KLAUDIO Ultrasonic Cleaner

[kcin]

Just got one of these... actually my wife bought it for me! - what a bride I have.

I've used a VPI for years, however as time passed, I detested the ritual , the noise and the time. So I used it sparingly. I sold it last summer and have been without a record cleaner since.

I debated the Audio Desk.- but just way too much bad press on failures . This KLAUDIO machine is put together like a fine scientific instrument. First impressions are amazing. The ease of use and performance cant be beat so far. More on this as time passes.

[MylesBAstor]

Even if the KLaudio was 5% worse--and it isn't--the convenience is unbeatable. It is to recording cleaning what CDs are to music.

One hint. Don't read the other record cleaning threads posted here by the genuinely obsessive!

[dcc]

You won't regret it. As soon as it was available in Europe, I bought one.

One thing however. Keep it far away from your listening room. The noise is dreadful. Mine is hidden in my study so I can clean records while listening to my system.

You might want to test different time settings for cleaning and drying. I settled to 5 and 4 minutes respectively.

For removing grease on second hand records, I still use my old VPI 16,5 (Art du Son and then distilled water) prior cleaning them with the KL Audio.

[tom_hankins]

Great purchase, Congratulations! If/when my Audio Desk dies, it will be my next RCM.

[MylesBAstor]

You won't regret it. As soon as it was available in Europe, I bought one.

One thing however. K eep it far away from your listening room. The noise is dreadful. Mine is hidden in my study so I can clean records while listening to my system.

You might want to test different time settings for cleaning and drying. I settled to 5 and 4 minutes respectively.

For removing grease on second hand records, I still use my old VPI 16,5 (Art du Son and then distilled water) prior cleaning them with the KL Audio.

Or get the Silencer. Costs some money but is well worth it. Still a little noise that might rule the KLaudio's use in a small room but overall only the fan cycle is really loud enough to be distracting. On the other hand, many clean records in batches when not listening.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I always clean in batches. And I do it upstairs in the kitchen as the workspace is larger, more comfortable and convenient.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Congratulations! )

[Bill Hart]

It's a good machine, i've had mine 2 or 3 years, after owning the AD. With both, I still find the need to use a vacuum machine and cleaning fluids in combination with US for used records. There are some things I'd like on an ultrasonic machine that none of the commercial units offer.
FWIW, people complain --particularly on the older ADs-- that transducers die and pumps fail- but that happens on industrial grade US cleaners.
My next one will be a DIY because there are some features I want-- the ability to use surfactants to break surface tension, to control heat (neither the AD nor KL machines do this) and the ability to pull the record after wash and do a point nozzle dry (ala Monks or Loricraft), but these details shouldn't detract from your joy of ownership of the KL. I've certainly enjoyed mine, and it is robust.
PS: You can ignore much of this since I'm in the category Myles refers to as "obsessive."

[PeterA]

I still use my trusty Loricraft with five-step AIVS (Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions) cleaning fluids. It is very obsessive and there is nothing convenient about it. I heard that AIVS was working on creating fluids for the ultrasonic machines. Does anyone know if they ever started selling them? I like the idea of simply using water, but I wonder about mold release agents and other issues that water might not get off. And I think the ultrasonic cleaners may loosen tiny bits in the grooves better. I don't really know.

I've been thinking about one of these KLAudio machines for a while. Congratulations.

[Rob]

I use a loricraft in conjunction with an industrial US machine. BIll Hart has written extensively about this 2 step process and we've discussed our ideas off line and pretty much came to similar conclusions. this is a case where 1+1 equals 3, using both together is better than either by themselves.

[garylkoh]

I had one of the first ones as Peter Cheon the designer is a friend and his office is a stone's throw away from mine. However, recently I was asked - why do you towel-dry the car after washing and not your records? The blow-dry, while convenient, would bake-on any dirt in the water by evaporating the water and leaving the dirt behind. Even after hosing off the car, if you don't use a towel to get rid of most of the water and just let it blow-dry, you still find 'water spots'.

Now, I use a Nitty Gritty to vacuum dry my records after ultrasonic cleaning - and they sound even better! I'm one of the obsessive ones.

[Bill Hart]

Bada-bing! (Kind of a Jersey expression).

[Paul S]

If you do a final rinse with de ionised water it will simply run off leaving no marks, this in my opinion is the key to getting things clean, including Lp's. I do mine by hand still, with a 2 stage rinse, 1st filtered water, then pure de ionised water, with a soft purdy cutting in brush. This is the key element for me, and it is as good as it can be.

[kcin]

I had one of the first ones as Peter Cheon the designer is a friend and his office is a stone's throw away from mine. However, recently I was asked - why do you towel-dry the car after washing and not your records? The blow-dry, while convenient, would bake-on any dirt in the water by evaporating the water and leaving the dirt behind. Even after hosing off the car, if you don't use a towel to get rid of most of the water and just let it blow-dry, you still find 'water spots'.

Now, I use a Nitty Gritty to vacuum dry my records after ultrasonic cleaning - and they sound even better! I'm one of the obsessive ones.

I must admit I can be accused of being obsessive, however, as of late I find my time is limited. As such, record cleaning is one of those things that I will accept the 90% solution if I can gain time. Its mostly how I run my work life as I have found that stretching for 100% is good but limits the amount of things you can accomplish and often limits growth.

For really grimy examples I can use the Lloyd Walker brushes and fluids to scrub on a micro cloth if necessary. Truth is, I don't normally encounter those kind of LPs anymore. Any that I have "in stock" are well cared for and will benefit from the Ultrasonic cleaning alone.

I am just happy not to clamp, scrub, vacuum, use another mat so as to not cross contaminate, clamp, scrub and vacuum. ugh. While I have been on a bit of record buying binge as of late I have too many albums already that I forgot I even had so just getting the few thousand cleaned again with the KL will be a chore in its self.

Years ago, I trained my adolescent son and younger daughter to carefully clean my albums on the VPI . I would set out 10 at a time and they were trained how to handle the machine and the software. Worked out well until other interests got in their way.

Cheers,

[jcmusic]

I have had my KL Audio cleaner for about a year now, and just don't see life without!!!!

[Joe Pittman]

I typically clean an LP every time I play it with the Klaudio machine. My cleaning regimen is to clean LP's after I play them, then store in a high quality sleeve, that way when I play it again it is already clean. The sleeve is always clean and not accumulating dust (minimal cross-contamination). I usually clean new LP's before I play them for the first time. And soak/pre-clean used LP's with Audio Intelligent Premium One-Step Formula No. 6 enzyme cleaner prior to puting into the Klaudio while it is wet for final ultrasonic cleaning and drying. I'm always playing a pristine clean record without static. Sounds the best every time.

I find that repeated cleaning does a good job of removing the pressing parting compound. Old LP's can take a while to remove all the embedded grunge. OK, I'm a little obsessive.

[jonathanb]

I use the KLAudio machine in conjunction with a VPI HW17. Mostly, I'll use just the washing cycle of the KLAudio and rush the album to to HW-17 to vacuum both sides dry. I use the VPI mat underneath the damp album, and I switch sides of the mat so that the record never makes contact with the dirty/damp side of the mat. Depending on the album, I'll use the HW-17 with an enzyme cleaner before running it through the KLAudio.

[MylesBAstor]

The issue with the VPI and other cleaners like it is static electricity. I would use exactly the minimum number of revolutions needed to dry but always had static electricity. None with the KLaudio. Now Imdon'tbknow if have the same issue with the Monk type cleaners with static electricity because never played with one. 🤔

[jonathanb]

I use a D-Stat II to control static.

[Beaur]

As one who would be classified as "non-obsessive" I have one that I use with the silencer most of the time or if I want to wow people at a show or several visitors I break out the robot arm and do 5 at a time. Love mine for the convenience. Have an AD with faulty rollers if anyone wants a project.

Beau

[Guest]

I've had the Audio Desk for several years and it continues to work flawlessly. Yes, I've bought one set of new brushes (they can be washed and re-used), more cleaning fluid, and a replacement filter. The filter will show obvious evidence of why it's included. I'm of the view that the AD's brushes and surfactant (grease, etc.) do as much or more of the cleaning work as hurling agitated water at the record alone.

I do like the results I got with my Loricraft PRC-3 using AIVS or Prelude. Still have it. Using it is messy, tedious, and time-consuming. (I've tried for that Zen and the Art of Record Cleaning rhythm, but never really got there.) Nonetheless, it remains quite effective. Still, the AD and the KLA have revolutionized the task.