Record Cleaning Fluid Reviews

I recently picked up the Flux sonic stylus cleaner and I like it - I wonder if you are still using it, and if so, are you using this solution with it? I had read your review of the Flux which contributed to my purchase, just wondering if that's still working for you.

Thanks for the tip, Michael. I've got 3 Ortofons - an aging Jubilee, a Cadenza Blue and a Cadenza mono. I've bought from Mr. Pendleton several times and have always found him to be straightforward and honest. Will be ordering some of AI fluid soon.

in Michael‘s research about fluids (like Stylast or Flux Sonic electronic needle cleaner and its fluid) in combination with glued styli and suspension rubbers.

I know from own experience, e.g. Stylast works 100% soundwise. But doesn’t every dissolution jeopardize the gluing of the diamond?

And how can a fluid that should be suited for improving needle friction also be suited to nurse the suspension rubbers? Seems strange.

Audio Intelligent's Enzymatic Stylus Cleaning Fluid will keep my dog's ball safe and clean.

Next dog show we hit, the judges are gonna be asking me how I do it!

I've got some fine vial aged thirty year old Discwasher SC-2 stylus cleaning fluid. Are we good to go on my Ortofon M2?

You beat me to it Michael, I have not had the chance to get a bottle yet. I don't use any liquid stylus cleaners for obvious reasons, but this one is easy to trust. I have been using AI cleaning fluids for years and in my opinion, there are none better. (I also happen to know Jim).
Glad you reviewed this. I will be getting a bottle eventually. I'd likely use it about three times per year or so. (I hope it has a long shelf-life). I usually use the Onzow or a dry brush. I have yet to see any stubborn dirt on my styli, but having a bottle of this around doesn't hurt.

Things were sounding dull lately so I (finally) bought a digital microscope. I discovered while the contact patches of my stylus looked pretty good, the rest of it was so crusty there was no way I could do anything with SRA before cleaning it. Doing so I learned:

*The blu-tak-on-a-coin method absolutely takes care of the big stuff and does a pretty good job on the business end. Onzow might be better but finding out frankly isn't worth $40 to me.

*The dry brush doesn't do anything the blu-tak doesn't do better.

*Wet brushing got the stylus and cantilever junction super-squeaky-clean, to the point where it clearly decreased overall mass at the tip. HUGE sonic improvement.

So wet cleaning rules, but I've always been afraid of it. (I use Audio Technica's fluid and have gone thru two 10ml bottles over 30 years.) Based on this post I may switch, BUT... Does anyone have an opinion on whether the presence of isopropyl makes a difference on the stylus at all? I get why it's necessary to clean flat, grooved vinyl discs that are subject to all manner stuff landing on them. But a pointy diamond that's aimed downward? Wouldn't distilled or deionized H20 do just as good a job?

Once I get some new gunk built up I can report back. Interested if anyone has tried it.

I use a Magic Eraser (dry and cheapest one) for cleaning every side for 9 years. I use Stylast and Disc Doctor fluids once every 10 to 15 sides with a stiff brush. I used to use Extreme Phono as a cleaner but found it much easier and superior using the Magic Eraser for daily use and a wet clean less often. My stylii have lasted longer than expected. I use to have to change cartridges every 3 years back in the 1970s-1990s due also to smog and hardened rubber suspensions (froze the cantilever movements).

Distilled water and a camel hair art brush.

This is from https://service.shure.com/s/article/stylus-cleaning?language=en_US:
For the stylus, we recommend a mixture of 50% ethyl alcohol (or denatured alcohol) and 50% distilled water, and a soft camel hair brush. Dampen the brush with the mixture and clean the stylus by moving the brush from behind the stylus to the front of the stylus.

Are all Shure styli non-bonded? Grado told me never to use alcohol or any liquid on their styli.

I thought I'd reach out directly to Ortofon to get their position on the specific use of Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions. I also included a link to this page for them to read the review. Here is the response I received from both Ortofon Technical support and their Product Specialist.

We do not recommend the use of solvents of any kind for cleaning of either record surface or stylus.
Remove dust carefully from record surfaces by using Ortofon antistatic Record brush https://www.ortofon.com/record-brush-p-916-n-3444 before every use. Use Ortofon Stylus fiber brush https://www.ortofon.com/stylus-fibre-brush-p-451-n-3444 a few times along the cantilever in the direction of the stylus tip, whenever you play a new record or change sides. Use the brush in the forward direction from the rear of the cartridge towards the stylus tip and never from stylus tip to the rear of the cartridge and never from side to side. This will take all normal dust and most of the slick release agent from new records. Following this treatment there will normally be no need for further stylus cleaning.’

With kind regards

Katarina H. Nielsen
Technical support Ortofon A/S

Louis Dorio
Ortofon Product Specialist

I forgot what the stylus cleaner was for my OM 40

It's bad it's bad lol huh

“I have used the fluid repeatedly on an Ortofon Cadenza Black among other bonded styli cartridges”
All Ortofon Cadenza series cartridges use nude styli, none of them are bonded.

Preventing the liquid from entering the cartridge body is emphasized, reinforcing the principle that less is more when it comes to liquid stylus cleaners. | https://www.lewisvilleconcretepros.com

I think it's safe.