Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner Recommendations

I also have a Typhoon (and an HW-17), and am contemplating a "Degritter" from Estonia. A local friend has one and he *swears* by it. He even talked a local "boutique" record dealer (that we both frequent) into getting one.

I'm curious to see what others have to say...

DC

I got the Kirmuss unit early on, after seeing it at Axpona. After using it a few times, I went back to my VPI 16.5, and like it better. (I did mod it with a fan, and seal the top chamber with caulk, long ago)

Perhaps the higher end ultrasonic cleaners are better. I am not prepared to spend $3-4K for the audio desk machine. Although prices do seem to be coming down somewhat, and KLaudio dropped their unit.

AudioDesk user here, no regrets but as mentioned it’s not cheap but does work with no BS.


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Current Klaudio user here and former VPI 16.5 and VPI 17 owner.

The Klaudio does what it is supposed to do: it cleans the records with minimal user intervention. Drop the LP in the machine and come back to pick it up when finished. Both sides done at once.

The VPI 16.5 does the job, but it certainly requires lots of user intervention. You are involved in the cleaning process throughout. Plus aesthetically the unit looks like it was built in a garage. It is also time consuming since you have to do one side at a time. The VPI 17 is a little bit more automated (it dispenses the cleaning fluid using a button) but still requires plenty of user involvement.

If you have a large collection that needs cleaning, a machine that requires minimal user intervention is the way to go. Same if you want something that doesn’t look like it was built in a garage.

If you only have a few albums to clean occasionally and don’t care about its clunky look, then a machine like the VPI will do the job.

Don C said:

I also have a Typhoon (and an HW-17), and am contemplating a "Degritter" from Estonia. A local friend has one and he *swears* by it. He even talked a local "boutique" record dealer (that we both frequent) into getting one.

I'm curious to see what others have to say...

DC

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Degritter Looks nice but above my budget. I’d like to stay between $1000-$1500 if possible but you know how that goes.

Bones13 said:

I got the Kirmuss unit early on, after seeing it at Axpona. After using it a few times, I went back to my VPI 16.5, and like it better. (I did mod it with a fan, and seal the top chamber with caulk, long ago)

Perhaps the higher end ultrasonic cleaners are better. I am not prepared to spend $3-4K for the audio desk machine. Although prices do seem to be coming down somewhat, and KLaudio dropped their unit.

Click to expand...

Thanks Bones...to bad, I was looking at the Kirmuss and I am also not willing to pay $3-4K for one..

Audiophilehi said:

Thanks Bones...to bad, I was looking at the Kirmuss and I am also not willing to pay $3-4K for one..

Click to expand...

Kirmuss is not that expensive. I paid show rate of $799

It’s the KLAudio and AudioDesk units that are pricy. KLAudio is pulling out of the business (?) and the AudioDesk I have seen nearer to $3K, on sale lately. AudioDesk has ultrasonic tank and some wipers?

While the 16.5 VPI untit was cheap years ago, it required installing a fan for cooling. The spindle would get hot enough to melt vinyl after cleaning ~10 records. I also ended up sealing the upper area to prevent water from swelling the MDF material that it is made of.

The new aluminum VPI unit should cure all of that (not hydrophilic and and I’m sure the case is now a good heat sink.) but a good bit more $. If is truly quieter, that’s a big bonus. My current one makes a great case for noise cancelling headphones.