dirac Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 So I bought a Project Essential 2 and am loving the upgrade from my toy ion profile usb, sound quality is incredible; it's like a new life to all of my LPs. One thing I've noticed is the amount of dust this thing collects. I mean it's incredible because the ion was no where near like this. It's now affecting the quality of the playback, being incredibly fuzzy and sounding worse than the ion. I literally have a ball of fluff on the cartridge after every side of an LP, which can't be doing it good. Does anyone else notice this, and what are you doing about it? Besides keeping the room as clean as possible and regularly dusting the area (with the tonearm fixed and cartridge protector on) are there any dummy things I'm missing here?! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Get a carbon fiber brush, and brush your records off before each play. Also invest in a good stylus cleaner, to keep it dust and dirt free. Does the Essential 2 have a dust cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Get a carbon fiber brush, and brush your records off before each play. Also invest in a good stylus cleaner, to keep it dust and dirt free. Does the Essential 2 have a dust cover? yea got the dust cover with it, and always place when playing/not using. I've just read about the stylus brush, and record cleaner. Purchased now, thanks for advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 enjoy your journey into the glamorous and exciting world of vinyl cleaning and maintenance. you should spend some time reading up on different hand-cleaning practices (covered ad-nauseum here and elsewhere) and possibly consider investing in a spin-clean machine. if you really decide to commit yourself to record nerdery, the recommended end game is generally a vacuum cleaning machine of some sort (probably an Okki Nokki there in not-America). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Wow I was wondering if there is some sort of record hoover, looks pretty interesting. It's about time I do something because I've been using the records for about 5 years without doing anything to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Wow I was wondering if there is some sort of record hoover, looks pretty interesting. It's about time I do something because I've been using the records for about 5 years without doing anything to them. That cow-catcher they call a stylus on your Ion probably ground quite a bit of crud into the grooves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 That cow-catcher they call a stylus on your Ion probably ground quite a bit of crud into the grooves. Yea I totally regret using it for so long now. But it's the sort of thing I was putting off because of the expense, but it's already worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny Blanco Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 is the cartridge new on your project ? as the stylus tip wears out over time it digs deeper into the records grooves and thus digs out any muck and dust that may be hiding there. a new stylus tip is basically a V shape - over time and lots of vinyl playing the sides of this V wear out making the angle of the V more acute. one of the first tell tales of a worn stylus before the sound goes off is the ball of dust half way through a side. as your previous stylus on the ion was basically a heap of shit its been churning up your records and depositing muck at the bottom of the grooves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl addict Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Wipe the dust off as the LP spins with the CF brush. Let the LP spin as you slowly turn the inner side of the brush toward the outside of the LP and gently drag the brush across and off the edge of the LP. At no time should the LP slow down to your weight pushing down on the platter. Be gentle! Also, get a Magic Sponge and using your cue lever, gently lower your stylus on to the DRY Magic Sponge a few times (obviously without the platter spinning). Keeps your stylus dust free as well, and it sounds like yours is dirty! Also, wash your records before playing for the first time on your turntable. Just grab a Spin Clean (about $60). The stylus just drags all the gunk from the grooves and ruins your experience if the LPs aren't clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freki Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 (And replace all your inner sleeves with poly ones after cleaning your records. If there's dust on your records, it's also in the sleeves.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl addict Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Yes, this too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 thanks for all the advice, so what I have done is to get one of the CF brushes, as well as a small stylus brush from the manufacturer. Seems to have worked a treat. I'll look in to the spin cleaner as well! What are these poly sleeves you mention? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smwalsh6 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Sleeves- http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Inner-Sleeves-50Pk/dp/B001LQSFKY You could also check out an acrylic mat. Mine cut down on static a ton, by far the biggest difference maker I've tried so far- http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/400439158319?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82 If you go the acrylic mat route at some point, I'd suggest a clamp or weight though, as they don't have any grip. Souther clever clamp can be had for cheap- http://www.needledoctor.com/Souther-Clever-Clamp Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl addict Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I prefer www.sleevecityusa.com Great products. And, they will send a free sample of pretty much any of their own products! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smwalsh6 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 ^ Yea I should've specified, I have no idea if Amazon has the best price on Mofi sleeves, just wanted to show you in general what a poly lined sleeve was. There are tons of options out there for all the things I posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 given that dude is in not-america, buying things www.weonlysellstuffintheusa.com may not be optimal. smwalsh6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Then he can grab some from Protected in Germany, this is what I use: http://protected.de/de/lp-zubehoer/lp-innenhuellen-deluxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Ahh I see they are the ones with the thin plastic inner sleeve. I've got a few of those with the TMR records stuff, and wondered why. Will get some, thanks. Also that slipmat looks like a great idea too. Thanks for the advice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Ahh I see they are the ones with the thin plastic inner sleeve. I've got a few of those with the TMR records stuff, and wondered why. Will get some, thanks. Also that slipmat looks like a great idea too. Thanks for the advice!! covers33 if you are in the UK. http://www.covers33.co.uk/ Not sure where you are in the UK but they do sell them at the record fairs where they do quantity deals. I get them from the Spittlefields market fair and the ones in Kent where I pay £18 for 100. He does them in both black and white which can be useful and he does the nice thick outer sleeves as well. dirac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl addict Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Be careful what you buy for a "slipmat". Different materials yield different sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bierbelly Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 When I was a young audiophile, there was some kind of "ionic" generator that you'd mount near your cartridge that would allegedly neutralize the static charge buildup...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 Yea I'm definitely getting a different slipmat: the standard felt one from project just coats everything in dust. And cleaning a 7" with the carbon brush just adds more to it as it just directs it straight to the slipmat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirac Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 covers33 if you are in the UK. http://www.covers33.co.uk/ Not sure where you are in the UK but they do sell them at the record fairs where they do quantity deals. I get them from the Spittlefields market fair and the ones in Kent where I pay £18 for 100. He does them in both black and white which can be useful and he does the nice thick outer sleeves as well. Sick man, I'll head up to spitafields at the weekend and grab a bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl addict Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Best slipmat I have used is Deerhide. Low static, easy to clean, looks great,and improved sound over rubber (not sure about felt) dirac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Not vegan. No hipster will go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.