Degritter Mark II - ultrasonic record cleaner

Introduction

The vinyl revival at Hifiandmusicsource.com continues at pace. Fuelled by AVID HiFi’s impressive Ingenium SE turntable and the Pellar II phono stage (though I recently received the Pulsus II phono stage), I’ve made it a priority to present the best possible polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) surface to the needle. Having experienced a Degritter before, it was time to see if the Mark II Degritter is still the one to buy.

Design

The Degritter Mark II is an ultrasonic and liquid record cleaner.  It is designed a bit like a toaster, cleaning both sides at the same time in a bath of deionised (or distilled, if you prefer) water with a small amount of optional cleaner.  The transducer on either side of the record surface agitates the cleaning fluid in the grooves at 120-125 kHz.  This creates bubbles that collapse in the groove, releasing any impurities (dirt, crud, etc.).

The process is simple, with a water reservoir at the rear, a replaceable filter, temperature control, and soft-touch buttons.  It has many menu options; the main ones affect how many times the disc goes through a cycle (up to 4!), the drying time, and pre-soak options.  A cleaning cycle needs to run periodically, after around 200 cycles.

It even includes an SD card for software updates.  There is also an adaptor for 10-inch and 7-inch records if needed; I don’t have these.

Quality

The unit is self-contained and has a soft-touch feel.  The menu buttons are highly tactile, and the unit feels premium overall.  The rear water reservoir is easy to access, as is the side filter, which needs to be changed periodically.

Specification and Price

Performance

Review Equipment

I have the AVID Ingenium SE turntable here with a Pulsus II phono stage on loan, which has replaced the Pellar II on duty.  The Rega Nd9 MM cartridge has replaced the Exact.  It is a truly special system with the Moor amplification and Kudos Titan 505 loudspeakers that form the Reference System.

Physically

I’ve been using two cleaning cycles for my dad’s old records and for brand new records.  I use a quick single cycle for my newer, more regular records, just to make sure they get a once-over.

All you need to do is drop the vinyl in the slot and press play; it really couldn’t be simpler.

I also own a manual Yellow Spin-Clean system, but its hands-on process can feel clunky and risks micro-scratches if you aren’t extra careful. Plus, you can’t clean an album and play it immediately; it stays wet and requires rack-drying. The Degritter completely obviates this hassle by delivering a washed, dry record straight back into your hands.

AVID Ingenium SE

The Ingenium is super silent by design.  Older records, like my dad’s original Beggars Banquet (Decca, 1968), have probably never been cleaned, so this is likely their first clean! Honky Chateau (Elton John, Pye Records, 1972) is the same; boy, they both sound great.

When you drop the needle, there’s basically no surface noise or crackle until you get to the run-out groove (the bit that is unwashed or untreated); that’s the difference in a nutshell.  It is simply a feeling of well-being knowing you have the best possible vinyl presented to the best possible turntable (though the Ingenium SE is AVID’s entry-level turntable!).

In terms of sound quality, beyond the obvious pop-free clarity and resolution, I’d say I’m getting more of everything.  Because I’m getting so much from the Nd9 cartridge and the Ingenium SE, the feeling is heightened.  The recent upgrade loan to the AVID Pulsus II has me at an advantage anyway, but there’s little doubt my engagement with older records from my father’s collection of Bowie and Stones’ originals is on another level. I would be grasping at metaphors to describe my recently cleaned Love Over Gold (Dire Straits, Phonogram, 1982) as anything other than dynamic, but it does have improved dynamic punch after a quick clean and a full run-through. I guess I’m just getting more out of the groove.

Thoughts

Naturally, £2,540 represents a serious investment for record cleaning. However, if you have a high-resolution turntable, cartridge, and phono stage like this AVID and Rega setup, the Degritter Mark II isn’t an indulgence—it’s an essential component that lets the rest of your system perform at its absolute best.  I’d even go so far as to say it is essential if you have a proper turntable setup.

What Three Words

Luxury – Pristine – Effortless

Overall

Is the Mark II Degritter still the one to buy?  Yes, it is.  Full Stop. Personally, I absolutely love the Degritter Mark II, and I’ll be doing everything I can to invest in this machine.

Love 

• Immaculate vinyl
• Restoring older vinyl to new

Like 

• Sleek
• Couldn’t be simpler

Wish

• The drying process, whilst highly effective, is fairly noisy if you have an album on already