When a record cleaning device attracts this much attention around the world, you would expect that it must be for good reason however the Record Cleaning and Restoration System developed by Charles Kirmuss has been universally lauded as ‘revolutionary’.
No matter how you store and use your records they inevitably will require maintenance. When playing records, dust particles and contaminants always build up on the stylus as the tone arm moves across the record. This dulls the sound. Furthermore, a chemical release agent is used during the manufacturing process of a record and if these chemicals haven’t been completely removed from the record surface, any dust particles in the record’s grooves will be fused into the agent, resulting in those nasty “pops”.
The Kirmuss Audio Record Cleaning and Restoration System will increase your listening pleasure by removing most of those annoying unwanted pops and crackling sounds from both new and old records. This ultrasonic cleaning system safely cleans records of all sizes by efficiently removing dust particles, fungus, remnants of prior cleanings and contaminants from your record’s surface.
Apart from its simplicity of use, this system brings you ultrasonic technology at a very affordable price and justifiably, has caught the attention of the world’s audiophile press. If you have a record collection, it not only makes practical sense to have an ultrasonic restoration system, but now finally it makes financial sense. Use it once and you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it!
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Kirmuss Vinyl Record Restoration w/ Upscale Audio’s Kevin Deal and Kirmuss Audio’s Charles Kirmuss
Products
Maintaining and Restoring Your Vinyl Collection
After 5 years of extensive research and trials, Charles Kirmuss developed an affordable and simple to use Record cleaning and restoration system based on researching the record making process and the environments that records are stored in.
The Kirmuss Audio Record Cleaning and Restoration System will increase your listening pleasure by removing most of those annoying unwanted pops and crackling sounds from both new and old records. This ultrasonic cleaning system safely cleans records of all sizes by efficiently removing dust particles, fungus, remnants of prior cleanings and contaminants from your record’s surface.
Their unique record suspension system (patented and patents pending) assures that records of any speed and size see their grooves cleaned safely. No damage to the record due to the absence of mechanical skewers and mechanisms.
The initial de-grease bath contains only distilled water with a maximum of 40 mL (1.4 oz) of ISA (Isopropyl) 70% solution. The initial 2 or 5 minute cycle removes surface dust, fingerprint oils, sand and other particles. The grooves are not cleaned during this cycle. In subsequent restoration cycles, a PVC friendly, water soluble, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-static ionizing surfactant spray is applied to the record. When brushed in using the supplied goat hair brush, the application changes the charge of the record with relation to the water in the Ultrasonic’s tank.
The groove cleaning and groove restoration process then begins. The 805 km/hr plasma wave created by cavitation is attracted to the both the record and the record’s grooves. (Patents Pending). With the plasma wave brushing against the applied surfactant, accumulated surface contaminants present from other cleaning systems and processes are removed. Then as the records are processed in additional cleaning cycles (2 or 5 minutes), the release agent found below and the contaminants that were fused into the grooves by the heat of the needle are also removed. It is these artefacts that causing those unwanted pops and crackles.
Ultrasonic technology needs an ionizing surfactant to aid the plasma wave to be attracted to the record, as vinyl typically repels water. Without this, groove restoration and cleaning may not occur. Do not use the Kirmuss surfactant with other ultrasonic systems as permanent damage to records may occur.
As the surfactant is brushed onto the record and into the grooves over multiple 2 or 5 minute cycles, an increase and a decrease of a toothpaste-like substance is seen and when this substance no longer appears, the cleaning process can come to an end.
Regular cleanings are recommended as continual maintenance and care of your records which in turn will reduce those unwanted pops that affect your listening pleasure. Use a felt brush to remove dust and a carbon fibre brush to remove dust and static. Keep restored records in HDPE non-PVC anti-static, anti-fungal sleeves and store vertically. Use the Kirmuss process once every 3-4 years afterwards with a 5 minute cycle.
Ultrasonic cleaners have been around for many years and their use and attributes are well known. While care must also be taken as to the introduction of chemicals in the ultrasonic bath, this cleaning technology is a very valuable tool to use. But Kirmuss have taken it one step further with their approach that ultrasonic alone is not enough. Their aim is to remove the release agent on a new record and then remove any fungus as well as the many layers of previous cleaning system residues, thus RESTORING the record.
Microscopic Analysis of the Kirmuss Restoration Process
240V Models
Please note that the Australian and Asian regions require the 240V model which differs in some ways to the standard USA model. The power supplies required to meet the additional RF and EMI regulations stipulated by the relevant authorities are larger and more complex. The electrical and governmental approvals are also different than in the USA and require additional documentation and testing at significant cost. Therefore, the published Retail Price List for the 240V model is higher than the USA model.
Taking Care of Your Vinyl Records
Just as you need to care for your audio equipment, you also need to clean your records and care for them. If they’re dirty or scratched, it hardly matters how great your turntable is…your music just won’t sound very good. You will not feel the breath of the artist or sense the soundstage.
Cleaning the record surface is only part of the solution. By ionising the record to accept a sonic plasma wave, the Kirmuss process gets into the grooves and restores the record removing remnants of prior cleaning processes, cleaning agents, the record release agent as well as trapped fungus and dirt. Treat your vinyl right, and you’ll enjoy crystal clear sound every time!
After records have been through a Kirmuss restoration process and have been properly stored, only a 5 minute cycle with a Kirmuss ionising surfactant applied every 3-4 years is all that’s required.
Keep Your Records Clean
Often the weakest link in your music experience can be the source material. Due to the nature of an analogue pressing, vinyl records have the potential to deliver great enjoyment of the recording. However, dirt, debris, fungus or other contaminants can build up inside the grooves which can result in the stylus being unable to maintain a proper contact with the pressing. If the records are not maintained, they won’t reflect the original pressing and mastery of the artist, producer, engineer, studio and process.
Instead of top-notch fidelity, you’ll hear “ticks and pops”, (most of these are caused by contaminants trapped in the groove, hit by the stylus), and with coatings and films, a “duller” less brilliant sound, missing the original breath.
Improper storage and handling can also affect your records. Keep in a dry, well ventilated area and replace paper sleeves with anti-static, anti-fungal, 4 mil HDPE sleeves. Do not throw out the printed paper sleeves. Even if they are dirty, just store them separately to the record.
Handle records by the edges
Don’t touch the Grooves! When possible, only touch your records at the edges and on the label. Otherwise, the oils from your hands and fingers may coat or lodge inside the grooves. The more oils, the more possibility of dust sticking to the playing surface. Proper handling also matters during the moments just before and during play. Raise and lower the needle on your turntable using the cueing lever – not your fingers. When you’re done listening to a record, be sure you slide it into the sleeve. Dropping it in risks splitting the sleeve or scratching the vinyl. What should you do if you happen to touch the playing surface? Simple! Just run it through a Kirmuss Audio restoration process on the KA-RC-1-240V and continue to enjoy the music.
Use a Brush
Brushing your vinyl is another cleaning method that might sound like a risky idea at first, but is actually vital in getting rid of the dirt, dust and grit that flock to each record every time it comes out of its sleeve, improving the sound and prolonging its life – as long as you’re using the right sort of brush. Investing in a brush with carbon fibre bristles is the best option to slip through every groove without damaging them, and also gives you the benefit of ridding the vinyl of its static charge at the same time, helping to keep the dust from rushing right back over.
Why Store Records Vertically?
For anyone who lives in a hot climate, this warping can be a real danger to your prized collection, and it’s important to keep your albums in as dry and temperate a climate as possible, as well as out of direct sunlight. Just remember though, it’s fluctuations in temperature that can warp records as much as the temperature itself. The only way to store vinyl records is sitting vertically on their edges rather than laying flat, as stacking them can contribute to the warping – save the lie down for when they’re on the turntable. Try to keep them in wooden containers rather than metal to avoid static build-up, and to insulate them as much as possible from changes in the temperature. To protect records from dust and contaminants, you should store them inside professional-grade, anti-static sleeves.
How To Store Your Records
- Cool, dry, and vertical – that’s how to store your records.
- Excess moisture and heat can harm vinyl, so it’s a good idea to store your records in a dry, temperature-controlled environment. Most of the time, this means keeping them within your primary living space.
- Attics are a no-go because the summer heat can warp your vinyl.
- Basements are iffy, too. When the relative humidity reaches 58% or higher, the risk of mould increases.
- Due to the fact that PVC with a soy derivative as a stabilizer and with a release agent present that attracts dust and dirt which in turn promotes the formation of bacterial colonies on the surface, added paper and cellulose, mould can grow on the vinyl itself, and also grow on a paper record sleeve. After restoration, the use of non-PVC, HDPE sleeves to store records is recommended.
The good news (for vinyl collectors anyway) is that when properly taken care of, your records can last for centuries.