aj, my listening comparisons align with your conclusion that ultrasonic cleaning needs a rinse step followed by a vacuum drying. Folks who are not doing a final ultrapure water rinse and vacuum dry are missing that final step that makes a big difference in results. At this point, my VPI RCM is my final rinse and vacuum dry station to my ultrasonic cleaning regimen.
VPI versus Ultrasonic cleaners
There have been rave reviews concerning ultrasonic record cleaners of all types. But no ones has ever put the records under a microscope. I am posting this because I have at 130x.
I purchased 2 of the same records, 1 ultrasonic cleaned and 1 not. I examined them and the ultrasonic cleaned record while cleaner was not fully clean. I contacted the seller and this was one of the drip dry cleaners.
I gave the ultrasonically record the following light cleaning (which did help it)
1 Docs miracle record misto sprayed and spread with a cotton makeup remover
2 Steam with distilled water
3 Vacuum with my VPI with a Delron tube (much better than the cheap clear one)
4 VPI record cleaner misto sprayed and spread with VPI brush
5 Steam with distilled water
6 Vacuum with my VPI
7 Steam with distilled water
The other record received the above process but repeating steps 1-3 and 6-7. So twice the cleaning
I re-examined them under 130x and showed the results to a couple others who agreed that while clean the double VPI processes looked better.
Listening wise they sounded the same. Listening was done on a SME20/3 with a Sumiko Palos presentation cartridge. Any difference should have been picked up.
Shame I can't quickly post the pictures. But in short if you have a good VPI process perhaps invest in a USB microscope and look at the record before buying another cleaner. If you do get an ultrasonic cleaner I think it needs to be the drying kind.
I purchased 2 of the same records, 1 ultrasonic cleaned and 1 not. I examined them and the ultrasonic cleaned record while cleaner was not fully clean. I contacted the seller and this was one of the drip dry cleaners.
I gave the ultrasonically record the following light cleaning (which did help it)
1 Docs miracle record misto sprayed and spread with a cotton makeup remover
2 Steam with distilled water
3 Vacuum with my VPI with a Delron tube (much better than the cheap clear one)
4 VPI record cleaner misto sprayed and spread with VPI brush
5 Steam with distilled water
6 Vacuum with my VPI
7 Steam with distilled water
The other record received the above process but repeating steps 1-3 and 6-7. So twice the cleaning
I re-examined them under 130x and showed the results to a couple others who agreed that while clean the double VPI processes looked better.
Listening wise they sounded the same. Listening was done on a SME20/3 with a Sumiko Palos presentation cartridge. Any difference should have been picked up.
Shame I can't quickly post the pictures. But in short if you have a good VPI process perhaps invest in a USB microscope and look at the record before buying another cleaner. If you do get an ultrasonic cleaner I think it needs to be the drying kind.
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- 18 posts total
- 18 posts total