Thread: Just now purchased the ClearAudio Double Matrix Sonic

I hardly use my cleaning machine.....a waste. Before I play my LP's, I use a Hunt brush....my records are as quiet as my CD's. I have records from the 50's that are as quiet as new ones. I really can't tell the difference before and after cleaning.

Originally Posted by Stringreen

I hardly use my cleaning machine.....a waste. Before I play my LP's, I use a Hunt brush....my records are as quiet as my CD's. I have records from the 50's that are as quiet as new ones. I really can't tell the difference before and after cleaning.

Is this the brush you are referring too? Hunt: EDA Mark 6 Carbon Fiber Record Brush

Yes....Hunt Mark 6 Carbon Fiber Brush. It removes dust, lint, etc...but you have to use your record cleaning machine to get off the peanut butter and jelly.

Yes Doug....but my records don't get smeared with peanut butter and jelly. All I need is to remove some dust as it settles on the record between transporting the record from the jacket to the turntable. The stylus doesn't get a big blob of dust on it, however, every so often I dip it onto a small square of Magic Eraser.

Originally Posted by Golucid

What I would love to learn from Myles is about his experiences since he too has: VPI, Audio Desk and Klaudio. I am not entirely unique. The differences I would guess is that he is a reviewer and has amazing relationships with many of the fellows in the industry. Myself, I know no one. What would be awesome is to collaborate with Myles with his decades of experience in the industry.

Folks, this is not about who is right. It's all about sharing information and Myles has a lot of insight to the corporate arena out there. He knows everyone in the industry and writes reviews.

This is a great opportunity. Myles, are you in?

He's Bizzy , mop up on Aisle 3 , Tier 1 stuff ...

Originally Posted by Stringreen

Yes....Hunt Mark 6 Carbon Fiber Brush. It removes dust, lint, etc...but you have to use your record cleaning machine to get off the peanut butter and jelly.

My problem is mango's and Lychee , What cartridge/arm combo are you using for such quite escapades...?

Originally Posted by mep

I too have the exact same brush and I share your amazement at the obvious skill level of Stringeen when he uses the Hunt brush. I have to admit that I lack the skill level that Stringeen has achieved in his use of the Hunt brush. I had to go back to using the Audioquest carbon fiber brush because I lacked the skill to use the Hunt brush to remove the layer of dust on top of an LP which I could easily do with the Audioquest brush. For years now I clean each LP side before I play it on my VPI 16.5 RCM and I never really use a brush anymore. If anyone wants my Hunt brush, I will gladly send it to you for the cost of postage.

Damn, if you had offered to split shipping I may have taken you up on that.

Originally Posted by Mike

I'm curious, do you guys use any fluid on the brush? Is there a fluid/brush combo that you guys recommend?

Good question. Thumbs UP!

Originally Posted by socfan12

Best brushed I've used:



But my records still require a cleaning (or 2, or 3) with the KL...

I just busted this brush out of the package not long ago. It's a near exact duplicate of the Hunt brush in my opinion. All metal construction is nice too.

As for using liquids on these brushes, I don't. I don't see the need to personally. I suppose one could use some D4 or some other fluid of that type or even a spritz of plain ol distilled water if one wanted to. If one does decide to use a fluid with this type of brush, just be sure there is no alcohol or enzymes in it or anything that can be left behind on the brush.

If you want to use a "wet" brush your best bet is having a still in good condition Discwasher brush with a light spray of distilled water. There are plenty of threads on multiple forums from chemist/audiophiles with the breakdown of Discwasher fluid if you want to make your own. The current alternative is the MoFi brush which I found useless and after cleaning and drying out put back in it's package. The brush that Eric and Socfan 12 use is available in many places for much less than the Hunt's and probably comes from the same factory.

Originally Posted by Jack

If you want to use a "wet" brush your best bet is having a still in good condition Discwasher brush with a light spray of distilled water. There are plenty of threads on multiple forums from chemist/audiophiles with the breakdown of Discwasher fluid if you want to make your own. The current alternative is the MoFi brush which I found useless and after cleaning and drying out put back in it's package. The brush that Eric and Socfan 12 use is available in many places for much less than the Hunt's and probably comes from the same factory.

I was thinking Discwasher.

I also find the MoFi brushes useless except for spreading a non-enzymatic cleaning fluid. If you want to get into the grooves for agitation/scrubbing the MoFi brush I'm talking about won't get you there.

It would not surprise me if the Sleevecity brush was really a Hunt. (Same brush and construction, just different name stamped on it). Yes, significantly less then the Hunt brush. I don't know why, nor do I have a Hunt brush to compare.

Eric

I went through a similar process of comparing the results of different machines that I bought and used over time. The biggest difficulty in 'testing' is that, at least with old records, no two have the same 'history' of contamination (assuming that they are identical pressings that sound identical, which is a separate issue). I suppose David's approach of deliberately contaminating multiple copies of the 'same' record with the same amount of 'stuff' might yield some interesting insights. What I found, after a lot of playing around with different machines and 'problem' records was that some old records suffered from groove noise that I normally associate with irreparable damage to the record. But, repeated cleanings using different methods, including long enzyme soaks, point nozzle vacuum, ultrasonic, and in some cases ultrasonic wash, followed by point nozzle drying, did eliminate these problems on some records. My suspicion is that the stuff being removed was not only ground into the groove, but effectively glued down, - whether it was cigarette (or other smoke), cooking fumes, or a 'wipe' with some impregnated cleaning cloth, and years of all this stuff being cemented into the grooves, these nasties didn't come out in one or two cleanings. I'm now down to two machines- the current issue "big" Monks and a KL. The combination is very effective. And is worth some labor for valuable, hard to find old records. I'm also convinced there is merit to repeated cleanings using different methods- but in some cases, the records just aren't salvageable (at least to a high, quiet-playing standard). I don't think the new Clearaudio 'sonic' is necessarily a replacement for an ultrasonic machine, but may perform the 'agitation' function that is required with some fluids. Frankly, if the record isn't a 'problem' record, the different fluids seem to be less of an issue when using the Monks.

Originally Posted by billhart

The biggest difficulty in 'testing' is that, at least with old records, no two have the same 'history' of contamination (assuming that they are identical pressings that sound identical, which is a separate issue).

Right, that's why David has used about (~) 4 ounces of CoolWhip (TM) and ~1/2 ounce of dryer lint as a standard of "Contamination."

Well played Dan, W e l l p l a y ed...

The Clear Audio Double Matrix Sonic arrives this next Monday. Perfect, just after I have finished all my school exams!