Is it possible to have vinyl nearly noise free?

@slaw
+1

I exchanged emails with Rush Paul a couple of years ago. He turned me on to the Walker 4 step system. It also had become obvious that I needed a good vacuum cleaner (VPI and several others). I used the Walker system for a couple of months and heard a significant improvement in the overall sound quality, detail and timbre. More so than any other cleaning method I had ever used. But it was time consuming, I could do about four records an hour and I did the work.

Then I found a way to use ultrasonic and not spend a pant load of money doing it. See Rush’s article at: https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/rushton-paul-diy-approach-ultrasonic-cleaning-lps/ on US cleaning. It gives all the details on how to do it. I must say I heard another order of detail and timbre that had never been there before. The US is faster than using the manual Walker system by replacing the two enzyme and detergent washes with the US bath, 4 in ten minutes. It is still necessary to do a Regents water rinse and conditioner (ethyl alcohol, Regents water and a drop of Jetdry).

Additionally, the Walker Talisman will do wonders for any residual noise (aka static). This thing works phenomenally well at neutralizing static. It’s just some very strong magnets oriented in a way that does the trick. It also has other sound improving uses. You won’t believe your ears. Much of the clicks and pops we hear are static discharge (lightning) between the record and cartridge assembly.

I clean all records when I get them, new or used. Usually when I clean an old record there is some "dark matter" at the bottom of the tank. New records don’t do this. On a rare occasion that the used record was abused or poorly cared for there may be some surface noise that is micro scratches. You can’t fix them. But if you don’t clean the record those micro scratches may be full of the "dark matter" I spoke of and you won’t hear them or the improved detail and timbre. This has been proven time and again in listening tests.


It took me a while but I have become a believer. I used to think the US cleaner people were just wanting to play with something new. That it was another audiophile rabbit hole, but it really works. I will never be convinced that not cleaning is the way to go.


The Sugar Cube is a digital processor. You want analogue or digital?

Rollin

I didn't say it before, but I only clean once upon acquisition of the record. After that it's a dust brush and Talisman until it is just too dusty. Then, a rinse with Regents water and the conditioner, let dry after vacuuming for about ten minutes and I'm off listening to it again. I always change the sleeve then as well.

After the cleaning it won't help unless the rinse takes away any residue, cleaning liquid and the contents of those liquids. The vacuum cleaner just sucks up the liquid that is left. The Regents water is the purest and acts like a magnet for any micro-dust left as part of the cleaning process. The conditioner has surfactants that allow the water it contains to get deep into the grooves reducing the waters elasticity and deep rinsing the groove.

I keep the stylus clean with FunTac. Peter Lederman recommends it highly to all of his customers. It is very effective and safest of all needle cleaning that I have found.

I agree the system set up is crucial to an enjoyable, less noisy listen. Also the relative quality of the equipment may help as well. During my slough to Nirvana I have tried many different carts, turntables and tone arms. The electronics and speakers I have settled on are very unforgiving when it comes to sonic anomalies. They reproduce them faithfully so the turntable and cart cannot add anything or I will hear it load and clear. Some carts seem to accentuate the noise to my ears.

Everyone who posted here who is serious about clean records has their own process. None is better that the other from what I see. Many are probably more complex than they need to be. Every process listed is better than no cleaning. It is a lot of work, but worth it. And yes, there are still some ticks and pops even after this rigmarole.


@lwal22
If I want to listen to a silent digital facsimile of my records I use a pro audio (Lynx Hilo) A/D-D/A converter. It is high resolution. The computer software removes virtually all the tics, pops and hiss if they exist and lowers the noise floor by about 12 dB. The playback is marvelously quiet, but a digital facsimile of the record. A Sugar Cube creates a digital facsimile. It is no longer pure analogue. I want 100% pure analogue when doing serious listening.

Rollin

@flescher
I wouldn't hesitate you use a Sugar Cube on an old 78. Or if you have a damaged LP that is rare and unobtainable (cost or availability) on the used market, it would be good to be able to listen to that LP. I think the device is meant for that. It would be a Godsend. I don't have any 78s. I have a Meet the Beatles that is like that.

I'll tolerate an LP that has a few ticks rather than sully the analogue with digital processing. Most of my LPs are as quiet as a CD after my cleaning process and the detail revealed is more than worth the effort.

Rollin

The Kirmuss appears to do a better job than the Audio Desk or Clearaudio cleaners at less cost. If you have some really nasty vinyl or lacquer it will do nicely at a lower initial purchase price. The process is more painstaking than mine and I spent less than $500 on my system. Of course the Vacuum cleaner was more. It does most of the drying. He uses optician cloth. I use them all the time to wipe off records. I notice he just uses the cloth to dry. How long can you use the same cloth before it becomes saturated.

I don't agree with using distilled water though. There are still contaminants in it, that is why I use Regents water. There is nothing in it.

I think that the assumption is that the records were never cleaned or cleaned with a single liquid agent that leaves residue. Which is most likely for most of our records acquired before the 90s. Removing the vinyl release agents is paramount which is why I clean every new record before playing.

Once cleaned the record should stay that way unless mishandled. There is the issue of more micro-dust getting into the grooves while playing. At some point there will be a loss of detail that will require a cleaning. By rinsing every so often with the Regents water and conditioner I may stave of the micro-dust problem for a while.

Rollin