Just now purchased the ClearAudio Double Matrix Sonic

I remember at an early age my momma would say, "there's a bed for every butt". Myself, when on my own, a was ridiculously poor and I remember my first record player. Myles, I would have been one of those you laughed at, but it was all that I could afford...and I love records. Fast forward a few years, I have improved my system. But I have to say, being poor gave me a much richer experience because I cherished each and every note. I learned the gift of appreciation.

Today, when someone is experiencing joy, it's pandemic and I can't help but feel that great energy. It's awesome.

In my short lived life, I have realized that everyone has unique thresholds about what quality is and what their expectations are. This is what makes planet earth so amazing - the rich diversity and uniqueness of life. Wow, it's powerful. I love it!

Beautiful!!! Right on!
 
In the very first review of IIRC Nitty Gritty machine in Audio magazine, they sprinkled the records with a fine dirt and then took pictures before and after.

Check out the pictures here before and after cleaning with the DAK brush.

DAK's Carbon Fiber Anti Static Record Cleaning System

Discwasher (Maeier and Risch) also did the same before and after pics and showed the micro-organisms growing in the record grooves.

I'm also pretty sure one of the guys on Dagogo reported on cleaning records with multiple machines and heard an improvement.

Myles, Im definitely not trying to be confrontational. But to my knowledge,no one has ever spent their own money to do a comparison like this, Even if you don't agree with David's final analysis, you have to respect his effort.
 
+1 Mark, doesn't seem you are the one wanting the confrontation. While I, like most here, would never do what David is attempting I too applaud his efforts and look forward to his result.
 
How did you get enough snot to cover an LP :fingers: :D Good on you David, you go for it, just, if I'm ever at your place, you're putting the LP's on ;)


Dude, I have caught the flu twice. I collected and saved it! LOL
 
David...well done and kudos to you for going all the way in this experiment/comparison/soon-to-be review :thumbsup:
 
I think we should have a predicted ranking poll pending David's findings. I think David's analysis will be the most comprehensive real world comparison ever undertaken.

I think it is going to be neck and neck between the Clearaudio Matrix Double Sonic and the AudioDesk. IMO you need a bio-enzyme additive to clean grunge. Sonic blasting alone is not enough.
 
I still remember the days back in the late 60's when me and my friends washed records in the kitchen sink using a new 3" paint brush as a scrubber. I put just enough warm water and mild detergent in the sink to have the water reach the lead-out groove. After brushing and rotating the album the process was followed with a warm rinse right from the tap, and air dry in a dish rack. It actually worked pretty darn good. The real trick was trying to keep the labels dry.
 
I still remember the days back in the late 60's when me and my friends washed records in the kitchen sink using a new 3" paint brush as a scrubber. I put just enough warm water and mild detergent in the sink to have the water reach the lead-out groove. After brushing and rotating the album the process was followed with a warm rinse right from the tap, and air dry in a dish rack. It actually worked pretty darn good. The real trick was trying to keep the labels dry.
Dan, great memories are precious things, they are what makes us who we are. I read this & thought , 'man', if only... opportunity comes & goes, sometimes all you have to do is side-shift & you are on easy-street for life.
Steve, I'm backing KLAudio with white vinegar in the mix.... I've tried it & am prejudice!
 
Kev...Vinegar (acetic acid) while not an enzymatic cleaner would be effective to a degree. I would be too scared of the potential corrosive effect it could have on the equipment and fine undulations within the vinyl grooves though. But if you reckon it's OK, people have used worse like WD40...

record_groove.jpg
 
Later, when I start experimenting with cleaning agents, I may try the vinegar through my VPI. It's not a substance I am willing to try on the Ultrasonics or Pulsing Sonic just yet.

But...the curious nature of me must try the vinegar at some point! A sacrifice LP, of course.
 
I want to thank everyone of their support. As you all know, I put my equipment at risk to process this crazy experiment. That said, I have no regrets. Not only have learned things about the units individually but also how they compliment each other. Interestingly, I also learned a bit about me and why I am doing this and more importantly, just how much this community means to me. I love it here... thanks everyone for being so darn kewl!

I can't wait to finish documenting phases 1-2...and as you know, this is an on going process. I should say more clearly, I have many more experiments I doing but if I don't start publishing what I have completed... I will never publish anything!

That said, I can't wait for lots of feedback about how I do things better. I say this because, I'm no expert. I am a novice and while that is true, there is certain value in ones beginning, yes?

Thanks again everyone for encouraging me to press on.

David
 
I'm going to admit that I'm still scratching my head and trying to figure out what you are hoping to learn from your experiments and what everyone else is hoping to learn from your experiments. First of all, I appreciate the fact that you have invested a bunch of money in buying a bunch of different RCMs. However, I know I personally would never buy a used LP that was in the shape of the LPs you are intentionally trashing with all of the different foods, chemicals, and body secretions you are applying to them. How does any of that equate to the real world of buying a used LP in reasonable condition and hoping to use an RCM in hopes of making the LP as quiet as possible?

For me, it would be much more interesting to see you clean a stack of LPs that came from thrift stores, flea markets, Ebay, etc., and have you tell us which machine routinely gave better results with real-world cleaning solutions designed for cleaning LPs. Some before and after pictures would be nice as well. I have no interest in cleaning LPs contaminated with boogers, flu snot, peanut butter and jelly, or lipstick.
 
I'm going to admit that I'm still scratching my head and trying to figure out what you are hoping to learn from your experiments and what everyone else is hoping to learn from your experiments. First of all, I appreciate the fact that you have invested a bunch of money in buying a bunch of different RCMs. However, I know I personally would never buy a used LP that was in the shape of the LPs you are intentionally trashing with all of the different foods, chemicals, and body secretions you are applying to them. How does any of that equate to the real world of buying a used LP in reasonable condition and hoping to use an RCM in hopes of making the LP as quiet as possible?

For me, it would be much more interesting to see you clean a stack of LPs that came from thrift stores, flea markets, Ebay, etc., and have you tell us which machine routinely gave better results with real-world cleaning solutions designed for cleaning LPs. Some before and after pictures would be nice as well. I have no interest in cleaning LPs contaminated with boogers, flu snot, peanut butter and jelly, or lipstick.

You hit every note here that I have considered but for many that I have dialoged with, there were to many variables and I needed to create a baseline and then work my way down to those scenarios you point out.

So, in my cap, I have a crazy worst case scenario. Now, I can drill down to the scenarios that you reference. But, I will have a melting pot of examples to draw upon.

And I hope you continue to scratch your head and ask questions that make me have to hop around and figure things out. Because when that happens, I learn and share.
 
To each his own I met a guy at RMAF who was buying only the best of vinyl he could find he had no gear no turn table but his records were in good shape. I scan for his obit from time to time.

That's coooold.

What's his full name? :rolleyes:
 
I'm going to admit that I'm still scratching my head and trying to figure out what you are hoping to learn from your experiments and what everyone else is hoping to learn from your experiments. First of all, I appreciate the fact that you have invested a bunch of money in buying a bunch of different RCMs. However, I know I personally would never buy a used LP that was in the shape of the LPs you are intentionally trashing with all of the different foods, chemicals, and body secretions you are applying to them. How does any of that equate to the real world of buying a used LP in reasonable condition and hoping to use an RCM in hopes of making the LP as quiet as possible?

For me, it would be much more interesting to see you clean a stack of LPs that came from thrift stores, flea markets, Ebay, etc., and have you tell us which machine routinely gave better results with real-world cleaning solutions designed for cleaning LPs. Some before and after pictures would be nice as well. I have no interest in cleaning LPs contaminated with boogers, flu snot, peanut butter and jelly, or lipstick.

Mark I get where you are coming from but on the other hand, David is keeping a fairly constant level of filth from sample to sample which would be impossible to do with flea market records. His filth may not be your filth or my filth but the purpose is to perform a relative analysis between the cleaning capability of each piece of equipment and a standardized filth is key in doing so. The other point i would make is that I sure like his style!
 
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