Ultrasonic record cleaners damage vinyl by stripping out the high frequencies in the groove which contains 20,000 cycles per second in the waveform which is the height of deviations in the groove. So very delicate. Brutal implosions/cavitation inside the groove are very destructive. Do your research before pulling the trigger on one of these machines. Dave Denyer did a telling test on RU-vid, so check that one out. The best specifically designed manual dry/wet brush using the stylus to massage the debris out and brushing before and after play is what Linn and many top manufacturers suggest as the quickest, easiest, safest, and most effective solution to dirt-related noise. Ultrasonic use should be limited to 5 minutes and only once, is all that is advised by Spatula City Records in "things you should know before using ultrasonic cleaners" and I concur. Thereafter let the stylus knock out the rest over a few plays and use the best vinyl brush you can find out there before and after play to ensure the vinyl stays virgin SAFELY! The SuperCleaner is a very well-regarded brush. Dave Denyer's video "Record Cleaning - part 5: Halloween Horror The Gruesome Truth! Ultrasonic Cavitation Killed My Vinyl" shows the risks of using ultrasonic as per the manufacturer guidelines of 30 minutes and no caution over how many times it is used. The 5-minute rule should apply only once to each record. The more time spent in the cavitating liquid the more damage is caused. IMHO I would prefer to use a less brutal method than imploding/cavitating force but if you must then 5 minutes is a safe limit as it is likely it will not result in enough damage to be audible. The SuperCleaner brush is a wet or dry method that in no way uses brute force other than the pressure on the brush and the stylus tip to knock out the grit while it tracks the groove waveform. After a few plays the vinyl then has no dirt-related noise and with VG+ records is returned to its virgin sound and state without any risk.
Thank you for your comment. It's a very interesting point, however, not one that I have found in my own personal experience. I suppose any technology that is misused can cause damage. Also, you mentioned Spatula City Records. The video they have out concerning ultrasonic RCM's seems to run counter to your argument. You can see that video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t__VBqpuzJk.html
To slow the rotation you can get a variable power supply or do what I did and find the lowest voltage wall wart you have laying around the house and use that. I went from 5 rpm to 1 rpm
The wall wart that came with the unit has a 24v output. That results in 7 rpm. I switched it out for a 12v wall wart that I had laying around and the rpm's dropped to 3.5. Very nice result. I may dig around and see if I can find a 9v wall wart. That would do the trick perfectly.
i would replace the photo flow with some Tergitol Surfactant s-9 its better than photo flow because kodak puts additional chemicals in the photo flow that are not meant for vinyl records you can get it from Talas in new york, they have a web site as well. hope it helps. liked your video 👍
I don't clean more than 3 records at a time; making sure they each have plenty of space between them. That way I'm certain there are plenty of cavitation bubbles surrounding each record.
@@AudiophileToday I'm a little ocd about it with a distilled water rinse via spray bottle before the vevor. There's a record label clamp online for $20 and then I place record on the spindle. I just bought a second vevor to do a final rinse in distilled water also. I use the photoflo and a couple tablespoons of of 99% alcohol and distilled water for my cleaning mix. Good results so far. Less records on spindle seem to get better cleaning.
@@mondoenterprises6710 I've been considering a distilled water rinse on the VPI 16.5 but haven't done that yet. Not sure if such a small amount of the Photoflo leaves any king of residue on the vinyl or not.
@@AudiophileToday Yes I guess it's not supposed to. My thing was rinsing the chemical from the vinyl to avoid a possible reaction as it is used for photo not vinyl.
I've got the same set up as you do now for a couple years. I like very much. I use a solution of distilled water, a few drops of triton 100, and a small amount of 91% Iso Alc. I also use this solution as a preclean on a turntable that I then use a vinyl vac stick on. This keeps my ultrasonic solution cleaner. I also do a distilled water rinse and vinyl vac stick after ultrasonic cleaning. I want to minimize residue left by the triton 100 and Iso if there is any. Works really well! There are a million ways to do it, but just do it!!
Good video on your ultrasonic record cleaner machine i also have 2 ultrasonic record cleaner machines they are digital ultrasonic cleaner like your vevor and humminguru ultrasonic record cleaner machine and i like them both and they do a great job cleaning all my records and it was the best money spent and it was worth it better than hand wash them with spin clean record washer a lotta work and backaches ultrasonic cleaning machines are better than spin clean record washer and lot easier.
I was curious about Kodak photo flo, here's what is in it: Propylene glycol (25-30%) Octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (5-10%) it is, basically, just soap.
I guess I'm about your age, perhaps a little older and I just don't care to put that amount of work into the records. Digital is fine for me. I still have my Mcintosh, Pioneer, Carver components, and Cerwin Vega speakers. I beat the heck out of my hearing decades ago at work. I tested my ears, and I'm lucky to get into the 30-10k range.
Are any of those cleaners leaving any type of anti-static coating on the albums? I'm just curious if any of them would help in that aspect, but it does seem like a good cleaning system regardless.
Thanks for the video. I'm a vinyl fan. Grew up with vinyl during the 50's. I have a record cleaning machine that I have yet to use. Cleaning records is a laborious task. I'm retired and have the time but not the desire. I envy your Mobile Fidelity collection. I'm a huge Frank Sinatra fan. When my budget allows I'll see if I can find it on the used market. And also an Ultrasonic cleaner. Cheers.
I'm in a similar place in life. All the time I need, but zero desire to stand in front of a manual RCM. Good luck on the Sinatra MOFI box set, the quality of the remaster is truly special I'm sure you would be very pleased with them. Thanks for the comment.
I'm really interested in ultrasonic cleaning. I've been using an Okki-Nokki for the past 4hrs or so and feel that Ultra-Sonic is the next step. I can't believe the pricing of the audiodesk / degritter and have considered the HumminGuru but it has mixed reviewes -- although they have a new model out.
Manual vacuum cleaning just takes too much time and effort. I agree, those two machines you mentioned are outlandishly expensive. The Vevor may not be the best of the lot, but it's obtainable and works reasonably well. Thanks for the comment.
The MC1502 is a more neutral and resolving amp. Because it's a true vacuum tube design it doesn't distort the same way that solid state amps do. The MC302 that's inside the MA8000 offers more power, but is less immersive than the 1502 and does not draw you into the music in the same way that the 1502 does. (FWIW, I evicted the Aliens)
I'm not familiar with the Sony product that you mentioned. I like the AKG sound, but whether they're better than the Sony's you mentioned I cannot say.
I laughed at your set up and the size of the small room! The system takes up almost half the room!! A little overkill perhaps??? You could fill an auditorium with the system! Do you need that much for a small room or in a house
I'll take my great Big'uns against your great small'uns every single time. BTW, the Preamp has a volume control knob and the room is pretty well dampened. You should take the time to see what Eric Alexander had to say about large speakers in smaller rooms. He would know.
@@freddaigle5902 You’re assuming that my system is small which you should never assume anything right??? But I still say you’re system for that small little room in overkill and you probably never use all the power it gives
Great review. I just got them for $130 from official ebay store brand new. I have been using Westone w60 for last 4-5 years and want to give these a try. I have a fio btr5 blutooth adaptor i will connect them to because iphone does not have headphone jack. I love the Westone w60's but for $130 i am willing to give these a try
I bought them about 2 years ago for $169 directly on Harman. Initially I found them not very comfortable to wear due to the cable being thick. But over time the cable got softer and they become more comfortable. Also the eartips didn't go deep enough into my ear canal which was causing the sound leakage. I replaced the tips to different, but you could also slide the tips closer to the end of the tip, so they would go deeper inside your ear. After some time I realized, that I can't go back to my others IEMs. Then I connected the bluetooth cable to test it and straight for convenience I just kept it connected and using it now for almost a year this way. Recently those dropped to $139 and I just got another pair which I will be keeping with wired connector and also as a spare. Very happy with this IEMs. Bass and image separation is top notch.
1.7's. I used a 60 watt tube integrated in conjunction with a pair of Musical Fidelity 550K Superchargers. The Maggies were very power hungry which is partly why I soured on them.
@@AudiophileToday i thought it was common knowledge that maggies needed high current amps to sing. i don't think that a 60 watt tube amp would cut it. i'm glad you're enjoying your current loudspeakers.
Best part is even when ising the bluetooth adaptor, these still sound way better than all the best bluetooth noise reductions from sennhesier, sony, apple, bose, bang and olufson or any brand you can think of. These AKG are all you'll ever need. They make jist about all your favorite iem or headphones sound veil and weak..
Bought a set for myself today at the killer price of $159.99, through Harmon Kardon's official ebay storefront, and using a postal forwarding service to ship from the US to the UK! It'll take a little while, but can't wait to try them, and pair with my FiiO M17. I also think, based of legacy reviews and objective measurements, that the N5005 will closely match my existing over+the-ear T+A Solitaire T hybrid wireless/wired headphones. I'll likely purchase an MMCX adapter and then purchase the iFi Audio GO Pod to create a modern TWS headphone system, but I could use the N5005 as is with the older Bluetooth cable. Either way, I'm excited to receive my pair and use them in a few weeks time!
@@AudiophileToday oh thank you! I'm still nervous as it's the first time I've used a postal forwarding service, but I did my due diligence and research and think I found a good company. I wasn't pleased with either AKG or Harmon Kardon's US websites for shopping, and even using a postal forwarding address did not allow me to complete my order, but as before Harmon Kardon's official eBay shopfront was trouble free alternative! I'll update when I get my AKG N5005 in a few weeks time, but wanted to also say thank you for your review, which was one of a few that informed my final decision to grab these IEM's at their current fire sale price!
The price is absolutely mind blowing, would loved to get me a pair, unfortunately I can't find them at this price anymore, I'm always late to the party... What is their exact ebay store, please? Will keep my eyes on a future deal
They are 159 on akg but sadly they don't seem like something I would like. I have the status audio buds and they are pretty great. Idk if you've tried those before
That price leads me to believe that they are now just selling off existing stock and manufacturing has ceased. Whey don't you think you would like them?
@krypdezyr Nothing even comes close. You'll have to spend at least $700 and it's debatable wethered it'll even match these.. but these quick before they ran out or the price goes up.
@@Ricer-b4nactually reviews are saying the Chinese hifi stuff competes easy. I know I got Tozo Bluetooth headset for like 45 an it's on par with all the stuff I've used over the years from ekg an Sony studio in the 90s to sennheiser an Sony in the 2000s
sir did u try it bi-amping(Work to connect mc1502 to the speaker's high pitch and ma9500 power amplifier to the low pitch)? I'm also thinking about buying mc1502 and I want to know how it is
I did try bi-amping with the MC1502 and MA8000. I didn't find the sound to be that appealing. Too many variable factors between the amps typologies (slew rates, damping factors, etc.) Also, the MC1502 is very sensitive to impedance mis-matches and will trigger the sentry monitor. The MC1502 is a fabulous sounding amp on its own. I have zero hesitation to enthusiastically recommend it.
@AudiophileToday I have one more qeustion. Do you think it's okay to use ma8000 as a preamplifier? Does the preamplifier perform well enough? Some sellers are against it.
@@RR-xh2xz The MA800 Integrated amp merges the MC302 power amp and the C50 Preamp together into a single chasis. Using it the way I am is simply using the C50 preamp to power a separate power amp. It's no different than with a stand alone C50. Sounds great btw.
What an awesome tour and beautiful system you have. Thanks for sharing with us. I would love to have a dedicated listening room, maybe one of these days, but currently it's not in the cards with my wife. If you ever get bored with that techniques turntable and just want someone to take it off your hands I'm willing. 😁
Enjoyed your video very much. Thank you. I got into the audiophile hobby a bit late in life, but better late than never. Your listening room looks great and I don't think it's too small. Look forward to seeing more of your videos.
Looks great! I like the two stack rack. I wish I was your neighbor so I could have come over and helped. I would love to feel how truly heavy that 1502 is LOL
SIR , THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR , I HAVE SAE EQUIPTMENT , 1974 ERA, STILL LOOKS BEAUTIFUL !! WITH TECHNICS TT SL110 WITH A SME ARM AND MICRO ACOUSTICS CARTRIDGE !
