Audio Desk Systeme Record Cleaner


I am an Audio Desk owner. Here is my story:

Issue #1
I purchased the machine from "The Cable Company" about a year ago. My unit was DOA. The red button to activate the cleaning cycle was inoperable. I requested a replacement model to be shipped since they had my credit card info, and I'd send back the defective unit. I was told no replacement could be sent, and that I had to return the unit for service. OK...I sent it back. They replaced the switch.

Issue #2
Every record I cleaned required manual wiping to remove numerous water drops. I tried everything I could think of, I even took the fan covers off to see if that would allow more air volume. No dice. I once again requested a replacement, and again was told that I had to send it back for repair. After a couple of week, they told me that they had fixed it, and it working as like new. When I received it back, they had placed some of those plastic ties, the ones you use to tie off garbage bags, behind the wipers or "lips" to increase contact. I was told that everything was operating as it should. Their remedy had no effect on the drying, I still had to wipe every record.

Issue #3
I once again complained about the non-drying of the unit and once again requested a replacement unit and was told I had to ship it back as they now had a factory authorized remedy. I sent it back and the fix actually seemed to work.

Issue #4
After receiving the unit back from the factory drying fix, I cleaned about 100 LPs, and then the wheels that grip the record and the brush barrels refused to let go at the end of the cycle. Even after numerous attempts to reset the machine, they would not release. I once again requested a replacement. Their response: I could return it again for service or they would "allow" me a trade in value of $2000 for my LEMON unit towards a new "improved" one.

OK...I guess I was desperate because when this thing works it is wonderful, and I was tired of messing with an obviously defective machine. Although I was angry that I couldn't get a replacement under warranty, I ponied up another $2000 for a "new and improved" one. Now I wish I had just sent to old one back for more repair.

The new one worked great...no water spotting and records clean as you can imagine.

Issue #5
After cleaning about 20 LPs, the records wouldn't rotate. I found that the rubber wheel that grips the LP and at the same time drives the cleaning brushes was spinning on its shaft. Now after only two days of use, the new one has to be sent back for repairs.

So now I have $6000 invested in a $4000 machine (I still think the machine should have been replaced under warranty), and it is once again on its way back across the country for more repair.

I contacted Ultrasystem (the US importer) today, and they apologized for my troubles and promised to get this fixed. I'm hoping for the best.
Ag insider logo xs@2xkdbrink
I have an update on my situation with the Audio Desk Systeme record cleaner.

Thanks to Mr. Robert Stein of Ultrasystem (the US importer of the AD), I received a brand new unit on Thursday. The serial number is in the 1900s (my original machine was around 1000). After cleaning 50-60 LPs this weekend, I am happy to report that this unit is working FLAWLESSLY!

If you've never experienced what this machine can do, you've never seen a properly cleaned LP!
Thanks for laying out your history with the Audio Desk Systeme, especially the follow-up report. Kudos for your patience and persistence. Did you get a new 2 year warranty with the new machine?

Since you have the latest version it will be very helpful if you would report again after you've cleaned a larger number of LPs. TIA
I have a unit with serial # 17xx. Cleans mostly OK. It squeaks a bit and the
unit is not aligned to hold the record 100% straight while rotating. The
record edge hits the machine on one side. The white wipers don't apply
equal pressure on both sides and aren't flat against the LP. Occasionally a
few drops of liquid are left when complete .

I haven't gone after it as I am busy using it and love the lack of effort. My
hannl is definitely a better quality cleaner. They both clean fairly well but the
time savings is huge. Also the lack of static.

I will one day go after the issues.
This machine is wonderful!!! It makes so simple to clean properly a record that it's hard to go back to vpi machines or others. My only complaint is that those black rubbers inside which holds and rotates records tends to leaves some rubbers residues at records first songs and very annoying scratchs.
We did replace those rubbers for a better ones which are made in orange colors and high temperatures resistant and the problem disappear.
Patsuh,

Tell me more. Who did the replacement? Where did you source them. Similar issues for me as well.
Kdbrink did you receive a refund on the extra $2K that you should have not had to pay. If you did not I think you should apply some pressure. I for one will never buy the unit based on your experience.
I'd Have to agree with Zermatt about the folly of buying this machine after hearing the experiences of Kdbrink.I am totally baffled by Patsuh "The machine is wonderful" except for the small matter of rubber residue and scratches.Even if he has fixed this problem by changing (upgrading) the rubber drive wheels.My personal feeling is that a $4K RCM ought to work the way it's designed to right out of the box.Though I certainly understand Audiophile procedure "Just spend more Cash,it'll all work out eventually".
I have had mine for 6 months now and never had a problem. It cleans great and leaves no water droplets or smudges on the edge of the record. Now with my positive experience and I'm sure there are 100's more are you still not going to buy one because of one person.
Hmmm. From 1source purchased 7 units -3 not used yet . 1 DOA, 2nd unit repaired , then DOA - different problems. My unit can't pumped fluid after using it , prob for abt 100-200lp. After repair which took a long while , it's working nicely. I have loricraft prc-4, VPI 17f . Audiodesksysteme is the best RCM in terms of convenience & ease of use . However I m not confident of its reliability.
I'd spend $2k on good lawyer and get all of your funds back with fees and everything together.
I have several friends with ADS. Certainly it cannot be beat as far as convenience and ability to clean LP. However, I also did find that sound quality can also be improved further by the like of Hannl machine after cleaning with ADS initially. I hope it has more to do with Hannl cleaning fluid rather machine itself.
The only reason I did not get one was because of the 5 units purchased by friends over the past 18 months, 2 had to be sent back to Germany within 2 months. It felt a bit too much like a gambling, if you get a unit that works perfectly, that's fine but the risk of getting a problematic one is a bit too high for me. Personally I already placed an order for KLaudio unit and hope that it will turn out to be less problematic than ADS.
I have had mine for 4 months. cleaned many records. No operation problems. This machine is far superior to any that I have used (VPI mainly). I am hearing much blacker backgrounds and it is like a veneer has been lifted off the music.
I wrestled a 3 day loan of one from Robert at Ultra Systems for RMAF and was cleaning records nonstop at the display table for the show. Cleaned 165 records over the three day period without any issues. I simply changed the fluid after the second package of 50 mofi sleeves finished.

We had a table spinning vinyl through phones and one of the guys from a nearby vendor table brought over a brand new Fleetwood Mac re-issue and asked for me to clean it. We listened to it both pre and post cleaning and both thought we heard an improvement. I asked him if he wanted me to clean the other and to my surprise he said No. Surprised I asked why? He said he was going to take them home tonight and listen to both and then clean the other on his (insert respected cleaner here).

As we were packing things up on Sunday he grabbed me and said that the one I had cleaned sounded better. Too bad the Audio Deske had already been drained.

dave
I had an experience very similar to yours with my first AD machine. I ultimately had to cough up a lot of money for a replacement unit....

The new machine works great. Over 100 records so far and leaves the records very clean except for the occasional water drops around the label. That said, if this one breaks out of warranty I'll just write it off and build my own DIY ultrasonic cleaner.