Knosti, using a cleaning fluid that includes some sort of surface tension/wetting agent. As recommended by Humminguru I used plain distilled water. That record very obviously picked up water during the cleaning cycle, and totally dried during the drying cycle.
Since then I’m cleaning previously uncleaned records. They do not obviously pick up water during cleaning, and any that is picked up gets dried during the drying cycle.
Up until today I used water at room temperature and noted most records cleaned up nicely, visible dust removed. Today I tried warm water, as recommended by Humminguru, too early for any real impressions, but looks to get the records slightly wetter. Even though the records don’t look particularly wet whilst being cleaned, all the visible dust gets removed, and the reservoir soon shows plenty of bits floating about!
I suspect a wetting agent would be useful, I’m just not seeing any immediate need (records are coming out clean) and I’m further slightly reluctant to make the process more involved by managing mixing a wetting agent into the water.
Pic below is machine in action, a few drops are visible, that’s as wet as mine gets. The first LP through was much more obviously soaked.
Incidentally, BRA album required the removal of the filter to get it to turn!
Yes, records should turn constantly, through a full 360° during cleaning. On a clean& dry cycle the white lights should remain on constantly, not blinking, during the cycle.
It should rotate 360 degrees and one rotation takes maybe 20 seconds or so (from memory, I don’t have access to the machine right now). I.e. during a cleaning cycle it should rotate several times
Ah yes - it’s making a noise, and the light on the switching unit blinks.
Noise is probably good. Can’t remember the blinking, but there are videos on YouTube, so is easy to check if yours seems to be doing the right thing
Edit:
Right, this what I seem to remember as well
Try a drop of dishwasher rince aid. This gets my lps nice a wet. Dry easier too.
Mines just arrived in the UK. Scheduled for delivery Thursday
Thanks, I should just try that! I am usually slow to adopt new things
In this particular case I wanted to get to know how it cleans using plain distilled. Warm water seems to help, as the manufacturer advises. Part of the original appeal was the simplicity, at least in terms of the cleaning solution, but I guess a drop of rinse aid is easy enough!
I dont over fret. I use tap water, albeit i have a water softener. Nice clean records.
I am looking to order the cleaner but Humminguru show the Type 3 (UK plug) as out of stock, all other varieties are in stock. I assume that I could order one of the latter and simply install my own lead. Can anyone confirm this?