NO MORE Pops Clicks & Static on VINYL RECORDS?

In this video I am continuing my new to vinyl records playback journey by looking at how to reduce pops clicks crackles and one of the major causes of them dust and debris on the record caused by static.
Albums in the video
Norah Jones geni.us/ZRuexEG
Metallica Black Album geni.us/RenK9W
The record cleaner in the video is the Degritter Mk2
degritter.com/products/mark-2/
The Anti Static sleeves in this video
Spincare full size geni.us/295zw
Spincare Dynamic geni.us/8coKjiW
Mofi Master sleeves geni.us/oB2jDV
The anti static brushes in the video
Project Clean IT geni.us/8XiWaA
Furutech ASB1 www.furutech.com/2018/07/25/1...
Furutech DeStat 3 www.furutech.com/2016/02/12/1...
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Thanks for watching - Terry Ellis Pursuit Perfect System
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#vinyl #recordcleaning #audiophile
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Video Equipment
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Hard Drives
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:11 Cleaning Records
9:10 Anti static sleeve comparison
16:57 Anti Static brush comparison
21:00 Static removal
23:40 Re-test interlude
27:10 Final Thoughts
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The HiFi System seen in this video and used for the review
Acoustic Treatments from GIK Acoustics gikacoustics.co.uk/ref/9/
Digital music source JCAT XACT S1 music Server
Turntable Bergmann Modi and Thor turntable • MY NEW TURNTABLE BLOWS...
DAC in the video Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 • Chord Electronics Hugo...
Tellurium Q Statement II Digital cables linking M Scaler and TT 2
Hibiki SDS R2R DAC
Tungsten Grooves W70 Isolation Feet • REVIEW Tungsten Groove...
Gryphon Essence Pre and Power amplifier • INDISPUTABLE! Gryphon ...
Power IsoTek EVO 3 NOVA / IsoTek Genesis One / IsoTek EVO 3 Titan
• NEW IsoTek EVO 3 NOVA ...
• IsoTek EVO3 Genesis On...
Tellurium Q Statement II Analogue Cable • Perfect HiFi Cables?? ...
Power Cables Tellurium Q Silver, Silver Diamond
• Tellurium Q Silver Ult...
Tellurium Q Statement II Digital cables
Tellurium Q Statement II USB cable
HiFi Racks - Quadraspire Q4 Evo • RACK FROM THE GODS HiF...
HiFi Racks Podium Reference.
REL NO.31 Subwoofers • REL's NEW BEST EVER SU...

[@soulshineconcertvisuals1575]

NEVER PUT "TERGIKLEEN" IN THE DEGRITTER!!!! This direct from the folks at Degritter. You were doing it properly at first. Clean the vinyl record with Tergikleen first, Then I rinse with Distilled Water in a garden pressure sprayer, in a bathtub, to remove as much Tergikleen as I can. Then I put it in the Degritter. If the record revolves and has soap foam on it (way, way too much in the video!) it wasn't rinsed well enough in the tub. I do 1 or 2 cycles in Degritter with a light detergent/wetting agent (no foam) then 1 or 2 cycles with the Rinse Only tank of pure Distilled Water. I understand that the Degritter will not remove/break down oil based contaminants (finger prints, NEW vinyl with manufacturing contaminants). Pre washing with Tergikleen (I spin mine in a Spin Clean filled with dist.water/Terg mixed 10 drops per gallon) breaks down the oil based contaminants and cleans the vinyl really well. Then IMMEDIATELY rinse. But however you decide to proceed, PLEASE, Don't Use Tergikleen In Your Degritter!!!!!!!!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks for the comment, its very useful - however can you explain this better as to why never put it in the machine? If your using a light detergent / wetting agent in the machine then how is it different? This is confusing advice can you please explain this better and why ?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I am going to test your suggestion any way and see how I get on, if it’s better which I am hoping it is then thank you, I would still like to better understand it either way if you can please explain it to me

[@soulshineconcertvisuals1575]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I contacted Degritter and asked about using Tergikleen on vinyl, if they considered it a safe product to use, and how they recommended using it with their ultrasonic. They said that using Tergikleen was absolutely OK if it was used (& well rinsed) prior to putting the record into the Degritter. If I was to see foam covering the record in the Degritter, it was not rinsed well enough. But, "NEVER USE TERGIKLEEN IN THE MACHINE." Basically they said, 1) Tergikleen is OK to use prior to using the Degritter. 2) Rinse it all off very, very well (you DON'T want Tergikleen in the Degritter). 3) Look for soap foam on the vinyl as it goes through the Degritter. If you see foam you need to rinse better. Tergikleen is a very strong, harsh cleaner. It will break down oil & grease - which means it has solvents in it. Ultrasonic does not remove oil & grease. I use Disc Dr. cleaner in the Degritter. It is nowhere near as strong as the Tergikleen & does not foam when used as directed. It mainly acts as a wetting agent (as the Tergi has already done the hard cleaning work). Degritter didn't say... but I believe that the solvents and detergents in Tergikleen will adversely affect the inner workings of the Degritter over time. In fact when I asked them about using Tergikleen they about had a fit (I hadn't yet told them I wasn't putting it INTO their machine). That was when they told me in no uncertain terms, "Never use Tergikleen in the machine!" I had to swear to them that it was being used & rinsed well BEFORE putting the record into their machine. When they mentioned the foam showing up on a record in the Degritter, it kind of freaked me a little because I HAD already seen foam once or twice - when I didn't rinse well enough. Foam is bad for the machine. Degritter has a bulletin board you can check out. You could ask them there about using Tergikleen in their machine. Like I said, I think you had record cleaning down, doing it right, before you dropped the wet clean process & just used the Degritter. I buy some used records (but use this on New records too) & this is what I have developed as a cleaning routine: 1. Dry clean surface contamination with brush 2. Wet clean in Tergikleen solution in a Spin Clean 3. Cover labels & rinse in tub with distilled water/garden pressure sprayer 4. 2 Med cycles in Degritter with wetting agent 5. 2 Max cycles with plain distilled water 6. Dry in Degritter Thanks. Keep up the good work.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thank you very much, super useful advice and I appreciate it and will try this out. I think I confused rinsing with rinsing in the machine as how can you tell the difference as the language is the same. I have only cleaned a handful of records so far quite on purpose trying to get the right approach before I even buy too many of them. Your method is very hardcore and time consuming, maybe not all necessary for new records but older one - I will give it a try and thanks again,

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

This already seems like a step in the right direction so thank you again for the help

[@shipsahoy1793]

for what they charge for vinyl, everything should come in antistatic sleeves and be pristine !! cheap bastards out to maximize profits by bending over the customers !!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I cant argue with that 😁

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

... and to think that what they're selling is a piece of vinyl in a piece of cardboard! Think of all the money they make out of really old re-issues! At least we can be thankful there still is a vinyl industry,, even if they over-charge everything. By the way, is any vinyl record printed these days actually analogue? That is a more pertinent question in my book...

[@Voidoid77]

Totally agree, mate. 100%

[@colejensen1035]

@@Stelios.PosantzisI get that vinyl is expensive but I think you are severely underestimating the effort it takes to press a quality record.

[@cmkilcullen8176]

I agree.

[@JoanneTelling1]

Record cleaning is a rabbit hole - and a very expensive one to fall down, given that the Degritter 2 costs £2500. I've been cleaning vinyl for 45 years now and, at the age of 60, have finally found my ideal solution (literally). After some research I decided to buy 10mls of generic Tergitol. This cost me £5. Then I bought 4 microfibre cloths from Aldi (£1.99). After giving up on trying to get distilled water I just use double filtered and boiled tap water.Each of my 4 cloths has it's dedicated function (Wiping, washing, rinsing and drying). I then play the record, as this is part of the cleaning process, as some residue will be picked up by the stylus, depending on the condition of the record, cleaning the stylus after every 2 or 3 tracks. In all the process takes around 15 minutes per album (plus the playing time). Ok, it's a bit more hands-on than a machine, but not much.The other thing I will mention is the most miraculous of all. Stylus cleaning. Get yourself a Melamine sponge (I use Mr Siga, about £2 in hardware shops, also known in America as Magic Eraser) and gently drop your stylus onto it using the cueing arm. Do not scape it or move it around as this will damage the stylus. Just lift it up and down 2 or 3 times. Then play the record and prepare to be amazed. Of course, like everyone, you will not believe that this will work. No one does until they try it. I certainly didn't. But this little tweak has me using my 40 year old cartridge with it's original stylus (Ortofon ff15e mk2) on an LP12, and wondering why I considered buying a new one. My 45+ year old vinyl now sounds better than it ever has before and all for less than a tenner. Phew....

[@sims774]

Thanks for these "economical" tips, which I'll try as soon as I get the chance.👍

[@sheepbaba]

Awesome stroke of sanity! The Audio Elites will try to silence you... hehe

[@mickricksbsc]

Go to your nearest aquarium centre and get Reverse Osmosis (RO) water for next to nothing. Its purified water. My last 50ltr refill cost £4.50/$7. It will usually have been UV treated to kill any bacteria. But you can add some sodium meta-bisulphite (1g per 5ltrs water) to kill off any remaining bacteria in the water if it hasn't been UV treated, or if you're unsure. I live in a very hard water area, so I use it for ironing, steam mop, window cleaning etc as well, as all the limescale is removed in the RO process.

[@marksilgalis9400]

How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Vinyl. When you stop worrying about all the imperfections, the true beauty of vinyl comes shining through.

[@pnichols6500]

Dr. Strangelove!

[@cmkilcullen8176]

yeah really! I understand and empathize with the idea of feeling uncomfortable with not knowing what you are doing. Once you know what you are doing, if you find that you are merely trading in one bag of anxiety for another one, then you have do decide when to let go of being right and try to get to being happy. "It" is not going to happen, you are going to happen. Get the "anti static" inner sleeves and some decent outer sleeves, clean up. Or... do the digital thing. When you have records or cds - you have them, and that is that. When you have streaming and all that other stuff, you have physical space in your home but you don't have records or cds. This is pretty much how I see it.

[@Dave__f]

Hahaha

[@ultraneight]

I've got a record that almost sizzles with light scratches and imperfections but the base recording is so good that it's not bothersome at all.

[@spaxspore]

Bingo. If i want it to sound perfect I just go to CD.

[@hifijohn]

Born in 1960 I grew up with vinyl and like most that grew up with it we hated it, most preferred the sound and convenience of tape. It was the greatest day in my audio life when CDs were invented.

[@EE12CSVT]

Same

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

I was born a few years later than you & since 1997 have bought only new CD's. I have budget CD players & several high end record players. I enjoy listening to my old vinyl records & often turn them into CDR's & listen to them that way! Only the best vinyl is better than CD. CD replay has improved but so has vinyl. CD can be rather monotonous & lack true tonal colour. On the other hand vinyl can lack clarity.

[@johnholmes912]

could not be more wrong

[@faultyecho4196]

It is true that you have to have a good cleaning machine. Back in the day we didn't have those. A £500 vacuum machine will do the job.

[@ferrograph]

It baffles me how modern vinyl lovers forget this. Vinyl was never satisfactory and when CD came along we were glad to toss vinyl out the door. I do get the whole tactile and visual experience, nicely engineered tables arms and carts... But don't tell me you like vinyl because it sounds better, lol.

[@DrSinisster]

You’re relentless “Pursuit” for improvements with well tested results is one of the many reasons I watch. Credibility through the roof. Watching your new Vinyl journey that started around the same time as mine has been a blast these past years. Great job Terry as always.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate the kind words and sentiment meant here, it means a lot. The next video will be of interest to you too. Going live tomorrow all being well

[@alwhitney68]

I used to buy records back in the day, definitely don’t miss them. I changed over in the early 80s to CD as soon as it came out. I remember popping in my first CD and being shocked and startled when the music started. I had the volume high on my amp and hit play, but didn’t think anything happened, then BAM!! Music started. I was so use to the hiss from vinyl and cassettes. I was shocked how clean and quiet the CDs were, and the sound blew me away. It was so amazing. Never went back to vinyl. I’ll never forget that experience. Still the best way to listen to music for me by far. I still buy CDs.

[@azv343]

People forget that the masters for vinyl are.... Drumroll.... Digital

[@emery368]

Not in the 70s and 80s

[@emery368]

Too be honest I changed to cds for long albums and was surprised records came back so strong. I used to have an a lot of nice records that I never sold. My current deck is budget with a nice cartridge., I sold my expensive stuff when we had kids. . I never really used to clean my records really apart from a brush

[@HappyTyke25]

I completely agree, I have quite a lot of vinyl and enjoy listening to it and collecting it.But for me cd's are my favourite format. I think to really enjoy vinyl records you have to switch off the ocd's in your brain and just accept the odd crackle and pop as long as it's not too bad, otherwise you spend far more time cleaning than listening which sort of defeats the object of owning vinyl for me! Plus the cost of some of the cleaning products for vinyl are truly mind blowing. None of that hassle with cd's, just a quick wipe occasionally and pop it in the machine, sit back and enjoy. Happy days😊

[@GTI1dasOriginal]

*nowadays ​@@azv343 Most of my records are pre-1986. No way their masters were *drumroll* digital.

[@robertbartolomie857]

To maintain the quality of your vinyl records, it's essential to handle your brushes properly. Avoid touching them with your hands, as oils and dirt can transfer to the brush and, subsequently, to your records, affecting their sound quality. When using a static brush, ensure you touch the metal part during application to ensure an effective cleaning process. Before returning your record to its sleeve, use an antistatic device to eliminate any static buildup. I've found this method to be the most effective in reducing static, though I haven't found a record sleeve that completely eliminates it. With these practices, you can better preserve the integrity of your vinyl collection. Best of luck, and enjoy your music! - Robert

[@pnichols6500]

Get a strong turntable light, see all those Carbon bristles on your album? Throw those damn brushes away and us a MoFi pad or similar, a bulb blower and camel hair brush to finish off any leftover lint. If static is an issue, a Destat or Zero Stat work great.

[@realjaymichaels]

I was hoping someone would comment on him touching the brushes. I have a version of the cheaper brush and the way I use it is with the record spinning on the turntable, just let it glide over the surface and slowly move it from the inside out. The bristles can ride inside the grooves that way.

[@spydamusic]

I have over 5,000 vinyl records and what I use to clean them very successfully is the German product called DISKO ANTISTAT II. I had a catastrophe where they were stored as a friends, (no names - TONY !!😁), ceiling collapsed in their Attic and they didn't know. Plaster dust and rain got into the records, but after getting some of the sleeves that were totally ruined off the records, I've cleaned them up to almost brand spanking new. All except for 23 outta 5.000. My record collection started in 1973. I recommend Disko Antistat II. It comes as a complete kit, trough, holding wheel, It has goat hair bristle brush & comes with sealing tool to protect labels (does 7 inch and 78s equally well too), 12 record drying rack & funnel and loads of filters to reuse the solution that comes with it. You can also buy the solution separately. Got mine from Amazon. Cheers, Clive - Spyda Music Productions 😎

[@DM-ei6oo]

wow, that is an incredible investment. Especially if your collection includes newer releases. I wonder if newer records are "better". They brag on they are heavier in grams. Record production is a very labor intensive project and I wonder whoever is producing new albums on vinyl bought up that equipment. And to think it all started with Elvis at sun records recording onto wax in real time.

[@cowboyhank456]

This is the way! I love mine, absolutely fantastic product and I do not understand why we don't all use it. The anti static gun by comparison is absolutely terrible; it only removes like a quarter of the static buildup

[@70soul35]

I'll never forget the sight of you cleaning the record while grounded.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

😂

[@mattybrownvhsarchives9460]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. But I will never understand people spending heaps of money trying to make vinyl sound as perfect as possible. Part of the fun is the clicks and pops... it has always just added to the experience for me. If I need to hear a song in perfect clarity it is surely available online somewhere. Putting on an LP is about watching that record turn and letting the imperfections in the medium create an ambience of its own. But to each their own.

[@kaudsiz]

I collect black metal music on vinyl and couldn’t agree more 🤘☹️🖤☮️

[@LaurenceReeves]

Exactly. I thought that was point in vinyl collecting these days, for the clicks and depth of the sound. That background noise makes it feel a bit more real than some digital music on a CD..

[@jimmazurek5589]

Born in ‘55, I grew up with vinyl and used it consistently till CDs came along. But, I’ve held on to my collection, many of which are classics today. I recently decided to buy a new turntable and set up an audio component system in my home office and am enjoying those old records, pops and all, just reliving great memories of the greatest rock music ever made, just the way I heard it back then. Priceless!!!

[@tonydeeley8748]

Thanks for making this video it has most of the reasons I don’t have any interest in buying vinyl all in one video, to sum it up in a one word “inconvenient” 😀

[@brucermarino]

Thanks! Objective data is always helpful...

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks for watching the video, I think I should have given a better summary, clearly all the anti static sleeves are better than any your records come in.

[@PurpleDreki]

Great information! I learned a ton!

[@insurrectionindustries1706]

I love playing records, and I like good gear, and I even like cleaning my records and fiddling with stuff, but I genuinely have love the physical and musical experience since my first 300$ turntable and 69$ record washing device. I not have a $3500 turntable but still enjoy the heck out of it and my kids use it all the time. Have fun but try not to stress too much about it. It’s really a lot of fun for the whole family and if you find things getting in the way of that (and with a bit of OCD I am always tempted to) I would suggest showing those things the door. But I genuinely love the content! You are the real McCoy

[@craigscannapieco3858]

Zero stat gun does pretty good not perfect that’s what radio stations did back in the day but I’m sure filtering is used to

[@scottstrang1583]

We used a zero stat along with d4 fluid and diskwasher cleaner before carting music for air play

[@franknielsen7597]

Definitely a lot of talk :) Why don't you try a Zerostat (Which works 100%) which is far cheaper than your expensive brush and the extremely expensive furutech? In addition, the cheap project must be discharged by running it over the spindle of your turntable.

[@automatedelectronics6062]

I heard a few less ticks after the 2nd cleaning. What I have found is the lined inner sleeves, like the Mofi, actually charge the records with static electricity when they are slid in and out. A brand new record in the anti-static sleeve has such a high static electrical charge that I can hold the inner sleeve by it's bottom corners, with the open side straight down, and the record will NOT fall out. The lined inner sleeves they used to use in the British Decca pressings, to me, were far superior to anything we have now. Using several of the carbon type brushes, including those with metal handles electrically connected to the brushes, like you found, actually charges the records with static electricity. After brushing the records, I use a ZeroStat gun to neutralize the charge. Playing the record creates static electricity from the friction of stylus running through the grooves. When playing the other side of the record, you should zap it with a static-removing device. I use a VPI RCM to wet-clean and vacuum dry the records. As long as the record vacuums no more than 3 revolutions, static electricity is eliminated. Ticks and pops can be eliminated playing through a special device or like when I record to hard drive, as I do with all my records, a computer program will eliminate most of them . One of my pet peeves is the rubbing sound in the quiet or dead grooves of the records. To me, it was very prominent in all your sample. It can be cut back electronically, but then you will also lose some of the sounds you want to hear on the record. I am in the U.S. and it seems that the pressing companies here use a higher quality vinyl mix for premium quality records, compared to what I find in E.U. pressings. I believe that Pallas in Germany uses a vinyl mix as good as used in the U.S. The Optimal Media pressings are some of the noisiest.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

Interesting stuff indeed! Well done. Jim🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[@xfoolsgoldx]

Thanks for this. Has helped me to stop concerning myself with alot of the nonsense in the vinyl collection hobby.

[@garymclaughlin4457]

Great video. Knowledge is power .

[@YuengsNwings]

The Precision Aqueous Cleaning method is just oh so much better than any other cleaning method for removing both debris and static.

[@frankvanhelvert6231]

yes,i can attest to that! the best cleaning system i"am aware of!

[@adolphhernandez7615]

Watching this video made me realise how much time I spend on preparing my records before I listen to them. I wash once, put into the MoFi sleeve. When listening, I brush and zerostat the record. Happy days.

[@BC-ni3sk]

Excellent information!! Thanks for putting this together very informative. Too bad records are so expensive as it is in a comeback mode you would think all interested parties would work to keep the prices in check but not so much.

[@stephenjon3502]

Try collecting northern or modern soul vinyl then you will see some very expensive prices.

[@Coolcmsc]

I just love the way this topic just keeps going round and round 😂 PS: it’s a shame the ‘Degritter’ doesn’t dry and then play the record: an opportunity missed I recon. PPS: I’m nearly 70 and fortunately managed to move on from actually getting bothered by all this decades ago (I do look after my vinyl). Good thing too, otherwise my age related tinnitus would have me pulling what hair I have left out at the roots. PPPS: the surprises with the sleeve inserts you had might be due to humidity, both when the record is put in, when it is taken out and how much ‘rubbing’ of the plastic on the record as you do both (which includes the pace at which they are removed and put in and if the sleeve is folded over the vinyl as it rubs over the vinyl during removal) - this last just to prove I can do nerdy with vinyl 😅 PPPPS: Static is a physics thing due to rubbing (the electrons, say, are literally rubbed off). Rubbing = static. Some materials (the brush/sleeve/vinyl itself) -> more static per ‘rub’. A really good anti-static removal tool would have the properties of that battery powered hairdryer thingy which ‘neutralises’ the charge. If your brush was metallic (bristles + handle, and yes, I realise the issue) and earthed by a wire like the one round your wrist, that would remove static and would be cheaper (but more cumbersome) that your hairdryer.

[@andyfletcher3375]

Yes around and around... 78/45/33 1/3 a complete revolution and some more,vinyl can be addictive an expensive hobby let alone time consuming in search of the holy grail,i did take note in your post,and curious in the future to try 👍

[@lbudt29]

Back in the day, I used the discwasher brand. Sleaves , brush, cleaner, anti stat gun, then a hardener for the stylus, a anti vibration matt, a disc weight. It all worked well together.

[@koozmusic]

Bought a new old stock Discwasher D4 about a year ago after going through several other completely disappointing modern brushes. Excellent in the 80s and it still is today. 👍

[@vladimirdorta6692]

Man, you're going up! Exclusive, expensive records, Bergmann and German Physiks!

[@ponderguy7724]

I've been collecting vinyl since I was young courtesy of my fathers pub jukebox. I now have too many albums to count. Some vinyl are just poor quality, others come with imperfections, some are damaged through accidents, others have residue from the manufacturing process. I deal with them by separating all records that have finger prints, dirty or just pop. Next I clean them with a paper towel using IPA Isopropyl alcohol and finally clean them with my Degritter 2 machine. This works well in 90% of cases making even new records sound better. Over the years I've tried many approaches, but the above method has proven the most successful.

[@apollomemories7399]

Forget the paper towel when using Isopropyl. Use a goat hair brush instead. Cover the vinyl in isopropyl and work it into the groove with the brush, than brush round in line with the groove a few times and the cleaning results are fantastic. Then you can use you machine if you must or simply just rinse off.

[@keldherbst]

First things first: When a record is stuck in the sleeve due to static, breathe gently into the sleeve a couple of times, and be careful to not cough or spit unto the record or the sleeve. This will remove enough static for you to be able to get the record out with no accidents ocurring to the record (dropping it, grabbing the surface etc.). More humidity = less static. Please be aware that in the 'dry' (=cold) season, lots of humidity can disappear from the air, creating lots of static, and artificial carpets can and will do the same. Woollen carpets is the answer IMO. In this season of the year, house plants unfortunately require less water than they do in the summer. Watering your house plants could mean a difference in the indoors humidity level. Secondly: Plasma (arc) lighters can be just as efficient as antistatic guns, and cost only a fraction. A side note: My old records carry no static worth mentioning, only the recently bought ones. This tells me that I'd never spend money on a Furutech destat III, because with a little time, it's really no longer necessary. A last question: Can a mat carry static? Looks like it, doesn't it? Could be interesting to know which mat materials are the best/worst in that regard.

[@saudade369]

Happily most old sleeves will have fallen apart at the glued seams and the inner sleeve will have ripped so one can just pull it back from the record instead of sliding it out ! Just as cd plastic covers will have broken at the hinges and one can easily let the cover fall off at the right angle !

[@patbarr1351]

This was a very thorough review! I see no comments on the lead-in groove noise, but I heard only a very subtle improvement. That doesn't convince me to clean a brand new record unless I hear a problem beforehand. I've improved noisy LPs by cleaning them with a 2-step process by hand, so I know it can produce dramatic results. I would recommend an anti-static gun, which costs about 1/4 the price of the battery device Terry was using (it does not need to be used every time a record is played), plus a carbon fiber brush. My gun is still firing after 40 years of use! And yes, I buy more CDs than LPs these days.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

If I didn't already own a destat I probably would have bought the anti static gun when I first started as I was getting a lot of things together all at once and its expensive when you do. However its been working for years so yes its a few quid but if you get good use out of it and you know with 100% confidence it works and we do then I think its worth it.

[@apollomemories7399]

Don't forget that brand new vinyl records contain a protective oil residue on their surface - that's what you smell and it's applied to protect the top side of the record below and the underside of the record above as they are stacked on top of each other in the manufacturing plant. That oil residue is then transferred onto your stylus on playback, which attracts other dust particles to stick on, therefore, affecting clean stylus transport travelling through the groove - I'm sure you seen the x100s film playback of this on KZbin. And that's why we clean new records.

[@rwlodarczyk]

Love your approach, so much better than some others’ approach to cleaning. I’ve long maintained that having one tank with cleaning solution (whatever one you like, but preferably without rubbing alcohol) and one with just distilled water for rinsing is the way to go. There’s one KZbinr who has a setup with circulation and filtration, but it’s the same water and cleaning solution. Fact is, whatever cleaning solution that’s used, there will be residue, which will gunk up the grooves and the needle. Sure, it’s not a lot, but with lots of plays, it will accumulate. I also appreciate your approach with real measurements. Well produced and well put together. Thank you for the awesome content and your effort and passion for the vinyl community.

[@axelfeiss1130]

Very interesting video, I always learn things from these tests, thanks. So what about that DS Audio Monument that was seen on some parts of the video bombarding the record with magic green light and therefore eliminating static load as you play the record? I know it is the most expensive way but the question is how does it compared to the other process steps you tested?

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

4:09 4-9kV! I never expected this! You learn something new every day...

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Same there is a lot when they are new

[@mspdec]

Hi Terry, Great video. Thank you for making and showing it on KZbin. I also bought over a year ago now and use the FMX-003 Electrostatic Tester to check the static on my records. It's a great measuring and diagnostic tool ! I have a had the same experiences as you Terry regarding static on records even after I have cleaned my records on my Keith Monks Classic RCM (the one the BBC Archive Dept used to use!) using the Keith Monks Discovery Cleaning Fluids (when there is zero static directly after cleaning my records) and then putting them in Mofi Anti-Static Inner Sleeves. As soon as I take them out of the record sleeve I have quite a bit of static. So what I do to heavily reduce the static on the record is as follows; From the sleeve put record direct onto the TT platter (I have a Kuzma XL DC TT), clamp record to platter using the Kuzma screw threaded Spindle Clamp, then take my Milty Zerostat 3 gun and zap the record in four places at each axis 90 degrees to each other of the record with four slow trigger pulls and releases at each axis position. Then directly after this anti-static treatment I blow any settling dust with a 'Giotto' bulb blower (the largest one in the series), start up the platter and lower my stylus. Then take a reading with my FMX-003 Tester. This method always heavily reduces the static on the surface of the record. When I have finished playing one side of the record and take the record off the platter I can hear the static coming back, so I repeat the above process when I play the other side of the record. Then after I have played the record, before I put it back in it's Mofi anti-static inner sleeve, I give it a couple of zaps with my Zerostat gun and remove any dust with my 'Giotto' bulb blower. I have tried various so called 'anti-static' brushes but all of them have failed in reducing the static as soon as you brush the record with them and then check with my FMX-003 Tester. Either a manual bulb blower (like I use) or a canister of pure clean compressed air to blow away any surface dust is the way to go. I have also found especially in the UK winter that a humidifier and Ionizer helps in general dust and static in the air. I see by your TT in this video you have a DS Audio ION-001 ? Is it any good ? I was thinking some time ago in buying the CSPort IME1 ! It is very expensive though for what it is (like most things in the HiFi world I guess !) Also thinking of buying an Ultrasonic Record Cleaner to use after the pre-wash & main wash & rinse I do on my Keith Monks Classic RCM as even after using this RCM I still hear some crackles and pops on some records (especially the old & second hand ones, but also on some brand new records too ! as I am a critical listener i.e. mainly use my Headphone System - Hifiman EF1000 Amp with Susvara Headphones connected to my CH Precision P1 with X1 Phono Stage which is connected to my Kuzma 4Point 11" Tonearm fitted with an MSL Eminent Ex cartridge). Thinking at the moment the best path to take ??? i.e. buy a KLaudio LP-200T URCM (only gives 40kHz ultrasonic frequency but can be fitted with a 5 LP auto changer and a Silencer Cabinet which would also stop any dust in the room air entering) or the Degritter MK2 (only gives 120kHz ultrasonic frequency, no LP auto changer and no Silencer Cabinet - although guess I could make one for it) or the DIY route with an Elma Elmasonic Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Bath (gives dual 35kHz and 80kHz ultrasonic frequencies but Transducers fitted to the bottom of the Bath) fitted with the Kuzma RD Ultrasonic Cleaning Spinner Kit (to clean say up to 5 LPs together at any one time) and a cocktail of cleaning fluids (but this system takes up a lot of space if I go for two tanks i.e. one for washing and one for rinsing plus the filter and pumping systems for each tank etc. plus the maintenance of the equipment !) Also note that with Ultrasonic Cleaning, in order to get right into the bottom of the record grooves to clean them of debris, even 120kHz (from the Degritter) may not be a high enough frequency (bubble diameter still larger than the bottom of the record groove) and you need to go higher i.e. 200+ kHz ! However, after using my Keith Monks Classic RCM and I wanted a semi automated and of little fuss type of machine, currently the Degritter MK2 is the best choice on the commercial market due to it's 120kHz ultrasonic frequency, whereas the KLaudio with its 40kHz ultrasonic frequency wont be as beneficial after using the Keith Monks Classic RCM compared to the Degritter. Best current solution though would be to have both the Degritter and KLaudio URCMs along with my Keith Monks Classic RCM, but the cost is huge ! How are you finding the Degritter MK2 Terry ? Do you get good results ?

[@koozmusic]

Wow... color me extremely impressed. Your enthusiast+ (...pro-thusiast? haha, just came up with that) approach to addressing these issues is a breath of fresh air in a sea of "experts" and "audiophiles" bestowing us with their infallible knowledge. 🙄 It's about time someone with a sense of logic, good ears, and an enjoyable personality breathes some new life into exploring ways of overcoming these difficult to overcome issues that plague serious record listening. You said nobody would want to watch an hour-long video on this subject, but I hit the subscribe button immediately after this was over because I'm certainly looking forward to more of this!

[@ONEHENDRIX]

Damn! Your Records are really really clean.

[@stephenharding428]

Thanks for the comprehensive review! I use the Milty Zerostat 3 Anti-Static Gun, which works and doesn’t need batteries 👍

[@Aschrafo]

Me too. It really works. You can easily prove it with some rice paper record sleeves.

[@poppeku69]

Same here!

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Superb gadget and I showed it working on a video

[@cave1958]

I still prefer my old Discwasher brush and anti-static fluid.44 years of use and still does the best job!

[@558vulcanxh]

Ive been using vinyl since 1966 because thats all we had .and its mostly excellent, because the family always looked after our records 😊

[@davidboatman925]

I loved the content because you put the woke into it and had the quantitive results. I've learned a valuable lesson from wife who isn't fond of house work and dusting. She has purchased air cleaners for her asthma and they have the wonderful effect of keeping my records in a better environment. The units she bought have an electrostatic system with a HEPA filter. (Multi -Tech). They work and the cost was 400 bucks and the cost of electricity to run them continuously. What a difference in the quality to your lungs and records!. The filter comes with a monitoring system light for cleaning the system. HEPA filter is washable.

[@superfitzy]

Great video! Regarding static, I'm hoping Part 2 will include a test of the Zerostat 3 gun, a less expensive alternative to the Furutech DeStat III that doesn't require batteries. Vinyl enthusiasts have been using them seemingly since the dawn of time. Since it's such a well-established accessory, I'd love to know how it stacks up against the other products you've tested here.

[@fab208athome]

I've been collecting and listening to records since the 70s. My first album was Kimono my House by Sparks; I still have it and still love it. At the age of 13 I just slung it on the record player and enjoyed it. It still plays great. My point is you can get too hung up on listening to quality rather than just playing music and loving it. If your ears are scanning for pops and clicks you will hear them over everything. I now have a lot of records, I store them properly, give them a quick swoosh with a carbon fibre brush then lose myself in the music.

[@apollomemories7399]

Disaster production on that Kimono. Muff Winwood did it I believe. Shoulda been known as Muffled.

[@mr.b4444]

I'm in my late 60's, I knew and experienced all this 40 years ago. That's why I eventually got rid of my vinyl albums and never looked back; I had hundreds of them. I'm a musician and don't need the "ritual" and the extra baggage, just the music please. Most of this tendency towards any medium is what you are playing the music on and your listening preferences. If you do vinyl, every damn cartridge, speaker, and everything in the chain changes the sound dramatically; same for digital depending on the DAC and other variables. So ultimately who's to say which actually sounds better with so many playing and listening variables? So to me it boils down to avoiding the things you cannot change like ticks, pops, and other distortions. Those are the things in vinyl that's part of their sound that I don't like and refuse to live with. All I want to hear is the musical performance and nothing else. To me as a performer it would be like being on the stage and adding tics, pops, and warbling to my music. I don't think the audience would appreciate that; not with jazz or classical anyway.

[@markkilley2683]

Thanks for this vid. Really interesting.

[@ukdub]

Great informative video Terry, I love my vinyl journey and the rituals associated with better playback. The thing that bugs me is the poor pressings and sound quality right off the bat regardless of how much you clean or remove the static. It's got to the point now that I check out the pressing company and sound studio before buying vinyl. I've had too many horrible recordings that they only get played once then become wall art.

[@apollomemories7399]

When buying older records, always seek out first pressings. Avoid re-pressings.

[@mistermac56]

Back in the 70's, the original Discwasher company made the D-Stat mat for your turntable and it worked extremely well to get rid of static electricity.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

22:45 That is essentially an ionizer. Some hair dryers come with air ionizers that can be switched on even when the dryer is on the cold air setting. I have never tired using a hair dryer on a vinyl record so if anyone does I'd be interested in the results. Of course you do not want to use a hair dryer on the hot air setting to remove the static from a vinyl record!

[@marktodd7397]

I love that Norah Jones album its my Sunday morning chill out pleasure. I only have it on CD though i may have to try the vinyl because ive just got a Rega P3 turntable.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Don’t expect a miracle from it :)

[@sneakypete1200]

Wild enthusiasm for this craft, I respect that. I still use Gorilla wood glue, clean after with Nitty Gritty, and then a final distilled water wet wipe to remove any leftover impurities. It works great. And static? I literally hold a dryer sheet in my hands close to my turntable, lightly just touching the record. That works too. I’d like to get one of those static testers. Thanks for the vid.

[@riley9663]

the wood glue idea seems like too much work on a larger collection. I still carefully wash mine in the sink with warm water.

[@mannye]

Love the video so far! I'm pausing after the static sleeve test. I was wondering if maybe you were struggling to get the same static reading and not getting those high numbers because maybe different LP manufacturing plants might use different vinyl recipes? Also, were all the records the same weight? Perhaps the static readings/retention changes depending on composition or thickness? It's hard to be sure I guess? finished watching! and SUBSCRIBED!

[@erwindewit4073]

A quick reply. Thank you for doing this! So many people have opinions, but rarely based on real tests! Now, I'm going to try to find more affordable options to yours if they are available. The Degritter itself is as expensive as my turntable itself was ;) But it's so nice and so many people like it a lot....

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

People like the Humminguru its like a smaller much more affordable version

[@erwindewit4073]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I had never heard of that, but it looks great! Thanks! Hope it doesn't talk French to me though as I am a bit (much) rusty..

[@dennisw4654]

Nicely done, however, 2 questions. Have you compared dry brushing to wet brushing as a means to reduce dust and static? Can you hear the static on a record or the dust it attracts?

[@John-N-541-ym7dx]

Very informative video regarding current items available to clean, store and reduce static for records. I was able to detect a slight difference between the no clean and twice cleaned playback. Just think the cost, time and inconvenience required to clean and check static level takes away from the simple pleasure of listening to them.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

You don’t need to check the static I am doing that for the purposes of the video to show the differences in the products :)

[@robhowell7525]

Way back in the 70's I owned an Impulse Noise Reduction Unit. This unit plugged in between the TT and the preamp. It basically replaced the pop with a sample of the music being played.

[@gsherlock]

Terry, I have a Mk1 Degritter and I to use a second rinse tank filled with distilled water. To clean records I usually use the longest cycle but after the first wash I press the button on the left which brings my machine back to the wash program and give it a second long wash straight away and before the record dries. That gives me two long washes before I have to use the rinse tank and it go's into the drying mode. It saves time and some hassle switching tanks, not sure if this is possible on the MkII but give it a try.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Interesting as yes you have to go through the whole thing when really you don’t need to. Do you press the left button when it tells you to put the second tank in essentially cancelling the process and starting again?

[@gsherlock]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Yes, when it asks you to insert the rinse tank press button/ knob on the left once and it should take you back to the wash cycle giving you two washes before a rinse and dry.

[@mrpositronia]

Thanks for your efforts Terry. Turntables and vinyl are a hobby unto themselves, with so much to learn. It's understandable why a lot of people stuck with CDs and, well, digital streaming. But I love it, for all its quirks. On a side note: I bought the vinyl of Come Away With Me and find it unlistenable, as it seems to be mastered very hot, so that sibilance is distorted on most tracks. How have you found your pressing? Or did I just buy the 'vanilla' version?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I have found it to be terrible and just assumed I had a bad one. I was seeing so called experts saying how amazing this lp is as it’s all analogue but mine sounds like shite.

[@mrpositronia]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Yeah, that's a shame. Just looked online about it: It seems there are no decent version out there. There's an 'Analogue Productions' version which seems to have mixed results; some say it's great, while others say it's noisy with pops and clicks and a skewed balance... I dunno. I do expect there to be an 'audiophile 45rpm pressing' at some point in the future, but I also expect that it will be priced for audiophiles. Lucky us.

[@peterlarkin762]

I highly recommend using a carbon record brush (remember to rub it on some earthed metal before use) and as others here have said, a stylus gel pot to clean your stylus frequently. Fun fact: a lot of decks don't have a grounded spindle. If it is grounded most of the static from the vinyl goes to ground and not through your stylus. This simple modification does make a real difference.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

This test was using a carbon brush and you see the results they can still add static. I did test with and without the turntable being grounded and that didnt seem to make any noticeable difference, similar to me being grounded and the tester being grounded. I tried as many different things as I could think of. Carbon alone is not the answer you see that very quickly doing this testing

[@jedi-mic]

Don't use those gel type things to clean your stylus they're not good people done some research into them and leave a residue behind, best to use blu tack make a inch ball of blue tank leave it on your turn table just dip your stylus into it and now and again remassage the blu tack, make sure you massage it before you use it good five minutes

[@cowboyhank456]

It's quite simple. Take two spray bottles, in one put just demineralized water, in the other one the same but with a drop of dish soap. Spread the one with soap evenly on the record so you have a thin layer of water, and play. You'll soon see pretty much all the pops and cracks are gone, the stylus will nearly never skip anymore, the noise floor will be lowered and high detail will be improved. Once done, wipe it off with some kleenex, and apply a bunch more of demineralized water to wash away the tiny amount of dish soap left over. This is a very old hack which some DJs used to use decades ago. I learnt this from an old speaker engineer with over 50 years experience. Sometimes the simple solutions are the best. This costs barely anything and is pretty much a perfect solution. I use this when ripping all my records and I have never heard any better rips If you want to make your records permanently anti static, simply use a Diso Antistatt with some Tonar QS vinyl cleaner solution. It's been years since I started doing this and I've had no records develop any static buildup since

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Interesting have you ever tested the records to see if they have static or is it just as guesstimation?

[@cowboyhank456]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem My fail proof test is to hold them next to a plant of mine, which long thin leaves lift up with the smallest bit of static. Sometimes they go from lifting from centimeters away to not at all (always the same end result obviously)

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Wow thats a very interesting test I would never have thought of that, the only thing I would say is dust is very light by comparison so to move a plant would need a lot of static but to attract dust might only need a small amount and that will depend on how oppositely charged the dust is. If its very highly charged then even a tiny amount of static on the vinyl will still attract it. Just saying here maybe there is more gain to be had

[@cowboyhank456]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Could be, but for my purposes this wins most of the battle. If I hear any surface noise I just play my records wet which removes pretty much all noise instantly. This also allows the stylus to clean out the grooves over time, and also saves the record from most of the wear

[@NathanBradford]

While I’m new to most of this, I chose the Nagoaka Anti static sleeves. Have not tested the actual results but I do like that form factor and they’re easy to use.

[@patrickfinlay2074]

I clean mine on a vac wash,then i put them into anti static sleeves, the biggest improvement was when i changed my turntable to a rega p8 with alpheta 3 mc, it seems to be less affected by pops etc yet the quality of the music is top tier

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Very interesting thank you, someone with something useful to add is what comments sections should be for :)

[@cvee2614]

Listening to and loving my LPs for years, as a former FM radio DJ in the mid-seventies, proper sleeves and care are utmost. Even more important, no vinyl cleaners, brushes and machines that give your collection a spa day, just plain and simple wood glue on side A, let the LP sit for a day, peel off, flip to side B, repeat. Hope I haven't offended anyone.

[@histubeness]

Very interesting. What brand/type of wood glue do you use? --Thanks

[@Fotosaurus56]

I do the same...it works.

[@cvee2614]

@@histubeness TiteBond 2 or 3. Good luck!

[@mehAudio]

I inherited some very well loved records which were initially used by a radio station in the 70s. Played dry, they sounded kinda rough and screechy. I then cleaned them once with clear water and cleared the groove with microfibre cloth (I know, fibres will get loose, I didn‘t care. I then applied window cleaner directly from the pump bottle. The alcohol didn’t hurt the material as far as I can tell. I brushed it during playback. The window cleaner also leaves a thin film of parafine wax. You’ll have to remove the buildup every song during the first playback, but it will be just fine for the next maybe 5 or 6 listening sessions. Now, modern LPs might be more finicky, but my old stuff really improves with this low maintenance process.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

If you brush records during playback you add a lot of static to them, my testing showed that as a consistent behaviour so I wouldn't advise that. Before you drop the stylus brushing might or might not add static but once its playing the chances are much higher, again based on my testing.

[@johnparks6172]

Great review. I would like to have seen you use the Furutech directly on the TT. I've been using the Thunderon antistatic brush on both the record and the platter mat. This method indefinitely dissipates static.

[@richbulena8847]

Back in the 80s when I still bought records, I used a great product, Permostat by Stanton. It was a liquid that came in a spray bottle. You applied it once before you played the record, and you didn’t have any problems with clicks and pops after that. I think it’s still available.

[@mattspokane]

Great! Thanks! I really appreciate someone showing how/why they have an opinion about a process or a product rather than just expressing their opinion like so many other people. My next question is how much you actually need to waive that antistatic device over the record in order to dissipate the static. I'm betting it only needs a fraction of a second within range of the record rather than multiple passes like you did. But that's just my guess. It would be nice to know if you were going to do Records 🙂

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

The furutech destat has a timer so you press a button and it goes for 30 seconds I think. So that’s why I did it for that long. I haven’t got into that weeds of testing whether less time is as effective but I will be testing other products to see how they compare as it’s interesting and seems popular to people so why not. I already bought the tester it makes sense to use it :)

[@bacarandii]

Paper inner sleeves -- which is how virtually all LPs were packaged (some classical titles aside) until fairly recently -- are more than just stat-icky dust magnets. They shed little bits of fibrous debris that can muck up your record. I prefer MoFi-style vinyl and rice paper inners, which I find easier to handle because the rice paper stiffens them a bit. (The all-vinyl ones tend to cling to the records, and I don't like the rounded-bottom ones because there's less material you can grab onto and they are more likely to move around inside the cardboard jacket.) BTW, I dig that linear-tracking turntable you have. I've never seen that brand before (but I'm in the US).

[@mikemmikem2758]

Love your channel. A suggestion. When you reference prices could you also mention US pricing? Thank you.

[@Madmart54]

I’ve gone between using a carbon brush on the deck whilst it’s spinning and nothing but letting the stylus do its thing. Since occasionally having a record get stuck playing the same revolution due to crud deep in the groove and also creating scratches I feel it’s best to use a brush. Some incidents proved to be really difficult to shift the blob..I also use the Disco Antistat bath which makes records look good and static free but I’m sure it sometimes doesn’t get deep enough as the ball of fluff on the stylus proves. When I’ve used a carbon brush on my spinning record, I’ve found it charges the record-this saves money from having to buy one of those decks with an attached vacuum pump-it just means I have to peel my mat off the back afterwards. It’s an interesting subject that seems to cause confusion for most of us, me included. Vinyl is an insulator so placing it on a platter mat doesn’t necessarily cause it to totally discharge. I think with the platter mat you’re sort of creating a capacitor/ van der graff generator, with the hopefully earthed platter then the mat and vinyl as the dielectric and then yourself and brush as the other electrode charging it all up-The spindle is say touching the vinyl but it’s an insulator so most of the record won’t be discharged. I found out that you should have the platter earthed though as when I lowered my Rega RB300 arm by removing a shim I didn’t realise that unscrewing the nut underneath the top plinth , I caused the earth foil to fracture. I started playing records afterwards with regular discharges through the cartridge and then realised what had happened. I used some thin copper slug tape to repair the situation. Perhaps having either side of the vinyl earthed equalises the potential out-but leaves the charge still there on the vinyl. I’m probably talking a load of rubbish but I definitely need the platter to be earthed. I suspect the stylus charges the vinyl up as well with friction?

[@Akstergrind]

Yeah, the Disco bath thing is pretty good, although I tend to leave the liquid in there a long time, so I'm not really sure how much good it's actually doing my records! It does seem to clean them up okay, especially if they're properly filthy and skippy.

[@apollomemories7399]

All joking aside and I'm not mocking your technical explanation - but actually so much of these static issues are caused simply by the user skiffing their feet over a nylon carpet, or whilst wearing nylon socks, or nylon content house slippers, then touching their record. They've charged themselves up to the max straight onto the record.

[@FiddlingCPA]

My Audioquest Gold carbon fiber brush really seems to be working better than other ones I've had of that type. It makes a well-washed record sound surprisingly low-noise.

[@HanifBarnwell]

Great video!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thank you

[@jimbotron70]

In the '80s there was a disc player prototype with laser pickup instead of stylus. It was sold some years later, in small batches and at high price.

[@7JANEWAY]

One thing that isn’t usually talked about is pops and clicks from damage to the vinyl itself. You can run your record as many times as you want in any record cleaning machine of your choosing. But if the vinyl’s damaged, nothing will get rid of the clicks and pops. The other thing that usually isn’t mentioned is dirt on the stylus. This too can produce pops and clicks. What people need to remember is that when you clean your records, you need to clean your stylus as well. It’s best to get into the habit of cleaning your stylus not only every time you clean your records, but every time you play a record as well. This will not only improve the sound, but your records and stylus will last longer and damage to the record can be mostly avoided as well.

[@cvee2614]

I disagree... for years now, on the worst records, just plain and simple wood glue on side A, let the LP sit for a day, peel off, flip to side B, repeat. For about 5 bucks at home depot, Titebond II or III does the trick. I had an old LP bought on Ebay that had a mint sleeve, etc.. but was full on pops and clicks... after the wood glue it was pristine, just like the day if was pressed.

[@apollomemories7399]

@@cvee2614 How can you disagree about cleaning the stylus? By all means clean you records with wood glue, but then what? Are you suggesting that record is now clean forevermore? Of course it's not and it will attract just as much dust as any other record.

[@charlesnr]

Other items for your journey. US audiophile label MA recordings has special record sleeves from Japan, similar to CD sleeves inside some MoFi gold CD's. Harder to slide in some cardboard record covers, but static free. If not DJ ing, 3M Dots (rated at 0.6 lb) from office supply store can prevent some platter mats from slipping and use the same glue as 3M Post it notes. As 70's Revox TT platters are not flat. From Australia is the Les Davis magic mat (imported into the US) and easily gotten from US Amazon is the Hibiki Carbon Fiber Slipmat from Vinyl supply Co. Can't afford the super cleaning machines, so have settled on the Hart record brush available from Ebay made in the UK to clean the record on the TT before playing in place of the carbon and felt brushes.

[@sheepbaba]

Hello, Appreciate your work! Nice to hear fresh outlook. I've been on vynolium since a kid. Always used Nagoka and Tonar half round type for ultra-scratchy cardboard sleeves and Goldring Poly-lined-Paper to replace scratchy paper. Good to see the performance differences! Nagoka Carbon Fibre Brush - Never Touched Bristles with greasy fingers (tut tut) lol Not done much cleaning but have an ultrasonic cleaner ready to convert one day... Static meter insightful. Who makes it? Brushing an insulator = Van de Graaff Generator but removing dust a must... Führertech Destat looks a superb cure! (Curious to see if £65 Zerostat works). Interesting, Blue vynolium compound seems to hold higher charge than black. Maybe the black is dyed with carbon... Also, wonder how an industrial anti-static gun (chynaa £70) or industrial desktop air ioniser compares with £400 fürershaften? PS. Love how savvy poster found cleaning solution for tenth price. Always read ingredients... Confucius said: Never confuse Führertech Brush with makeup brush...

[@Lutznn]

Thanks for all the tests and info! Question, do the anti-static record sleeves kill static on records or just add less / none?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

The results were varied the larger spin care killed it the mofi always seemed to be about the same the dynamic spin care the results were inconsistent so they must be the record and not the sleeve being effective

[@Lutznn]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Interesting, thanks, that is good to know. I’ll try those sleeves and see if they work in my case. Looking forward to the next video!

[@George.___]

A simple cheap plasma arc lighter is quite good at eliminating static from records. You hold it a small distance from the surface about an inch or two away about the same as the Destat device. Mover it around the whole surface, pretty much the same as the Destat device going around the record. You can even do it while it’s spinning on the turntable without any problems. It’s cheap and easy and best of all it works well.

[@KarmaElectronics.]

i like the pops and clicks. reminds me its analog.

[@jimc9823]

Humidity control in the room is very important and possibly earth grounding an underlying anti static mat so the static charge has somewhere to go. Room humidity above 55% will nearly eliminate static on any surfaces.

[@ElectricDragonfly]

I noticed that, when you retested the expensive brush (starting at 23:39) that you made a point of deliberately touching the metal part of the brush *before* brushing -- but then you were *not* touching the metal part *while* you were actually brushing the record. Wouldn't this make a difference? ... I'm no expert, so this is only my guess, that the static actually forms *because* the friction from the bristles brushing against the vinyl (like the friction between the balloon and your shirt creating new static). I'm guessing that, theoretically, this new static could travel through the metal part of the brush, and into your hand/body if you were touching the metal *while* brushing. Since you were not touching the metal, there's no place for this new static to go but onto the vinyl. Anyway, I think it's worth testing imho. ... Very good video! Thanks for making it! and for taking the time to do all the testing!

[@ProjectOverseer]

Though my main source is digital, i still own a pretty good vinyl setup, Terry. I got rid of 95% plus of pops and clicks by using an almost industral ultra sonic cleaner fixed to a motor with 15 minutes runs - more if it's old. I use warm pure distilled water and a small amount of pure acohol. It seems to work.

[@Tnapvrvideo]

People attend live performances at stadiums, at clubs and at concert halls and then they rave, afterwards, about how enjoyable the event was. Somehow, the din, the lousy acoustics, the ramped up volume, and the many distractions around each listener are simply set aside and ignored. These same people then claim albums sound better than CD's. Live music events are all about the 'being there' experience. Albums are all about the tactile experience they offer, the nostalgia they bring to the moment, and the emotional and visual pleasure people derive from the turntable when it's playing an album. Hiss, clicks, pops and distortion that are inherent in every album's playback are simply ignored just as those many distractions are dismissed at those live performances. A new album might offer a near perfect playback once, however repeated playback wears down the vinyl and those imperfections are heightened with each spin. Worse yet, the better the system, the more revealing it is of those hiss, clicks and pops. A pair of very nice speakers with a decent integrated amplifier and a modest CD player will produce crystal clear, imperfection free sound from a CD again and again and again. Add tube amplification and you can achieve an even greater, live, 'being there' soundstage without any of the distractions one accepts at a live performance. And, yes, I was born in 1960. I went through the entire inventory of music offerings from AM radio, to AM/FM radio, to albums, to cassettes, to 8-Tracks, to CD's and now streaming. Tapes were awful. Period. Albums have great cover art, fun gatefold inclusions, and some even have the lyrics on the album sleeve. CD case are quite limited unless you purchase a box set with inclusions. However, when it comes to clear, clean, playback, digital is far superior. No one can claim otherwise without the need to justify their aesthetic passion for albums. And, anyone making claims that albums sound warmer than CD's haven't heard a high end tube amplification system, or, again, they need to justify their aesthetic passion for albums. My wife and I love to listen to music. We put some money forward to assemble a very nice, far from over-the-top system to listen to CD's exclusively. This system was assembled after a lengthy, 6-month demo period at three different, high end stores: a dozen or so lengthy visits in total. We compared tubes versus solid state, CD versus Album playback, integrated versus separates, and we did these many comparisons swapping components in and out of the system with the same songs played repeatedly. A $5000 CD player offers little to no audible improvement over a $150 CD player. TT's revealed marginal improvement when comparing large price differences. Separates versus integrated offered no audible difference. MOST of these claims are fueled by strong marketing campaigns to elevate bottom line results at the store as well. The most absurd comparison was cables and speaker wires. My goodness anyone who claims they can hear any difference between different cables or different speaker wires is being played. From our experience, I recommend that you allocate 90% of the budget to the speakers and grab an integrated amplifier (tube or solid state as desired) and a basic CD player.

[@popofthebop]

For how expensive the Degritter is I don't think there was enough of a difference. Yes, I did hear the differences between one and two cleanings, but I think the pressing / vinyl formulation has inherent noise that won't come out. I think a lower priced solution be it the Spin Clean or a Record Doctor vacuum cleaner does well enough, and I use a Furutech DeStat III to get rid of static, it's effective and so easy to use. I use the DeStat III first then brush off the record with my vintage Discwasher brush. I find that the dust comes off the record much more easily once the static is removed. To really insure you remove noise the solution is the Sweet Vinyl Sugarcube, of which there are several models available. They are expensive, but they work so effectively it's like magic. I I have the SC-2 which also records and know that the Sugarcube is an indispensable part of my system.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Now you have seen the tester data, maybe your adding static to the record again brushing it after the destat, if the static is high before thats likely the sleeve as I showed, I think destat after brushing makes more sense so maybe before and after for you but that takes a long time and is a lot of work

[@highfell1]

Hmm - if you are using a Sugarcube , you have lost the magic of listening to a vinyl record , just buy a DAC instead

[@museonfilm8919]

Best not to get too obsessive, otherwise it will eat you up, and cost you lots in the process. Unless you're buying manky used vinyl - new and well cared-for vinyl doesn't need a bath, just a wipe over with a microfibre cloth. But that's just my experience.

[@thetragicyouth]

Terry, you must try to get hold of a SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-2 Plus to play with - would make a great video too!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thats cheating :)

[@thetragicyouth]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem 🤣

[@Fontsman-14]

Used to use the Milty Zerostat gun. Very effective when in combination with quality sleeves.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I will get a milty in and test it

[@DM-ei6oo]

Is moving magnet or moving coil better AND do either hold a charge that contributes to pop and clicks? To put it simply, electrostatic charges can't be grounded and discharged away, they need to have an ionic breeze blown across. Makes me wonder if a turntable should have an antistatic fan like what is used with sensitive integrated circuit lab bench setups.

[@shipsahoy1793]

I had an old tape of "McCartney" from 1970, so I recently purchased a new vinyl pressing at a reasonable price, and in the middle of one of the sides there was a nasty pop for about 10 revolutions and it looked like there was a speck of something (?) in the mold that shouldn't have been there; one day it annoyed me to the point where I really tried to clean it off the grooves and I managed to get the "speck" off without any damage, and after that the record played fine.. this was new vinyl fresh out of the package.. I've seen the same thing with a couple of CDs over the years; it's rare but it happens. not sure what goes on in some of the factories where these things come from!😉 The Takeaway here is you can't expect these disks to be clean, even when you are buying them new..🤬

[@peterlarkin762]

100%... It's not that rare - probably get contaminated as soon as they are put in a paper sleeve.

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@peterlarkin762 Interesting! My main gripe about CD's is also about the packaging. It's not a big deal to fabricate unbreakable cases. They crack and break so easily that it's a slap in the face really... whether it's CD or vinyl, the "packaging" is usually a bad joke..

[@Jacksirrom]

I once went to the Axpona audio show and heard multiple $100k+ systems playing vinyl and they all had outrageous pops and cracks. That day I pretty much abandoned vinyl. Vinyl lovers will claim digital sounds off, or hollow, or just bad, meanwhile tolerate the most outrageous racket in favor of listening to an ancient physical format. Collecting LPs is fun, but damn the experience sucks.

[@MaglorMusic]

Listening to the comparison between washes and non-wash, I don't think the difference justifies everyone who wants to listen to vinyl, buying a 2800 euros vinyl cleaning machine. But I'm glad that someone has the money to buy them, so I can send some vinyls that need a serious cleaning process and pay for that service. 🙂

[@SpyderTracks]

I tried skincare’s and moved to Mofi inners too, but I’ve now settled on Vinyl Storage solutions which are a Canadian company, in UK they’re distributed by Mint Sleeves. They’re the same concept as the mofi and same quality BUT, the rice paper is 3mm thick so doesn’t crease and crinkle like the mofis. VSS also do what I’ve found to be the best outer sleeves as well. I’ve seen amazing things about the destat 3, definitely want one but they are pricey.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Destat 3 it just works fair play to it, its mad because it feels like the most voodoo product of them all but credit where credit is due it works

[@SpyderTracks]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem and static has auch an impact on playback so it’s one of the more important areas to get right. Loved the video, thanks so much

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

@@SpyderTracks that’s what I don’t have at the moment a direct correlation in my mind between static and playback, still trying to work it all out :)

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

This is a quite comprehensive review of up-to-date record care products. New collectors should start here. Of course it should be mentioned that paper sleeves are to be avoided - especially if the paper is bleached - and cardboard sleeves are simply the devil! I very much look forward to the record mat episode. What a great idea to do a review of such products" The last thing remotely resembling something of this sort that I can recall must have been a record mat review/endorsement in What Hi-Fi back in the nineties!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I am hoping to have the video out by Sunday, Monday would be better for me but its not a good day to post a serious video

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Yeah, yeah... I'm going to try to pretend I'm not envious #PursuitPerfectSystem ! [This youtube comment deletion thing is really getting annoying! I'm re-posting this in the hope it will appear this time!]

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

YT is bad today, I am having real issues with the comments keep going away and I have to keep authorising them

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

I think it's a constant thing that they still haven't fixed #PursuitPerfectSystem It started not too many months ago but now it is just really bad. I find that every time I reply back to a reply to a comment I have made, my reply always gets deleted. This time I have tried replying to my initial comment instead and using hash-tags to notify the person I'm replying to and it seems to have worked so far (fingers crossed).

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Its not deleted but I manage all the comments to stop all the scammers and such getting through, there was a real problem with some time ago. Plus sometimes there are trolls and haters and I don't overly moderate but some has to be done. But there are issues today where I am authorising the comment but it still doesn't go through and I have to keep doing it.

[@philsturges6454]

Great, formative video. I particularly was interested in the anti-static gun, but that one seems pricey! Any chance you could compare some cheaper ones and see if they are as effective?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yes now I have paid for the tester it makes sense to look at a few different other things, but it will take me a little bit of time to get there

[@philsturges6454]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I’m patient 🙂

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Haha :)

[@SFtheGreat]

Interesting tests. Have you tested paper sleeves with antistitic foil inside them?

[@tomwebb7091]

Wow.... i didnt realise you could make the easiest/least effort to use record cleaning machine on the market and overcomplicate matters and make it a chore! Ive had a Degritter mk1 for 4 years and its done 1500+ washes. Ive personally found it takes just one heavy wash to clean any record (and a sole light wash will do for new ones in anti stat sleeves) which also results in static removal. Ive only used distilled water with a teets worth of the Degritter fluid. I honestly feel no need to go to the lengths you do with yours sir! Thanks to the Degritter i use no brush or static eliminators but i DO always use anti stat sleeves. While it does wash the grooves well its ultimately quite a gentle process (which is good) but i have found that most new records get quieter after 3 play throughs as well (especially the US plant pressings) so that is proof that the Degritter isnt a complete miracle worker alone. What it cant do is reduce pressing flaws and every record has an audible noise floor but some are alot worse than others. I reckon well over 50% of my modern pressings from GZ Media and Optimal who produce the vast majority of releases in the EU/UK market have non fills/stitching and other issues to boot. No amount of Degritting can help here. Also the Degritter is a tool for large collections of folks who want to wash/play alot of records quite frequently. I find a 5litre bottle of distilled water does 3 tank fulls. The tank must be emptied and replenished after 1 week regardless of it youve washed 1 record or maxxed out and washed 50 which will require some top ups from the bottle to reach as each wash does consume water. This means washing records for the sake of it upfront and getting the most out of the water. I have spent £100s washing so far! All that being said, with a collection of 2500+ records and a value on Dcogs that makes me think ive gone too far i can still look at the Degritter as a good value cleaner as its less than 3% of my collections supposed median value. Its a pleasure to use and the amount of TIME ive saved by washing with this machine is worth ALOT in itself. If my collection was 100-200 i wouldnt have bothered with one but there ye go, Just my two pennies! NB: "DOL" label records are best avoided!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

They designed it to be used with 2 tanks, I don’t see how that is making it a chore? It’s designed to be used with 2 tanks so one can be a wash and the other a rinse it’s how the machine works. Maybe it can make your process even better if you consider doing it that way too.

[@tomwebb7091]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem When i spoke with the makers of the Degritter and trialled some different experimental surfactant they sent me there was no mention of this being at all necessary. In fact its designed to clean records very effectively with zero surfactant and i can confirm it does just that. The filter clearly does its job fine too. For me the reason to own a Degritter is the automated ease of use and sheer time it saves as a result. As it gets my records quieter than i could have ever imagined anyway, i think i will happily continue as is and am happy to potentially miss out. Just wanted to share some long term ownership experiences 👍

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Fair enough Tom, there is a video where someone looks at record grooves under a microscope checking the effectiveness of Tergikleen that was what sold it to me to use it - if I had time I would find the link for you, but it was easy to discover, I found it

[@tomwebb7091]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I might try it, i just have no issue with my existing method and sometimes the can of worms is best left unopened! My biggest issue with records is crappy pressings from certain plants and the amount of non fills that come with them which no machine can alleviate. Most recently my biggest surface noise change came from leaving elliptical tipped carts behind and switching to microline. Has convinced me to stick with this oft frustrating method of music playback!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

That I totally understand, its my job to open the can though mate, its what I enjoy to some degree but I find it stressful as well. I havent quite got my head around the different cartridges tips etc, thats another of my frustrations, I like to know the differences so I can find what I like etc. Its hard its so complex

[@kosiekoos9408]

I washed my old Jimmy Swaggarts with bottled water, dishwashing liquid and a spongy. Old Jimmy needed a wash. Plays well.

[@sonicmainliner]

Fascinating, personally I am not that fussed if there is a click and pop now and again, it’s part and parcel of vinyl playback. One thing I would ask though, is it possible to do a test between the furutec brush and a makeup brush, they seem very similar and the makeup brush may have more and softer bristles

[@Akstergrind]

Hey, I was just about to comment about using a makeup brush! I've totally stopped using those other types of brush and just bought a good quality makeup brush, which is massively better!

[@Voidoid77]

Great video, Terry!! Vinyl prices are just getting really ridiculous..And the quality control from certain pressing plants dotted around the globe leave a lot to be desired... >>.P. (in Japan* ex-Scotland)

[@apollomemories7399]

What are you worried about that for when living in Japan? Japanese vinyl qualities are very good.

[@walterwroblinski]

Fortunately for me, Cassette technology was such that I basically purchased vinyl, played once or twice to record on Cassette tape, and kept the vinyl records "filed ". This kept my records clean. ( I did spend a bunch on MFSL inner sleeves and vinyl outer sleeves)

[@apollomemories7399]

I think I spent half my life making tapes for my car.

[@krisn138]

The sound has a lot to do with the listening experience but there’s more to it than that. There’s something about vinyl that just feels more organic. It seems like there’s more of a human element that draws a younger crowd like myself. It’s sort of a brief escape from the digital realm. Also nostalgia. As a kid I spent hours with my dad’s records on a decent system back in the early to mid eighties.

[@chriscutress1702]

With the electro magnet you should slowly remove the unit as you continue the circular motion to avoid re-introducing the magnetic field (static) that you are removing.

[@markgoodman8883]

Biggest difference for me has been with the older vinyl. Mileage may vary but I give an older record a alcohol wipe with record cleaner to get rid of the real deep surface “dirt” and then run it through my degritter for the final rinse. Sometimes twice. That for me has shown the more noticeable results. Some newer vinyl is disgustingly dirty but in general newer vinyl is pretty decent.

[@robetclo2516]

I am using the Huminguru to clean my records. It uses a 40khz frequency wich is recommended for cleaning the grooves. It is efficient. I am using the solution of Groovewasher for ultrasonic to clean my records and it is the first thing I do when I buy a record before playing them. This system is semi-automatic. You have to pour the water manually and it will be drained automaticly in the tank at the end. I have also invested on a second tank for the rinse cycle with distilled water. For inner sleeves I used those those of Vynilstorage solution. If you are canadian that company makes wondeful inner and outter sleeves and not that expensive.