Customer Reviews

STANTON MAGNETICS Record Cleaner Kit

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I still maintain a sizable vinyl collection, drawing from it each week for a radio show (I doubt the majority of stations in the country even bother to keep a working turntable). The old Discwasher, now simply a name sold to Phillips Electronics (RCA, General Electric), impresses me less these days than this Stanton brush. Unlike the corduroy material of the Discwasher, it has a felt-like material that appears to penetrate the grooves and pull out more dust than a stiff corduroy wipe. I don't buy, however, the claims either manufacturer makes about "special formulas." When the bottle of liquid runs out, it's silly to purchase another 25 dollar kit. Simply refill it with a 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol and expect the same results.

I bought this item because I'm embarking on that rite of passage into middle age: transferring my LPs to digital files. So I bought a USB-enabled turntable & the record cleaner kit. As is clearly shown in the picture, the kit consists of a pad, pad tray & a 2 oz bottle of cleaning solution. You're supposed to sweep the record with the dry pad, apply 3-4 drops of the cleaning fluid to the edge of the pad, re-sweep & then do a final sweep with a dry portion of the pad. I've encountered at least 3 problems with this product:
1) poorly written/non-updated instructions - you're supposed to sweep the record "in the direction of the arrows on the handle", well, there are no arrows on the handle, I can only hope that the fibers of the pad are not directional
2) inadequate wicking of the cleaning fluid - the 3-4 drops of fluid don't spread out very well &, as a result, there's a tendency to clean only narrow tracks of the record
3) lack of a cleaning tool (or at least some instructions) for the pad itself - where does all that dirt you've cleaned off of the record go? Onto the pad, where it stays until perhaps it's deposited onto the next record.

I can remember (back in the day) buying record cleaning kits that had none of these deficiencies. Apparently the folks that made those products have gone the way of the buggy whip manufacturers...

This does a good job cleaning records, but they left out some items that would have been helpful. There needs to be some sort of brush to clean lint and dust off of the cleaner itself. The tray that it sits in prevents it from drying out quickly, so it becomes damp after heavy use.

OK, maybe I should qualify the title, as audiophiles with plenty of money (more money than brains?) do have far far better options. Among them cleaning systems that involve a special turntable just for cleaning that squirts some ungodly concoction of an alchemist's brew on to one's precious virgin limited resource fossil substrate. Those run about $2000 to $3000 US.
Back in the 70s and 80s, and even up to the late 90s the Discwasher system was hands down the best in this price range. But someone in the new concern thought that a corduroy-like fabric could replace the old, to disastrous results. Do Not even go there, if indeed you still are able.
This leaves Stanton VC-1 system, and it is the closest thing in spirit to the old Discwasher system. I find that the cleaning fluid is adequate, certainly doesn't harm the vinyl as far as I can inspect and hear. And the dry brush does a good, but not stellar job of cleaning simple dust from the platter. More difficult flotsam is another matter.
In this modest price range the Stanton is your best option. As well I also think their SC-4 Stylus cleaner is an attempt in the right direction. As a vinylphile since 1966 when I was a tyke of 5 and ruthlessly spinning discs on our family mahogany console, I have used all levels of equipment (although the $100,000 turntable made in Maine I have yet to try) and now that I'm broke again for the third time I can feel comfortable knowing that my 6500 albums are being well protected by me in conjunction with not too liberal nor overuse of the Stanton system. Use it, just don't go overboard with it thinking it will remove hardened snot, tears, spittle, phlegm or any regurgitation.

It cleans records as advertised and does a fair job. The brush works well dry at removing dust and other particles. The fluid is also effective. However, after repeated use I've noticed that the fibers on the area of the brush where the fluid was applied have become matted down and thus are less effective at reaching into the groves.

The Stanton brush works really well -- maybe a little TOO well.

As opposed to the old trusty Discwasher system, the Stanton felt REALLY digs into the grooves intensely; just one swoop around the disc and one can actually feel the brush pulling on the vinyl as it gets way into the grooves.

While this is an excellent tool for deep-cleaning, I don't think I'll be using it for routine, every-day cleaning -- I worry that it might eventually actually harm the grooves if overused.

Although the price seemed a little high for the particular type of tool, I must admit that this is the most effective and simple record cleaner I have used. I often pick up records in thrift stores that are undamaged but dirty - every thing from heavy dust to mold from a record sleeve that had become wet during some past flood. If you follow the straightforward directions, this does an very effective job of picking the debris out of the record grooves.

The felt should have been better quality. Other than that I am happy with the purchase.

This brush really seems to get into the grooves with its tiny fibers. The cleaning solution seems to clean without any residue. I used to use the Diskwasher system years ago and the new version shouldn't even be called the same thing. I am glad that I found and bought this one.

Stanton came though were RCA failed, Very nice cleaner, has a felt brush like it should have to get in and clean the grooves of your vinyl albums. arrived in 3 days of order.