I have been using George Merrill's Groove Lube for nearly a year now, and haven't noticed any build up. It really does seem to reduce friction at the stylus/groove interface. |
I checked out the groove lube. It looks like a similar product. It is cheaper than gruv glide. I might give it a try when this can runs out |
Andy,I wont play a record without it. The trick is DON'T use a stylus treatment USE a stylus cleaner. Using treatments on stylus AND the Gruv Glide tends to dull the sound. I use Gruv Glide on all my records after I spin clean them and I use Last stylus cleaner to keep my needle clean. Also,One can of this stuff lasted for over 250 records.And the price keeps going up on it! I think its $45 now. Great Spinning! |
Totally unnecessary if records are clean and tonearm aligned properly.
Snake oil. |
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Tried it.
I found it left a film on the records and didn't improve the sound. |
No, I like clean records. |
I too like clean records, as I think MOST do... What does having clean records have to do with somebody asking about using a record treatment? |
I have used both Gruv glide and George Merrill's Groove Lube. I like the Groove Lube better. Both should reduce friction and increase stylus life. I use Onzwo to clean my stylus. I personally would not use LAST at all. |
There are many people who are against putting any type of coating on the record once it is properly cleaned and they are certainly entitled to their preferences. I happen to use GG, but only due to its ability to prevent static buildup, which is a real issue in my apartment. Other than that, I don't feel that GG improves or hurts the sound, although some feel it does. This is an old debate and there are many audiophiles on both sides of the issue. As with most things, you just have to try it yourself. Good luck. |
I thought this would be a mixed bag on responses. I will say that I like clean records too. I think anyone that is posting on Agon probably takes good care of their LPs. With that being said, I do know that gruv glide is leaving a residue on my records but, like Chayro said, it doesn't seem to improve or hurt the fidelity of the record. After another day of use and listening, I have determined it does really help to reduce static and background noise. This leads to quieter backgrounds and makes the music seem more detailed to my ear. I can really tell a difference in the lead in/lead out groove. I am going to continue using this product for awhile. I like what I'm hearing and it seems to have no detrimental effects.
I have listened to my system a lot over the past few days. I have had two of those days back to back when the stars align and everything is setup just right and you get some spectacular sound from your system. I have also cleaned my stylus with a Mr. Clean magic eraser. I read about this trick on vinyl engine. It really did a good job on cleaning the stylus and cut down on distortion even furthur. That is another subject for another discussion. I will continue to use gruv glide and report back later. I have some listening to do.
Andy |
Jebsmith73: IMOP it has to do with the closest possible 'needle to groove' tracking, as possible. Of course this is all up to the listener. I'd ask myself, "Why do I feel I need (a needle to groove enhancer) after I've cleaned my vinyl? My personal answer is... "I don't". What is yours?
I'm very anal about cleaning my lps. I use a Mapleshade Iconoclast (effectively), to get rid of any static without putting another product into the mix. |
I don't use it on newer LP's or on Mint condition LP's, BUT I think it is a marvel on the VG++ and worse condition LP's that most of us have in our collection.
Does knock back a lot of hash and background noise. Good Stuff, IMHO. |
... I think it is a marvel on the VG++ and worse condition LP's that most of us have in our collection. Does knock back a lot of hash and background noise. IOW, it works by leaving a lubricating residue, which in addition to smoothing over any groove damage necessarily smothers low level detail and dynamics too. I've heard those effects and I'd never use GG on any properly cleaned LP, which is the only kind I play. Of course I also don't play VG+ records. To me, if a record's worth playing, it's worth finding an undamaged copy. If a record has only mild damage then I'd rather listen through that and hear all of the music. If I'm willing to hear a lower rez version in order to get silent backgrounds, I can play the CD. To each their own of course. |
Doug - of course, to each his own, but I really can't see how the force of a stylus in the grove, which, considering the contact area, is probably measured in tons per square inch, could be "impeded" by anything. Is it possible that the perceived loss of low level detail is caused by the removal of high-frequency hash? Sort of like removing the tape hiss from a tape - some perceive that as a loss of detail. Again, this is just discussion. If you don't like the sound, that's all that matters. |
07-15-13: Dougdeacon
I've heard those effects and I'd never use GG on any properly cleaned LP, which is the only kind I play. Of course I also don't play VG+ records. To me, if a record's worth playing, it's worth finding an undamaged copy. If a record has only mild damage then I'd rather listen through that and hear all of the music. If I'm willing to hear a lower rez version in order to get silent backgrounds, I can play the CD. To each their own of course.
Doug, I agree with your assessment on everything except what I am understanding that you only play mint records.....you must miss a lot of music on vinyl which is btw the only format I play... |
I really can't see how the force of a stylus in the grove, which, considering the contact area, is probably measured in tons per square inch, could be "impeded" by anything. Hmmm... try diving off the Golden Gate Bridge. The landing is softer than Gruv Glide, it's just water. You'll hit the water with a force of tons/square inch, but I guarantee your progress will be "impeded" long before you reach the rocky bottom. ;-) Seriously, if the stylus isn't deflected by GG residue, please explain how GG masks the sound of groove damage (I believe we agree that it does). Is it possible that the perceived loss of low level detail is caused by the removal of high-frequency hash? No. Low level musical detail and HF hash sound completely different. GG works by coating tiny irregularities in the groove walls with a residual layer. It's true that this residue doesn't "know" whether any particular irregularity is due to rough vinyl, damage from a previous play or HF detail and microdynamics recorded by the cutting head - all tiny irregularities are coated equally. How audible this is depends on the thickness of the residue and the resolving ability of the system. My own (very clean, goo-less) LPs do have slightly more HF hash than less clean LPs (with or without GG). This is because my stylus sees nothing but bare vinyl, warts and all. However, neither I nor any visitor has ever confused groove rush or tape hiss with the HF microdynamics and harmonics that are intrinsic to music. They sound completely different. (To be fair, I've heard systems where this is harder to distinguish.) *** @Pops - my tastes happen to run mostly to classical and ancient music. Finding mint LPs in these genre is pretty easy. I agree that it's harder to find mint LPs of rock music (for example). My approach wouldn't work so well for rock listeners, so I shouldn't have stated it as a blanket approach for all. Apologies. As for listening to only vinyl, doesn't that guarantee that you'll miss a lot of music? Lots of material is never released on vinyl at all. |
Well said Andy,well said. |
Doug you are right...tons of good music on cd that is not on vinyl, I just have not personally invested in digItal in a very long time so actually I miss a lot! My digital is so nice sounding but so inferior to my vinyl rig that I never listen to it.
I am primarily a rocker so finding VGA+++ 70's stuff (my era) is indeed tough! Cheers! |
I had a grado statement that was not running right. Brought it to my dealer, first thing he said was "I hope you don't use groove glide" and I did, it turned out it gunked up the cartridge so bad it was almost unusable.
He cleaned it all out real good then I had to go home and re clean all my records to get it off them. Took a good 2 years after I started using it to happen but it did. But all in all it really helped older records sound better,
And gave my $1 record pile new life |
looks like the consensus is that it does help those of us that have some records from the bargain bin. I wont use it on mint condition, clean records. It does help quite a bit on VG grade vinyl |
Sounds like Petro went a little too far with the Gruv glide....AND it helps to use a stylus CLEANER with this product...I experience excellent results using the award winning Gruv glide product.I treat my records only after wet washing them first then apply a light coat of Gruv glide then I never touch my record again because it is dust free and clean,I actually extend the life of my Nagaoka stylus.Go Figure...It works! |
