Revolutionise The Way We "Clean" RESTORE Records

The KirmussAudio Model KA-RC-1 Revolutionises The Way We Clean RESTORE Records

First and foremost, our patented record suspension system assures the safe cleaning and subsequent groove restoration of records of any size and speed, without damage from mechanical intrusions of skewers and such. Four records of varying size may be processed in one session, with a resonance of 70kHz to the 35kHz sonic resulting in restoration. The distance between records is critical in any ultrasonic process, and any less distance than what’s offered by the KA-RC-1 sees a high standing wave negating the benefits of cavitation.

Secondly, only distilled water with a maximum of 40mL (1.4oz) of 70% isopropyl alcohol solution constitutes the initial de-grease bath. While the alcohol in safe quantity (per the PVC Chemical Compatibility Chart) may assist in removing fingerprint oils, it’s primarily used to kill live and dormant funguses that our process cleans off. Only in the first five-minute initial wetting cycle does this remove some of the surface dust, fingerprint oils, dirt, and fungus, as both the record and water retain the same charge.

In subsequent restoration cycles (of either two or five minutes, followed by a five-minute final cycle), we apply onto the record a PVC-friendly, water-soluble, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-static ionizing surfactant spray. When brushed in using the supplied goat hair brush, the application now changes the charge of the record with relation to the water in the ultrasonic’s tank, thus starting the groove cleaning and restoration process. In a process that’s patent-pending, the 500 MPH (805 KPH) plasma wave created by cavitation is now attracted to both the record and its grooves. With the plasma wave now brushing against the applied surfactant, accumulated surface contaminants present from other cleaning systems and processes are now removed. Unfortunately, the potential charge difference “washes off” as the record spins; we therefore re-apply the ionizing spray and continue to process the records in multiple two- to five-minute cycles, removing from the record and its grooves the release agent, dust, and other contaminants micro-welded into the grooves by the heat of the needle making contact with said release agent. Because of this, unwanted pops and crackles disappear.

To be attracted to the record, ultrasonics need an ionizing surfactant to aid the plasma wave that results from cavitation, changing the charge of the record since vinyl typically repels water. Without this, groove restoration and cleaning may not occur. We use a diol-1-2-178 propanediol bipolar agent, an anti-static and anti-fungal ionizing surfactant safe for PVC.

You can perform a simple test. Place the record on a horizontal workspace and pour on the record your favorite cleaning solution. You will see the record repel water, suspending it on the record. Using your finger to move the solution around, you will also see large droplets of the solution cover the grooves. The grooves’ average diameter is only 30 microns, and as narrow as six microns at the bottom of a standard RIAA-compliant pressing. Our process breaks this down, changing the charge of the record and, when complete, leaving it virtually dry.

CAUTION: For reasons explained below, putting our agent onto a record or into a tank of water with any other ultrasonic will not work. Permanent damage to records may occur when using our surfactant with other ultrasonic systems. With the AudioDesk system, our agent gums up the pump and gear mechanism. Only use our KA-AS-1 surfactant spray with our system.

Also note that ammonia-based jewelry cleaning solutions, alcohol, and ethylene oxide (Tergitol, Triton 100) should not make contact with records. In general, whether manually or in a system, we suggest never using any cleaning agent of unknown makeup. When you see a solution with an ingredients list, always check the safety of the included chemicals with our PVC Chemical Compatibility Chart.

Our process allows you to determine first-hand when a record is cleaned and restored. As the surfactant is brushed onto the record and into the grooves over multiple two- or five-minute cycles, you’ll see an increase then decrease of a toothpaste-like substance brought up by the goat hair brush (the KA-B-1, also sold separately). This comes from materials softened by the prior cycles of the ultrasonic cycle process, such as fungi, contaminants, and agents applied in prior cleaning methods and systems made visible by the colorant in our ionizing spray. The last cycle is determined when these materials rapidly evaporate or diminish in quantity. Records come out virtually dry as PVC repels water, and the record is clean and restored. The process does not have to be repeated again..

You can’t just place records into any ultrasonic machine and expect miraculous results. In a patented discovery, we found that due to the like charges of the record and the water in the basin (with or without an added solvent solution), the water and record repel each other.

The Absolute Sound refers to our thorough process as a restoration system, saying in an April 2020 review of the KA-RC-1, “You’ll be rewarded with a more spacious soundstage and truer instrumental timbre.”