So, you've dug out your old vinyl collection for a spin on the record player, but you'll need one of the best ultrasonic record cleaners to truly enjoy the experience. Without one, your nostalgia slams right into a disappointing wall of noise, clicks and pops. Usually reserved for vinyl connoisseurs with exceptionally deep pockets, these gadgets have now well and truly entered the mainstream. Even if you're new to the wonders and woes of collecting music on pressed wax, an ultrasonic record cleaner is now within your reach.
You might need to invest in new speakers or a new deck, like the affordable Lenco LS-100 Turntable we reviewed. After that, if you're thinking about re-living those late-night vinyl sessions without disturbing the neighbours, take a look at some of the best headphones. If you’re not a fan of headphones, you might want to look at some of the best speakers for vinyl instead - a clean record is only as good as the system you're playing them on. But first, let's get cleaning
Best ultrasonic record cleaners of 2024 at a glance
• Best overall: HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner - View at eBay
• Best budget: CGoldenwall 6L Vinyl Record Ultrasonic Cleaner - View at Amazon
• Most simple: Knosti Disco-Antistat - View at eBay
• Best high-end: Degritter Mark II Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Machine - View at Analogue Seduction
But why bother with one of these high-tech machines? After all, there’s plenty of advice on how to remove dust, grime and the dreaded fingermarks (or worse). They range from weird and wonderful recipes for homemade cleaning fluid to spreading on wood glue to de-gunk those grooves. Well, we wouldn't risk it - after all, some of those records might be worth a small fortune, not to mention hard to find.
These ingenious machines can totally transform your listening experience, bringing even some of the worst records back from the dead. So, ready to rescue those albums and singles from charity shop oblivion? The best ultrasonic record cleaners could be just what you’ve been waiting for.
Best ultrasonic record cleaners of 2024
Best overall ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner
www.ebay.co.uk
The modern yet minimalist dark-grey exterior of this model from HumminGuru certainly won’t spoil the look of your lovingly crafted listening room. The company and the vinyl record cleaner started life as a very successful Kickstarter campaign. It sports a 350ml fluid capacity - more than enough for cleaning a sizable batch of records before it would need refreshing. It also comes with auto-drying and adapters for 7” and 10” records.
If you're keen on the HumminGuru brand (and many are, thanks to a balance of affordability, design and build quality) you might fancy trying out its ultrasonic stylus cleaner too.
Pros
- Affordable without being low-end
- Fast cleaning cycle
- Removable water tank
Cons
- 40khz ultrasonic frequency is good but lower than some high-end cleaners
- Does not heat the water
Best budget ultrasonic cleaner
CGoldenwall has taken the kind of ultrasonic cleaner generally reserved for scientific applications or jewellery cleaning and effectively adapted it for use with records. And it’s a budget beast. Taking six (yes, six) 12” discs at once and running them through a huge six-litre stainless steel tank, this cleaning machine even heats the fluid to any temperature you like between 20℃ - 80℃, plus a bespoke timer between one and 30 minutes. Lastly, the rack of records is lifted out of the tank to dry naturally, making for less mess and handling of the vinyl.
Pros
- Cleans six records at once
- Heating function with temperature control
- Manual controls offer maximum flexibility
Cons
- Industrial looks may not suit everyone
- Operating noise level not specified
Best simple ultrasonic cleaner
www.ebay.co.uk
Our first ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner in this list to break into the £1,000 price bracket, the Knosti definitely takes things up a notch in the looks stakes. Following clean minimalist lines, this black and silver model may look a little like a toaster, but it won’t burn your records - this machine doesn’t heat up the fluid in the tank. It's a little pricey, but it employs a goat hair brush inside that works in tandem with the ultrasonics. There’s no automatic drying system here, but they do provide a handy drying stand.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive controls
- Filter is actively cleaned during operation
- Comes with Disco-Antistat water and cleaning concentrate
Cons
- Fully manual
- The proprietary cleaning liquid may put off some
- Modern design but not to everyone’s taste
Best high-end ultrasonic cleaner
www.analogueseduction.net
Granted, this next machine on our list has quite a price hike, but for good reason. It may only clean one record at a time, but it does it extremely well and in considerable style. It’s fully automatic, which means less fuss. Unlike the previous two, this is one of the ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners that have active filtering - meaning that the water filter is automatically cleaned throughout the cycle (less dirt left to float around in the fluid means cleaner records). There are also software updates for this machine that have introduced functions like Post Wash Rinsing.
Crucially, it won’t let the water reach a temperature that’s unsafe for records. Tank size is larger than most machines of this form factor too, with a 1.4-litre capacity. Drying is also described as ‘smart’ and actively blows filtered air onto your precious wax. The killer feature here is a massive 120 kHz ultrasonic frequency - that dirt doesn’t stand a chance.
Pros
- The high ultrasonic frequency will clean with unrivalled precision
- Record-safe temperature control - no risk of warping
- Smart drying and active filter cleaning take the hassle out of it for frequent users
Cons
- The sound is rated at 50 - 70 decibels (dishwasher level) so may not suit everyone
Best professional ultrasonic record cleaner
www.audioaffair.co.uk
If a brilliant, fast and comprehensive clean and dry is your thing, and you have the cash to splash, this is a no-brainer. Our favourite features here are the combination of both ultrasonic and mechanical roller-based cleaning. And that's second only to the fact that this will clean and dry both sides of the record at once. The benefit? Less astatic buildup - it's practically eliminated.
We often see record cleaning solutions that claim to be fast, but that often comes at the expense of a thorough cleaning. Not here. The Audio Desk Systeme Vinyl Cleaner Pro X can complete the whole cycle in around 5 minutes per record. So, if time is of the essence and you don't want to compromise -this is it. The 4.5-litre tank is also unsurpassed, meaning it's great for cleaning lots of records between refills.
Pros
- The combination of ultrasonics and mechanical rollers will clean to perfection
- Fully automatic 5-minute cleaning and drying process - super fast performance
- Simultaneous two-sided cleaning and drying eliminates static
Cons
- The sound is rated at 50 - 70 decibels (dishwasher level) so may not suit everyone
Pro-tip for using ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners
Pre-clean your record beforehand, you’ll thank us later. This could be as simple as a cleaning kit with a felt pad and some good old-fashioned vinyl cleaning spray. If you’ve already splashed out you might own something like the Pro-Ject VCE record cleaning machine, which does a more thorough job of basic cleaning.
Pairing a pre-clean with any ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner is the way to go. When you’re done, sit back and enjoy your music.
Best ultrasonic record cleaners of 2024: Buyer's guide
How do ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners work?
Cleaners like these are used to safely deep-clean delicate jewellery, so this is not an abrasive or destructive method. Ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners use the same tried and tested scientific principle to effectively 'vibrate' those dastardly dust particles out of the grooves.
For vinyl record cleaning a machine will usually have a reservoir partly filled with cleaning solution. Some machines heat the fluid to a safe temperature. After placing your vinyl on a motorised spindle, the machine rotates the record through the solution, avoiding the all-important label.
The real magic happens with the addition of ultrasonic waves. These travel through the fluid at high frequency, creating tiny air bubbles which essentially shake the dirt from the record. With the addition of a surfactant to your cleaning solution, the dirt floats to the bottom of the machine, leaving your record much cleaner than before.
What features should you look for?
So, you've taken your prize record collection out of your trusty vinyl storage crate and taken a good look at the grooves. The features you're most likely to need will be down to you. Since most ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners can handle most kinds of grime, you should have good results no matter which machine you choose.
There are always differences between ultrasonic record cleaning machines though; more often than not when it comes to practicalities like cleaning time, recommended cleaning solution and drying time. The answer here is to think carefully about what you expect from a machine. Here are some key features to keep an eye out for:
Tank size
Depending on how many records you're likely to be cleaning in one go, you'll need a tank that's large enough to hold enough fluid to avoid frequent refills. If you're only going to clean in small batches, tank size is much less of an issue.
Manual vs automatic
You may be a collector who likes to take full control of your record cleaning. But if you’d rather entrust all of that to the right machine, look for partly or fully automatic functions
Removable water tanks
You don’t always want to throw away your cleaning solution, so looking for a removable tank may work for those who don’t mind lifting and pouring. Others might prefer an ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner with a built-in pump to empty the tank
Best ultrasonic record cleaners of 2024: Frequently Asked Questions
Is an ultrasonic record cleaner worth it?
Unsurprisingly, this all comes down to your budget. More costly machines do have an impressive array of bells and whistles, but you probably don't need all of them to still end up with a well-cleaned record. You might decide that a vinyl LP that’s seen a lot of action is hardly worth cleaning. As for the rest, what price you put on your listening pleasure is down to you - but remember: clean records need good amplifiers for turntables, and speakers that are up to the job.
In short, if you've gone to the trouble of setting up a capable deck, like the Cambridge Audio Alva ST turntable we reviewed recently, why then skimp on what's arguably the most important step any record collector or music fan should take?
Are ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners dangerous?
Ultrasonic sound waves at the frequencies used by these machines are safe to be around. We wouldn’t recommend putting your head inside one to see if it sounds like experimental jazz though.
What cleaning solution should I use?
The machines we've listed here will work with distilled water, as this contains no minerals or pollutants that may leave a residue on the record. Many collectors recommend adding a few drops of 'surfactant' - a vinyl-safe chemical that encourages the dirt to attract itself to the fluid, not the record.
Depending on your budget you should look at how pricey the recommended cleaning solution will be. As the proud owner of a spanking-new ultrasonic cleaner, you may not appreciate the ongoing cost of a replacement solution just for the sake of following the manufacturer's advice.
How long is the cleaning cycle?
As the record rotates through its ultrasonic bath, there's usually a timer running. Often there are different options here, from light to deeper cleaning, which means a shorter or longer run-time. Typically anywhere from five to 10 minutes will be enough, followed by a 10-minute drying cycle - but this will vary depending on the ambient temperature of the room you’re cleaning in.
How noisy are ultrasonic vinyl record cleaners?
With great power comes the potential for a great deal of noise. These machines work by generating high-frequency sound waves, so it's not totally unexpected for them to make some amount of audible noise. How much you think you can handle will depend on how close you are to it while it's on. The rated sound level, in decibels, can normally be found in the specifications. Where they’re not listed, user reviews are your best friend.
Chris Duffill is a Tech Product Writer for What's The Best and Yours. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.
He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.
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