HELP - Spin Clean System and Poor Sound

[Whitneyville]

Any distilled or deionized water from a supermarket or drug store will be the same and be fine. I buy special distilled/deionized/ozonated water for my resiratory equiptment (24/7) so I use it because I have it, but water processed by reverse osmosis (as long as "natural chemicals added for flavor" aren't in it) or the .89 cent gallon of distilled will be fine. The chemical supply house is closer than the supermarket and I pay just about the same price for the chemically pure with ozone added water and it smells better is my only reason for buying it. Don't buy into the "triple distilled" water crap: It's chemically the exactly the same as the supermarket distilled water. Both are USP and I've used supermarket water to prepare my injections. So do compounding pharmacies. My cousin is a Pharmacist and he uses the store brand distilled water to prepare precriptions.

[BeingThere]

Whitneyville - Thanks for the info. I'll get whatever bottle they have at the local grocery store.

[LousyTourist]

there was an interesting thread on audiogon about distilled water, or what to use, and it agreed mostly with ol' whit. They did say if you want the ultimate for the least cost, get the RO/deionized water from your local Whole Foods marketplace. $.99 a gallon and as clean as you could want.

[BeingThere]

Here are two videos of the poor sound I'm speaking of. What do you think could be causing this?

Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhuoSwYM0H8

Video 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRLogeHvk_8

[fscl]

BT,

Watched V1 in it's entirety and just a bit of V2.

V1 definitly sounds like groove damage. The pop-clicks are not random as if it was merely entrapped dirt dust the pop-click would be a lot more random. The pop-click is regular, at a certain part of the LP possibly due to a major scratch.

When you hear the pop-click, make a mental note of where on the label the stylus is at the exact time you hear the pop-click..... ie right when the needle passes the "d" in SIDE 1.

Remove the LP from the tt and then radially move from the spindle hole to the "d" outwards towards the edge approxmately where the tonearm tracks into the song / cut. Look for groove damage, scratches.

I've had very good results with my Spin Clean, however, if there is additional noise ie in V2 (as the noise / pop-click is more random) I further concentrate / clean / scrub using my MoFi brush:



around where I hear noise.

This will eliminate most all of the dirty / dusty noise on LPs, leaving me with pops-clicks from physical damage done to groove walls.

As mentioned in a post above, I find the SC cleaning solution somewhat lacking and use my a homebrew with good results.

Other possible explanations for more perceived pops-clicks:

1. Have you recently upgraded your needle? from lets say a more foregiving conical?
2. Changed VTA and / or tonearm height?
3. Changed cartridges?
4. Have you aligned everything perfectly?
5. Adjusted VTF?

6. Have you examined the SC's brushes? are they nice and smooth with NO hard protrusions? ie a stiff nylon corner, plastic protrusion, trapped staple?

Do you have any new LPs? that you've put through the SC? and have them come out with more noise?

For me, the SC does a nice job of removing filth especially on older used garage, thrift store, flea market, etc... LPs.

Good luck.

Fred and try a different cleaning solution / homebrew.....

[BeingThere]

In July, I bought a brand new Technics SL-1200MK2 with Denon DL 160 cartridge. Before playing many records, 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.

The record in V1 is not even a year old and played maybe three times.

These glitchy, popping noises virtually ruin my listening experience on most records that are in the least bit quiet as you can hear in the video. 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.

I contacted Spin-Clean and they sent me new brushes and a new bottle of cleaner, but the same problem persists. I notice it on almost all of my records, so assume it's something with the turntable, but when I recently hooked up my cheap, Pyle-Pro turntable, the sounds were still there.

My static control AcousTech Big Brush does nothing for the sounds 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.

I also took the drying cloth and lightly dampened it with distilled water and gave the record about to be played a light wipe before playing with no effect.

[fscl]

BT,

Sometimes cleaning will actually bring out the scratches on LPs.....

I don't usually clean the LPs I've purchased new until a LONG time has elapsed. When I do, sometimes they become pop / clickier than I remember and wonder when I / or who as they been lent, damaged them.

However, I've never had any problem with cleaning and restoring fidelity to records purchased used and not previously in my possession.

I've been to used record stores touting / displaying RCMs in their spaces as many do clean them prior to reselling. I've bought many from these stores only to be GREATLY disappointed with the sound from these LPs.

However, after cleaning, sometimes repeated, they've become silent and very happy with the resulting sound as I usually examine them VERY carefully before purchase. My Goals Beyond and Baduzium evolved this way.

I've tried to PM a homebrew, however your account does not seem to accept them.

Fred and did you examine the groove area on the LP in V1?...

[BeingThere]

Currently, I'm listening to a brand new (shrink-wrapped) LP that I purchased new a couple months ago and cleaned with the Spin Clean. It has only been played a couple of times. It has a quiet intro track and it has the exact same sounds that can be heard in the videos I posted.

If anyone would like me to upload new videos, I'd be happy to.

I just can't make heads or tails on what those sounds could be.

[fscl]

Currently, I'm listening to a brand new (shrink-wrapped) LP that I purchased new a couple months ago and cleaned with the Spin Clean. It has only been played a couple of times. It has a quiet intro track and it has the exact same sounds that can be heard in the videos I posted.

If anyone would like me to upload new videos, I'd be happy to.

I just can't make heads or tails on what those sounds could be.

I implore you to NOT clean new records, there is NO need to do so IMHO. You may be inadvertently ADDING pop & clicks to otherwise silent grooves.

In theory, this is virgin vinyl....

From another thread on DSOTM. The MoFi vinyl is my only DSOTM bought new, I have since bought a previously owned MoFi Hiroshima / ST which I did put through my Spin Clean with no adverse effects using the homebrew..... I post it here for reference, See Warrantee:

Like dragonw my only DSOTM is my one and only MFSL LP which I picked up on the "Left Coast" in 1981 from Serra Stereo in SF, CA.

$15.95 for the LP and $16.91 out the door with Uncle Sam's handling charges.

Always wanted a DSOTM, so I figured I'd spring for the "highest quality" version available and see / hear what MFSL was all about.

MFSL liner notes:

"Because Super Vinyl has no "memory" you are encouraged to play our discs over and over without "real" rest between plays. It is necessary, if you have noticed, to "rest" ordinary pressings (soft vinyl) between plays, sometimes up to twenty-four hour, because the groove walls tend to give and stretch out of shape with each play. The audible difference is most annoying, particularly when an ordinary pressing is compared to our Super Vinyl pressing. Unfortunately, Super Vinyl is not available in the United States at the time. The Victor Co. of Japan (JVC) is the sole producer of this vinyl and also presses our discs.

Warranty Reminder:

We do not de-horn our metal parts in order to prevent damage to high frequencies and transients. It may be necessary to play this disc several times, with your stylus acting as a polishing tool, to eliminate random pops and ticks. Brush carefully before and after each play!

Bought my son (big PF fan) the 30th for his birthday but haven't played this on a TT yet.

Fred and used MFSL DSOTM to learn to digitize / rip using a borrowed Grado fitted Nottingham Horizon

Good luck.

Fred and try playing a new vinyl w/o the urge to Spin Clean it...... and just remove surface dirt w/ CF brush......the SC works well for previously owned, used, slightly neglected vinyls.....

[BeingThere]

I already cleaned about 100 of my records, which were mostly purchased new. I did so because when I read up on the subject, it seemed the consensus was to always clean new vinyl due to manufacturing pieces leftover.

I can now accept private messages as I would love to try your homebrew.

[rdeesen]

I am really happy with my Spin Clean, and FYI I saw on Facebook for a limited time they are offering FREE SHIPPING on any order. So if you need cleaner or anything else, take advantage of this offer!!! Here's a link if you need it. http://spincleanrecordwasher.com.

[Audio_Man]

I already cleaned about 100 of my records, which were mostly purchased new. I did so because when I read up on the subject, it seemed the consensus was to always clean new vinyl due to manufacturing pieces leftover.

I can now accept private messages as I would love to try your homebrew.

Yes cleaning new records can improve the sound but unless there is an obvious problem after playing don't use this type of cleaner.

Looking at your first video - 2 problems.

1. Repetitive noise is probably vinyl damage or pressing fault - or just could be a big deposit across grooves ?

2. Cleaning method (ignore spin clean instructions) - Do not dry with cloths and place records in rack to dry. Get yourself purified water , empty spin clean / clean brushes, then load machine with just purified water and reclean discs. Leave to dry in rack.

This should remove deposit left by spin clean solution. I am basing this on experience with disco antistat system which is similar. This should improve matters. If there is still noise and you are confident there is no physical damage you will have to try vac cleaning. I think if you can find a contact or record shop that can do this for some of your lps the results should convince you to get an RCM. Safe on new vinyl too.

Video 2 - Convinced you are pushing dirt around groove and into bottom of grooves with the cloths. Also the cleaning product is probably leaving a film behind. Are you getting a build up on your stylus as it plays ? This will indicate grunge left in grooves. I strongly recommend use of an RCM to rectify the problems that have been appearing. Will remove dirt and remains of other cleaning solutions rather than just pushing more debris into the bottom of the groove.

[robottaway]

I bought one of these, and rue the choice. It ruined over 20 newer LPs of mine. All I can say is it's cheap, it feels cheap, and it's made cheap. It scratched the heck out of any LP that went into it. The quality control at their assembly plant must be crap. So now I have visible and very audible scratches in 400+ dollars worth of stuff I've bought this year. Wish I would have tried it first on just one LP, but I was much too trusting given the *glowing* reviews on this and other forums. Sometimes I get reminded just how much of this hobby is utter bullshit.

[fscl]

I bought one of these, and rue the choice. It ruined over 20 newer LPs of mine. All I can say is it's cheap, it feels cheap, and it's made cheap. It scratched the heck out of any LP that went into it. The quality control at their assembly plant must be crap. So now I have visible and very audible scratches in 400+ dollars worth of stuff I've bought this year. Wish I would have tried it first on just one LP, but I was much too trusting given the *glowing* reviews on this and other forums. Sometimes I get reminded just how much of this hobby is utter bullshit.

Throughly, examine the pads feel the surface while pressing them, they should be soft and should do no damage. Review your technique.

New LPs do not really to be spun clean, the Spin Clean is great on my older LPs 25-30yo and used LPs.

Perhaps there is a staple or hard plastic that emerges through the pad(s) when pressed.

Just wondering why you put all your new vinyl through this thing if it was doing damage, there are lots of thrift store plastic to experiment with.

Try calling SC and see if you can get a full refund.

Good Luck.

Fred