Is the Glass-Audio Desk Vinyl Record Cleaner Truly Ultrasonic?

I tested the Glass Audio Vinyl Cleaner Pro using the Tin Foil Ultrasonic Cleaner Test - look it up! The results are worth watching! ‪@trackingangle929‬ ‪@TheInGroove‬ ‪@mazzysmusic‬

[@michaelcohen2156]

Unfortunately, my experiences are much the same as yours. My first Audio Desk had a water pump failure within the warranty period and was replaced. The replacement was dead out of the box. The next replacement worked well for about three years (my cleanings numbered in the hundreds, not the thousands), but the water pump is (again) out. The unit will have to be sent to Germany for repair, though I was given the option for a trade-in. I'm leery about getting another one, and your video adds to that angst. Good review--thanks!

[@flamingroove]

I got my Degritter in January 2022 and have run it through over 7,700 cleaning cycles since. Still working great, one small problem once and their customer service solved it over the phone. Turns out the solution was in the owners manual, I missed seeing it until customer service explained it to me and told me the page number and there it was.

[@Doctore_Robert]

I'm going to look into that model.

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

I have a Degritter Mark 2. What would you say that you are doing to keep it running so long ?

[@flamingroove]

@@MrNicks-gn8jc plugged it in and used it

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

@@flamingroove Three questions, if you would please help me: 1. What are you putting in the tank to clean (eg. just water, water and Degritter mix, etc.) ? 2. Do you do the vinegar-water maintenance on your unit ? If so, how often [ballpark] ? 3. How often do you change your water? Filter? .....my desire here is to UNDERSTAND YOUR USAGE to understand how to make mine POTENTIALLY last as long. Thank you for any and all answers.

[@flamingroove]

@@MrNicks-gn8jc distilled water I buy by the gallon. I change the tank completely every time I open a new gallon. After that I top the tank off be fore it makes me (or when it says water low) I did the vinegar rinse and start & stop every five seconds once @about 3500 cycles because the seal on the tank was letting water back in to the cleaning chamber so the disc was drying in 1/2”of water. Took about 20-30 minutes of fooling with it and it has worked fine since. I spent a year 2022 to clean and sleeve my entire collection

[@DaveDenyer]

Great video Dr Robert. I have also heard reports from various sources claiming the Audio Desk is not truly ultrasonic ie. it doesn't generate cavitation. FWIW I also share your feelings about 'if cavitation can blow holes in aluminium what does it do to vinyl'... Hence I didn't do the foil test and instead conducted my own experiments into potential damage to vinyl... Cheers, Dave

[@Doctore_Robert]

Thanks for the info!

[@bfpsa64]

Hey there, I have never tried this cleaner so was interested in seeing it. I use 3 different machines and have a video on my page showing them all and what I do. I am getting ready to order a DeGritter to if the hype on it true. The way I have been doing it seems to work well in my opinion and my customers when I clean their records. I feel that cleaning your records, whichever way each person chooses, really helps you get better sound but also the life of your styles will increase greatly. Enjoy the music everyone.

[@Doctore_Robert]

Yes I will likely also make a change next time my Glass breaks down. I am tempted to write the company and ask for a comment from the manufacturer or the sales rep

[@myquealer]

I really like the design of that cleaner, if it is ultrasonic, as it is the only one I know of that cleans the surface with brushes, and the grooves with ultrasonic cavitation. I've yet to buy one, given the price and reliability issues. If it isn't actually ultrasonic I think I will have to keep looking for my ideal record cleaner.

[@Doctore_Robert]

I've been happy with its performance but I no longer believe it is truly ultrasonic, and its durability is an issue...

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

I use a vacuum cleaner method followed by the spin clean with great results.

[@Doctore_Robert]

I'm sure that works well and much cheaper!

[@assistantto007]

I dont know if ifs the limitations of the audio recording ability of your camera, but it doesn't 'sound' ultrasonic to my ears

[@harrysmusicroom]

Interesting, I would say the end results are what matters. From what I see it would appear that the cleaning is done by the 4 brushes.

[@Doctore_Robert]

It does do a good job of cleaning records, as I showed in a prior video...

[@festersuncle6298]

Does it clean your records and improve the sound? That's a win.

[@CasinoClams]

Paying thousands and thousands of dollars for a rotary brush when you thought it was an ultrasonic machine. Not a win.

[@Doctore_Robert]

@@CasinoClams Yeah I'm torn. It does a nice job but it isn't as advertised and isn't what I thought it was for years...

[@pete1927]

Have you challenged the manufacturer what was their response?

[@revkarl]

Whether it is ultrasonic or not, the main issue should be: how good a job does it do in cleaning records...and at what price. It's like the whole MFSL analog-digital fiasco...false marketing(?) but good/great results. Seems like you and Mazzy may want to do another compare/contrast video with your Glass-Audio vs. his Humingguru...looking at both performance and costs (your cost is about $1 per cleaning...has Mazzy even cleaned 400 records with his machine?)

[@Doctore_Robert]

Yes another comparison would be a good idea. I will say I have reviewed the prior video Mazzy and I made, as well as one from Robert Fithen, which shows that the HumminGuru does disturb the audio output of the microphones in both videos. This one I just made doesn't have the same effect from the Glass machine. So that is further evidence that this machine doesn't emit U/S waves.

[@1RungAtATime]

I bought used records that were cleaned with that cleaner and can't tell a difference from what I've cleaned with my $100 diy vac setup.

[@Doctore_Robert]

Fair enough!

[@pierresternegard6951]

Then it's just a tad more advanced in its cleaning than a knosti.a motorised knosti w spinning brushes and a dry function

[@Doctore_Robert]

Yes that’s what I think, just a scrubber. It does clean well I think…

[@pierresternegard6951]

I have owned several machines, from Loriceaft to Okki Nokki and I have now had the nittygritty mini pro for many years. Cleans well and is fast and all parts can be changed, even motor. And i clean many many records. It does both sides at once and vacuums them dry in just a few minutes. I recommend it!

[@Doctore_Robert]

Thanks for that info! I may well change brands next go. The degritter is on my list…

[@Doctore_Robert]

Oh sorry. Is nittygritty the degritter?

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

wow I would be upset. Maybe it's a very low tuned ultrasonic??? if that's even a thing.

[@Doctore_Robert]

I guess that's possible. But I'm still skeptical. There is an argument online that the voltage of the machine isn't sufficient to generate ultrasonic waves...

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@Doctore_Robert that's why I was hesitant saying 'low tuned' as it goes into a different frequency range. Lower frequencies do work similar especially when something is immersed in water, even a 60hz pulse wave can do some cleaning. I have no experience with this unit and you've had several.. why not just take it apart and look at the circuit? see what the transducers if any are in there.

[@Doctore_Robert]

I’m reaching out to the sales rep. I’m not talented enough to dismantle it! 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣

[@TheOptimod]

I had the same feeling, no evidence of ultrasonic activity on the one I tried.

[@Doctore_Robert]

Did you do the cavitation test? I will be in touch with with them as my machine went down again. 4th one I’ve warm out!

[@TheOptimod]

@@Doctore_Robert Also seen on several forums doubts have been raised about the validity of the "ultrasonic" claims. Back to the good old Knosti Disco-Antistat for me.

[@harryriles8609]

You need to try with a "real" ultrasonic to see if it really does put holes in the foil.

[@Doctore_Robert]

Yes I will do that. There are videos already up on line that show the effect...

[@dansharkey5218]

It may now be Tuna sonic

[@Doctore_Robert]

Have you copyrighted that term? 😂

[@dansharkey5218]

Glad to see you have a sense of humor & are not offended; keep up the good work and Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@cheapcheerfulrecordcollect8071]

The bottom line is, are your records cleaner after you used the machine. Have you been happy with the results ? Yes they shouldn’t misrepresent their product and they should be held accountable.

[@Doctore_Robert]

Agree on both counts. They shouldn't call it ultrasonic! But it does work well as a record cleaner...

[@TallisLizzy]

Doctor Robert is the most dominant doctor on KZbin.

[@Doctore_Robert]

That is kind! Thank you!

[@ThresholdZhor]

Hi doctor Robert, I have just repaired an Audio Desk glass and I can verify that it use a transductor to create high frequency's to create bubbles, I am sure your machine is defective, the Audio Desk cleans so good that I am thinking to buy one, in other terms this video is wrong

[@Doctore_Robert]

Well…you can read about the cavitation test. I’ve loved the 4 different versions I’ve owned in terms of their effectiveness. On the other hand I am not the first to suggest that it may not but truly ultrasonic. Michael Fremer, for example has also suggested this. I actually challenged him on that but when I ran this test I found myself agreeing with him. Some have suggested it is ultrasonic but just low powered - maybe? 🤷🏽. But 2 points: 1) there are many machines that do cavitate and there is likely a benefit, and 2) Glass should clarify their advertising. If they can respond with data that shows I was wrong I’m willing to hear it

[@ThresholdZhor]

@@Doctore_Robert Well I understand your petition but what really matters is that after cleaning the discs sound much better and looks like new

[@kennyseow2383]

Hai,can u help to advise my audiodesk pro hv auto drying problem,after cleaning no auto drying function,even set to manual drying also no function,,I try every day sometime working well one time then continue same issues,,do u hv this issue experience ? Btw audiodesk co..no reply my email 😢

[@ThresholdZhor]

@@kennyseow2383 No but I suspect it uses a triac to turn on the fans, check that ciecuit

[@kennyseow2383]

@@ThresholdZhor hope..will check it out ,thanks so much bro

[@kinnamangaming3216]

It's about marketing. Ultra sonic name sells it.

[@Doctore_Robert]

False marketing, apparently. I'm not sure whether they even realize it...

[@4-dman464]

I'd say the glass is half empty.

[@Doctore_Robert]

I tend to be a pretty upbeat guy. But yes it is disappointing that they seem to be misrepresenting it.