devildog
Active Member
Had my colors reversed, pinkish dirty, then the clean pic blue/ black, unbelievable !
I took some "Before & After" microscope shots of a record I cleaned this morning. Wow
- Thread starter the_nines
- Start date
Had my colors reversed, pinkish dirty, then the clean pic blue/ black, unbelievable !
Wow, thats great. It would be interesting to see a brand new record before cleaning. I always clean every record even if its brand new and I opened it myself.
Cleaning is really the single most important thing for getting the most out of vinyl. That expensive turntable/cartridge etc... is useless if your playing filthy records.
Cleaning is really the single most important thing for getting the most out of vinyl. That expensive turntable/cartridge etc... is useless if your playing filthy records.
wanders
Super Member
One of the biggest on-going arguments is whether a $75 Spin Clean can compete with a $1500 RCM. I have a Spin Clean and would like to think it can; but, photograpbic evidence like this could change a lot of audio wish lists.
Thanks for the photos.
the_nines
Lunatic Member
Thanks.
I originally purchased the microscope to look at several styli I had and wasn't sure of their condition.
hvbias
Member
You should post those pictures as well, it would be interesting to see what the conditions of various styli look like up close.
I agree. The 16.5 is hands down my best vinyl related purchase, replacing my Spin clean.
The microscope's on sale if anyone's interested (might not be the same exact model though). I might get one myself, looks like a fun thing to use on styli and vinyl.
Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
Let's see some stylus shots with that USB Microscope.:yes:
jsisk
Not 2 Old 2 Rock & Roll
Great pictures.
It's kinda funny that DAK uses similar pictures on their webpage for their carbon fiber brush, but the my results were more like your brush pictures.
http://www.dak.com/reviews/3306story.cfm
It's kinda funny that DAK uses similar pictures on their webpage for their carbon fiber brush, but the my results were more like your brush pictures.
http://www.dak.com/reviews/3306story.cfm
91r100gs
Lunatic Member
Hope the sellers of RCM's dont see this, the price will go up a $100 overnight. Glad I already have one.
91r100gs
Lunatic Member
+1 Mine has save about 200 records now
the_nines
Lunatic Member
Guys,
I'm not promoting the scope or my RCM. I have no affiliation with either. I have owned my RCM for quite a few years and have been very happy with the results. Whether or not you own a RCM, wash your records in the sink, brush them, wet-brush, etc...or whatever ..... the only thing that is relevant is the final result.
This little scope has opened-up my eyes.
When I started this thread it was simply meant to show that even though we may think our records look clean after doing the cleaning ritual we are accustomed to, a closer look may surprise us.
I spent $69 to look at a bunch of styli I had in my collection. In the process, I saw what record grooves look like, both before and after cleaning.
Second example ..... a fingerprint on the record:
For this, I have taken a used record which sounds just fine. However, upon closer inspection I found a fingerprint. I took a pic with the scope (150x) magnification. For a marker and point of reference I have circled (yellow circle) two physical marks on the spot of the record next to the fingerprint (in red rectangle):
Washed and vacuumed the record on my RCM:
After the wash, I brought the record under the scope and looked at the same spot. Notice the same two physical marks on the record (in yellow circle) and notice the spot where the fingerprint was on before (in red rectangle).
The fingerprint is gone:
Still trying to get used to this little scope. It's not easy focusing on something that's been magnified 150x.
However, I am really glad to share my experience with it and show my fellow members what I see when I look really really close.
Cheers.
I'm not promoting the scope or my RCM. I have no affiliation with either. I have owned my RCM for quite a few years and have been very happy with the results. Whether or not you own a RCM, wash your records in the sink, brush them, wet-brush, etc...or whatever ..... the only thing that is relevant is the final result.
This little scope has opened-up my eyes.
When I started this thread it was simply meant to show that even though we may think our records look clean after doing the cleaning ritual we are accustomed to, a closer look may surprise us.
I spent $69 to look at a bunch of styli I had in my collection. In the process, I saw what record grooves look like, both before and after cleaning.
Second example ..... a fingerprint on the record:
For this, I have taken a used record which sounds just fine. However, upon closer inspection I found a fingerprint. I took a pic with the scope (150x) magnification. For a marker and point of reference I have circled (yellow circle) two physical marks on the spot of the record next to the fingerprint (in red rectangle):
Washed and vacuumed the record on my RCM:
After the wash, I brought the record under the scope and looked at the same spot. Notice the same two physical marks on the record (in yellow circle) and notice the spot where the fingerprint was on before (in red rectangle).
The fingerprint is gone:
Still trying to get used to this little scope. It's not easy focusing on something that's been magnified 150x.
However, I am really glad to share my experience with it and show my fellow members what I see when I look really really close.
Cheers.
jsisk
Not 2 Old 2 Rock & Roll
I have hundreds of records that I bought new in the 70's and 80's that have never had any cleaning other than a D-4 brush and fluid before each play and they are the quietest albums I own. Buying an RCM to clean them would be a waste of money as the play absolutely silent so you really can't make them quieter. However, a couple years ago I started buying used records (the first used records I have ever bought) and those need all the help they can get. (and look like the second picture in the OP under magnification)