+1 for magic eraser. Can’t take a picture, but similar results as
DUo s above.
Stylus cleaners
I used to use Onzo ZeroDust with my first few cartridges years ago. With the last two cartridges, Hana ML, I have only been using the included Hana brush for every side of LP and the MoFi LP-9 liquid stylus cleaner (I get as much fluid out of the brush by pressing it against the neck of the bottle before I clean stylus) every 3-4 records.
Onzo is collecting dust especially since the Fremer’s The Tracking Angle article.
I’ve been looking at DS Audio ST-50 but at $80 I’m not sure it will do anything better than my current cleaning methods.
What’s your stylus cleaning routine?
With the Boulder and Sabrinas I can see you like a bit less romantic sound, although I've taken several steps down from the romantic sound when I got rid of the ARC tube preamps. The sound is just right for me now. I could say I wish I'd always had this setup, but I wouldn't have appreciated it. I can still see myself at 16 standing on my bed conducting the Firebird Suite coming from my Sears Silvertone suitcase stereo. I don't think I've ever loved music any more than at that time. The equipment was just a suggestion of sound, but my brain more than filled in what was missing. And, BTW, I was a much better conductor at 16 than I am now. |
@audio-b-dog yes I like transparent and less colored sound but I don’t like analytical presentation. I voiced my system so that it’s musically engaging. |
I had no interest in electronics until my stereo forced me to. I have always been a creative guy. I began writing poetry in high school. I was introduced to classical music by my father when I was 12 or 13. I did not listen to rock n' roll in high schook in the early sixties. I thought it was stupid, and I still do. After the Beatles, things got interesting. And with Davis and Coltrane, Jazz took a less intellectual turn. As I have earned more money I have slowly upgraded my system with my wife as my accountant and regulator. These expensive speakers were my part of an inheritance. But I have enjoyed each step up I have taken. I have gotten too old to stoop in the 20" space behind my racks and change tubes, so I've gone to tubish solid state. If I could still change tubes, I'd still have my ARC gear. The Ref 3 preamp was excellent. I might have upgraded my PH-7, though, although I have loved it much. Basically, I have enjoyed buying and slowly swapping out equipment. Each time the music sounded better. Now I guess I'm really in the high end, but not the dCS quarter of a million dollar DAC high end. Maybe I'll call it the rational high end. Besides, there is only so much I can put in my 18' x 22' listening room. |
after I use the magic eraser, I use a soft brush (just get a soft fine tip artist brush and cut the handle down) to remove any fibers left. I don’t have the magnification to take an image, but at 30x the cantilever and stylus are very clean, no build up, no fibers. I use a similar brush to clean the entire cartridge every so often, otherwise it will get hairy due to static.
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