Ultrasonic Record Cleaners ???

[MDP]

I currently have a VPI record cleaner. Some of my friends own ultrasonic cleaners, and love them. As I'm putting the finishing touches on my system before retirement, I'm thinking hard about buying one of these new machines.

I would love some feedback with owners of these machines. And I have 2 questions.

1. Are they really that much better than what I have ?

2. Which is better, the Audio Desk or the Klaudio ?

 

[Myles B. Astor]

I currently have a VPI record cleaner. Some of my friends own ultrasonic cleaners, and love them. As I'm putting the finishing touches on my system before retirement, I'm thinking hard about buying one of these new machines.

I would love some feedback with owners of these machines. And I have 2 questions.

1. Are they really that much better than what I have ?

2. Which is better, the Audio Desk or the Klaudio ?

klaudio record cleaner

 

[Steve]

I have the AudioDesk & love it. I'm at approx. 2000 washes. Some may critique the need for a bio-enzyme to help with the cavitation but the system is tuned in such a way to produce ultrasonically enhanced bubbles. I do not believe such a minute dribble of the additive has a sonic impact. The concentration is low & I use less than the prescribed dosage. The rollers are gentle & do a great job even with dirty garage sale albums. There is a filter that picks up the particulates!

The ultra-sonic frequency tune & power levels are non destructive. I have only seen black vinyl grunge after washing old 2nd hand vinyl, in very poor condition that has sustained compression & stylus damage. I have put some very dirty old finds through it & have been amazed at what has resurrected. It won't of course repair but it will clean & rejuvenate by removing years of dirt, oil, mould & tobacco tar. When I wash such finds, I do them in two batches using more concentrate & then run them through again after a water change. It will remove mould growth but I prefer not to wash nor keep such vinyl for fear of contamination risk. A tell-tail sign of mould damage on clean vinyl are the spider veins where the mould fed. It will be noisy where the damage is.

The downside is that a few water droplets sometimes remain after drying 130-150g vinyl. On a few occasions with thin vinyl, the label has been splashed with a single droplet or two. I keep a micro fibre & a carbon brush on hand to absorb or spread the droplet(s).

I prefer the adjustable wash/dry cycles on the Klaudio. Extending the dry time on thin vinyl could help dispel any remaining droplets. But apart from that, the Klaudio is quite a different machine that relies solely on ultrasonic bombardment without any contact bathing & additives.

 

[jtinn]

klaudio record cleaner

+1

I have experience with both and the short answer is the KLAUDiO. Better build quality and uses just water (no solution) are just a couple of quick reasons.

 

[MDP]

Thanks guys !

Myles, I read your review on the Klaudio yesterday, it was a well written and detailed review. You're a great writer.

 

[puroagave]

I have David Ratcliff's V-8, its the 'hillbilly' alternative that resembles a junior high science fair project. Actually, David puts alotta TLC into the fabrication of the custom parts he makes, the heart or actual ultrasonic machine is off the shelf. I've seen the KL Audio up close and in action cleaning records, its very well made and goes some distance to justify its substantial cost. why I like the v-8 better: it's customizable, it has a heating element to raise the solution's temperature for thorough cleaning (important) and has limitless cleaning cycle/power level combination possibilities. mine's the latest version with the .7 micron water filtration system, keeps each batch contaminate free. It doesn't incorporate a blow dryer but a simple drying rack. There's nothing on this thing I couldn't fix or substitute with other parts should I need to, everything is readily available as is the ultrasonic unit itself. I'm very pleased with mine.

Ultrasonic V8 Demonstration on Vimeo

 

[Mike]

I have the AudioDesk. Works like a charm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dre_J]

I currently have a VPI record cleaner. Some of my friends own ultrasonic cleaners, and love them. As I'm putting the finishing touches on my system before retirement, I'm thinking hard about buying one of these new machines.

I would love some feedback with owners of these machines. And I have 2 questions.

Hi Mark, Yes they are good and more convenient in terms of use or time-on-task...

1. Are they really that much better than what I have ?

Yes. For additional review information, I discuss the Klaudio's (KD-CLN-LP200) functionality specifically in this month's October 2014 edition of The Absolute Sound (TAS 246).

2. Which is better, the Audio Desk or the Klaudio ?

I have the Klaudio which I would have chosen between the two but I can see some others choosing the Audio Desk Vinyl Cleaner. If you have friends with both, why not try them out and pick the one you personally prefer?

Hope this helps,
Dre

 

[MDP]

Thanks Rob, I'l check it out.

Dre, thanks for always giving me help, I really appreciate it !

 

[highEndguy]

Both will do the work.
I prefer Klaudio because
Is more automated and use only water

 

[MDP]

Thanks Nelson !

 

[Myles B. Astor]

 

[MDP]

Myles, is that some kind of case for it ?

 

[Odyssey]

I have the AudioDesk RCM. Well thought out design. Only downside I see is that the fan cycle is over 70 db for about 3 minutes.

 

[Myles B. Astor]

Myles, is that some kind of case for it ?

That's the just released sound dampening case for the Klaudio. Soon to come: another accessory that allows for cleaning multiple records at once.

 

[highEndguy]

Wow, Myles
Is it worth it ?

 

[highEndguy]

I have mine in the same room as you

 

[MusicDirector]

I thought those things weren't that loud? I know my VPI 16.5 is a damn sight louder than any ultrasonic RCM. (Almost makes one consider those industrial headphone things).

 

[astrotoy]

I put my AudioDeske on the far side of an adjacent room and close the door. Really helps with the drying noise. The AD came out earlier than the KI. I might have bought the KI if it had been available for comparison. It wasn't, so I bought the AD. Since both are around $4K, I haven't had the great desire to spend another $4K for the KI. There is a cost for consumables in the AD, but they are pretty trivial compared to the capital cost of the device. I have probably cleaned about 5000 records, part of my ripping project and will clean about 2500 more before most of my cleaning is over. No mechanical problems, although I know there were problems in the earlier production runs of the AD. My sense from talking to other crazy vinylphiles is that the KI is probably slightly better, both the AD and KI are substantially better than the VPI (which I have had in one form or another since they were first introduced in the mid 80's) and both of them are a whole lot easier to use, "set it and forget it" than the VPI. One thing using the AD that I discovered is that there is a slight residue left after cleaning with my VPI, and the AD and probably the KI removes. Almost all of the records that I have cleaned and am currently cleaning have either been cleaned by my VPI already or are new. Relatively few (1-2%) are used records that I have bought in the past three or so years that I have had the AD.

Larry

 

[NOLG4EVR]

I have the Klaudio and just love it. It has restored all of my old albums back to near new. Works great, very dependable and easy to use.

An indispensable addition to a serious vinyl collection. Highly recommended.