Even with the many popular music platforms available today offering higher sound quality, many people still love vinyl albums for their unique sound and nostalgic aura. The problem with vinyl records is that they are susceptible to dust, dirt, and other contaminants. When these impurities become trapped in the intricate grooves of the disk, the sound quality gets substantially affected. Degritter cleaners offer a variety of features. During the playback, when the needle runs over these particles, surface noise can happen, such as pops or clicks, distortions and even skipping. In addition to running our listening experience, over time this can also lead to damage to the delicate vinyl surface. To preserve the quality of your vinyls, you must clean them on a regular basis. A clean record creates crisp, clear, and full-bodied sound, allowing you to completely enjoy the song as intended by the creator. Common methods used for cleaning vinyl records involve manual scrubbing and the use of cleaning solutions. These methods, however, can sometimes cause damage to the disk or leave residue behind, affecting the sound quality. Degritter ultrasonic record cleaners have revolutionised the record cleaning process. These devices generate tiny cavitation bubbles using ultrasonic energy, offering a deep clean that traditional methods cannot match.

How Degritter Ultrasonic Record Cleaners Work? 

The Degritter ultrasonic record cleaner is a device designed to thoroughly clean vinyl records without causing any damage to the surface of the record. It works by generating a large number of tiny bubbles within the cleaning bath, a process named “cavitation”. Each bubble is a miniature vacuum formed by high-frequency pressure waves travelling through the cleaning solution. It then pops, releasing heat and teeny water jets, which are the stuff that get into the grooves and clean them. Available in different models to choose from, Degritter cleaners offer a variety of features and capabilities to suit the needs of any vinyl enthusiast.

300W Ultrasonic Amplifier

The ultrasonic bath featured inside the device uses a 300W ultrasonic amplifier that has been specifically built for cleaning your vinyl. This amp drives the ultrasonic transducers (one on each side of the bath) so that both sides of the disk are cleaned simultaneously. Consider it an amp that powers speakers but with improved frequencies and in a liquid. The Degritter has a unique feature called Frequency Sweep, which they claim improves cavitation energy and power distribution.

Active Filter Mechanism

An active filter mechanism ensures that the small particles and debris removed from your records are filtered from the cleaning solution during the process, preventing them from getting back on the vinyl. The water in the bath is circulated through the filter and then back into the bath. Water is cleverly drawn into the filter from the top of the cleaning tank, removing floating particles as well. Larger and heavier particles sink to the tank’s bottom and are pumped out to the external and removable water tank. The filter is conveniently accessible from the machine’s side. It is constructed of a cylindrical steel mesh with a changeable open-cell foam filter. The outer component of the filter is washable, making maintenance and upkeep simple.

Configurable Drying Fans

The Degritter record cleaner not only cleans but also dries your recordings. There are 20 fan settings that allow you to choose what speed, power, or noise you choose. The higher you set the fan power, the faster it will dry the record, but the noisier it will be as well.   The fans will be almost silent on low settings, but drying will take longer.

Safety Sensors

Safety-wise the Degritter is quite smart and well-thought-out, with many sensors constantly monitoring the machine’s state. In effect, the sensors let the Degritter identify and recover from undesirable things happening; for example, if power is lost during the cleaning process or the temperature in the bath rises over ideal and safe for vinyl, the Degritter will recognise and sort this automatically. The software also monitors the sensors which is reassuring and provides a backup for your peace of mind. So you can forget about sensor failure, the water getting too hot, failing to correctly clip in the external water tank, not having enough water in the tank, and pump failure. All of this may appear to be excessive, but it is this level of expertise that distinguishes the Degritter and, of course, raises the price of the product.

Cleaning Fluids

A batch of cleaning fluid concentration included with each Degritter equipment. Its not required to utilise it, but it does have some advantages. The concentrate contains anionic surfactants, which aid in dirt removal. It is completely safe to use and will not harm the vinyl. The brand recommends using 2ml of concentrate in every 1.2 litre water tank. This results in a solution in which surface tension reduced sufficiently to allow ultrasonic energy to easily break the water while anionic molecules delicately collect debris from nearby surfaces.

How to Use the Degritter Ultrasonic Record Cleaner?

Setting up the Degritter ultrasonic record cleaner is as easy as 123. All you have to do is remove the water reservoir; fill it with distilled water to a level somewhere between the easily marked Min/Max lines, place the tank; add the recommended amount of Degritter fluid and activate the degas function (which improves the fluid effectiveness). After that, place one LP in the machine’s slot, press the right-hand button, and after the “Welcome” screen shows, turn the right-hand knob to the cleaning cycle you desire (fast, medium, or heavy), and push said knob. Your record will ultrasonically cleaned; and fan-dried in a matter of minutes (about 5-10 minutes, depending on the cleaning cycle). Aside from the cleaning degree adjustment, you can also control the water level; drying time and fan power settings, as well as the previously stated degassing function. There is also a panel that displays the water temperature, the total number of cleaning cycles; and the software version currently installed. When it comes to results, keep in mind that the Degriter will not perform miracles. Many vinyl enthusiasts have a burning urge to restore encrusted, scratched, and otherwise damaged discs to their original splendour. Even though the Degritter features a “heavy” cleaning cycle, it won’t magically restore the disk that you used as a frisbee once. It will also not fill in the information that has obliterated by deep gouges; scratches, pressing faults, and other various material flaws.