HELP - Spin Clean System and Poor Sound

[BeingThere]

I posted this in the Spin Clean thread, but figured I'd get more views if I made my own thread.

After getting a brand new Technics SL-1200MK2 with Denon DL 160 cartridge last month, I bought a Spin Clean system and Diskeeper Double Audiophile Inner Sleeves. I own over 300 LPs and about 100 7"s, most of which were purchased brand new and cared for during the past ten years, so were not very dirty at all.

After cleaning, I noticed a static sound during quieter parts of the records I cleaned. The glitchy, popping noises virtually ruin my listening experience on certain records. It is definitely not dirt as this sound is on my most recent purchases that were just taken out of the shrink-wrap and cleaned. This sound did not change regardless if I allowed the records to air dry after using the drying cloth for five minutes or an hour even though the Spin Clean directions do not recommend any air dry time, just to dry with the drying cloths.

My static control AcousTech Big Brush does nothing for this static sound regardless if I brush one time or three times, clockwise or counter clockwise. It does a nice job of getting rid of small particles but that is it.

I tried doing a rinse with distilled water after the Spin Clean, but that did absolutely nothing.

This sound is only bothersome when listening to quieter albums or at the very beginning of the record or in between songs.

It is very dry in our finished downstairs and we have to keep a dehumidifier going otherwise a damp smell will occur. This is where our media room is and the setup cannot be changed.

Any suggestions? Should I buy a Zerostat gun?

[BeingThere]

I just tested a Spin Cleaned record that was purchased brand new and played just a few times. As soon as the needle dropped, it was brutal static pops and glitches. So, I experimented redropping the needle and sometimes it would play quietly only to start up the static sounds again in different spots. I tried brushing the record with no results. I licked my finger and lightly touched the needle again with no results. The static sound would just be in different spots or seem to accumulate as the record played.

I then tried an uncleaned, brand-new record on red vinyl that even has a mild warp that has only been played once or twice and I did not hear any of those static pops.

[Alec124c41]

If static is the problem, a wipe with a slightly damp brush or microfiber cloth just before play could leave just enough dampness at the surface to negate it. Note the slightly damp: you do not want s wet record.
A Tonar CF arm brush, grounded to your amp, could help, too.http://www.analogueseduction.net/produc ... rm_TON-NSA

Cheers,
Alec

[rdeesen]

I have had my Spin Clean Record Washer for a while now and I haven't had any problems at all. Could it be your needle?

[fscl]

I just tested a Spin Cleaned record that was purchased brand new and played just a few times. As soon as the needle dropped, it was brutal static pops and glitches. So, I experimented redropping the needle and sometimes it would play quietly only to start up the static sounds again in different spots. I tried brushing the record with no results. I licked my finger and lightly touched the needle again with no results. The static sound would just be in different spots or seem to accumulate as the record played.

I then tried an uncleaned, brand-new record on red vinyl that even has a mild warp that has only been played once or twice and I did not hear any of those static pops.

The Spin Clean cleaning solution leaves much to be desired. Try searching the audio forums for a homebrew to use in the trough instead.

Good luck.

Fred

[Whitneyville]

A carbon fiber record brush (the Tonar brand is as good as the much more exspensive brand) may help, but I'll bet if you get a PHK vaccum record cleaner and any decent cleaning solution (incuding homemade) all your problems will dissapper with that "sucking goodness" any vaccum cleaner does. They aren't magic, they're good sense and suck all the "cracklies" off the surface and from down in the grooves. Even my homemade one cleans better than everything I've done before.(Plugged crevice tool with a slit cut in it and covered with micro-fiber cloth, hooked to Shop-Vac.) Slow, but effective. For now, just a suggestion, get some distilled water and add 20 drops of Kodak Photo-Flo 200 per liter and wet your LP's with that and wipe with a micro-fiber cloth, or use that to moisten a micro-fiber cloth and wipe. You may find you need to add 10-20% of 91% isopropyl alcohol to the mix. The Photo-Flo will remove the "water soluble" residue and the alcohol will remove the "oil soluble" residue. I really think this will help.

[BeingThere]

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. I will try them all and report back soon.

[jdhorn1]

AKer's went ga-ga over Spin Clean a few months back (I was one of them). Most said it was a heaven send. I, like you had the same problem. After using the SC there seemed to be pops & tics where there were none before, expecialy at the lead in groove. It came as a consencence that the brushs needed to be cleaned before first use. I could not tell the difference. I planned to order new brushes to see if it helped, biut the prices went up. In the mean time I got a Record Doctor RCM off ebay ( PO' Mans Nitty Gritty ) to see if it helps.

[BeingThere]

That sounds exactly like what is happening. I never cleaned the brushes upon first use, but I did rinse them, push all the water out and let them air dry like instructed in between baths as stated in the directions and video, but the same problem keeps occurring.

I have some new brushes on the way.

Do you know if you need to clean the brushes with a solution before use? Any suggestions on what to clean them with.

[Whitneyville]

I would clean them with Simple Green(TM) diluted about 1:64, then rinse them well with distilled water. Simple Green(TM) diluted at about 1:128 (an ounce per gallon) makes a darn good record cleaning solution, BTW, followed by a distilled water rinse with a tiny bit of drying-aid (Photo-Flo, Finish, Jet-Dry, etc.). I'm just not convinced of the Spin Clean's design/process. It's the same as me cleaning used LP's in the kitchen sink with a dowel thru them and a brush. Adding my Water-Pik under the surface aids cleaning, but I'm becoming convinced that a vaccum system, no matter how crude, does a far better job. Why? Because I've tried it, and it works better. Ultrasonic cleaners also work better than most other systems. They agitate so violently the dirt comes out of the groove and drops to the bottom of the tank. My home-made vac sucks violently enough to pick-up the record from the platter, if I'm not careful. On a microscopic (groove) level, that's alot of agitation and force removing the "gunk", but I think it's required for true cleaning. Like DAK's ad shows, there's alot more dirt on our LP's than we think, but I'm convinced that "brushing" and dry cleaning or wet cleaning with a brush/velvet pad/etc. doesn't get the job done adiquately. PS: I also think most commercial record cleaning fluids are a waste of money and 99% "hype". I KNOW I can "homebrew" better cleaning solutions for a tiny fraction of the price.

[BeingThere]

Thanks for the recommendation. Right now, I'm waiting on replacement brushes.

Something must be way off for me to have so much noise after using it since I've read dozens of positive reviews. There is no way even the most casual vinyl listener would stomach such sound let alone vinyl enthusiasts.

[TJLitt]

one thing they don't tell you, and it's critical to the Spin Clean:
The brushes, before initial use, have to be cleaned with a mild soap and water cleaning(dishwash liquid works fine). Apparently, there is some sort of chemical on the brush surface at manufacture that WILL cause noise if not removed.
I've owned a Spin Clean for a few years, and have NO problem whatsoever with added noise, and the thing, properly used, will get records very clean and essentially noise-free. I recommend it heartily(I'm one of the AK'ers who started to recommend it way back).

[fscl]

AKer's went ga-ga over Spin Clean a few months back (I was one of them). Most said it was a heaven send. I, like you had the same problem. After using the SC there seemed to be pops & tics where there were none before, expecialy at the lead in groove. It came as a consencence that the brushs needed to be cleaned before first use. I could not tell the difference. I planned to order new brushes to see if it helped, biut the prices went up. In the mean time I got a Record Doctor RCM off ebay ( PO' Mans Nitty Gritty ) to see if it helps.

I wouldn't necessarily say ga-ga, just an alert on 33.33% price increase so there was a flurry of buying activity before the June 1 deadline. Yes, I was one of them too.....

As a bottom feeder of vinyl @ thrift stores, I'm very happy with the Spin Clean. There's a pictures of my homebrew in another SC thread AFTER going through my backlog of 50+ uncleaned vinyl LPs.

I suspect my homebrew is polarizing? solution so I don't experience any static? popping and crackling, just pops from scratches damage from a prior life.

Fred still don't get the L ga-ga phenom......

[BeingThere]

I just received new brushes and a new bottle of washer. I still want to get different distilled water before I try again.

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions.