Product Description
The Kirmuss Audio ultrasonic record cleaning machine may well be the best we've encountered. Spending time with the designer recently, it took him all over a few minutes to not only explain the benefits and differences with the system, but displayed actual before and after data of dynamic improvement on a previously-cleaned record! We're sold, and are confident you will be too.
The KA-RC-1-240V package includes the machine, as well as:
- KA-B1 combination carbon fibre brush / parastatic felt brush
- KA-AS1 60ml combination anti-bacterial, anti-static, ultrasonic surfactant spray solution
- KA-B-1 Goat-hair brush
- KA-N-1 20 ml stylus cleaner with brush
- One KA-MT-2 5″ felt mat
- KA-MF-1 Workstation Microfibre Rabbit cloth for drying out the rinsed goat hair brush between surfactant applications
- KA-MF-2 Optician’s microfibre cloth
- User Manual
Please note that not supplied but required with the system per washing session: 6L of distilled water, 40ml of isopropyl alcohol 70%.
Studying competing products—as well as the cause and effect of standing waves in ultrasonics, cavitation, plasma effect, and the effects of like charges between water and a record—Kirmuss instituted his own changes: for example, his safe top-of-tank record suspension system as well as adding a 70kHz PASSIVE resonance to a standard 35kHz sonic evenly distributing the effects of cavitation safely to the records, and a method to change a record’s charge to be opposite to that of water in the sonic’s tank, to attract to the record the benefit of ultrasonic cavitation.
While DIY and Chinese ultrasonic systems skewered eight to 12 records only partially inserted in a bath, Kirmuss’ study found that as to not create standing waves, records needed to be properly spaced. These standing waves diminish the effectiveness of using ultrasonic cavitation, so the KA-RC-1 therefore allows only four records in a six-litre tank.
Since both the water and record have the same slight negative charge, water with or without a cleaning solution added in an ultrasonic’s tank with a record spinning cannot see any sonic action in the record’s grooves. Like charges repel, which is why the Kirmuss process sees the record subjected to multiple cycles as the ionizing spray that is applied to the record only temporarily changes the charge of a record to a positive. As the record spins, the charge is reduced. By reapplying the ionizing spray prior to introduction into the sonic’s tank, the opposite charge returns, stripping out films left over by prior cleaning methods then the release agent itself (Shure in the 1970s called this a “pressing oil”).
Thus, a record is restored in four or five two- to five-minute cycles, and not just surfaced cleaned like with other processes. The Kirmuss process guarantees from your cartridge 1.3 to 4+ dB gain over floor, and ETL (US) and CE (EU) electrical and safety approvals indicate our commitment to product safety. By removing unwanted playback artifacts from records old and new, our affordable system increases your listening pleasure, letting the needle “ride” through the restored grooves and giving breath to the artist and music.
As is the case with all cleaning systems, our process cannot repair inadvertent damage caused to the record by inadequate manufacturing, poor handling, haphazard storage, and destructive cleaning agents. That said, our system helps the needle properly “sit” in the groove “pocket” due to the removal of residues and films such as release agents, films left over from prior cleaning processes and alcohol cleaners. You will also no longer hear in most cases the click every resolution caused by a “tone arm skid,” since the needle will ride lower in the groove and no longer hit this “skid mark.”
For more information please visit the website: https://kirmussaudio.com/ka-rc-1-ultrasonic-record-restoration-system/
Also check our video tab for a great demonstration with Michael Fremmer.
System comes with a 2-year warranty for peace of mind.
