So your point is - you either need a humidifier or an ionizer to avoid static, correct? Not everyone wants to run a large, noisy large - space capable humidifier, so what's the solution to avoid static? An ionizer. ;-)
DS Audio Ionizer
- Thread starter Kcin
- Start date
Yes, but a humidifier has other benefits as well - numerous benefits - not just for vinyl playback
.I just installed a new Honeywell Electrode Steam unit (essentially the best one they make for homes), and it's less than half the price of the ION-001. And that does your entire home and sets humidity automatically. (Just sayin')
Since I already own the ION-001, I turn it on while brushing & centering the record, then it's off during playback.
I have both a central steam humidifier (and geothermal heat which is less dry than gas forced air) and the Westek. Both are needed for me.Yes, but a humidifier has other benefits as well - numerous benefits - not just for vinyl playback
I just installed a new Honeywell Electrode Steam unit (essentially the best one they make for homes), and it's less than half the price of the ION-001. And that does your entire home and sets humidity automatically. (Just sayin')
Since I already own the ION-001, I turn it on while brushing & centering the record, then it's off during playback.
I would love a whole house humidifier.Yes, but a humidifier has other benefits as well - numerous benefits - not just for vinyl playback
I just installed a new Honeywell Electrode Steam unit (essentially the best one they make for homes), and it's less than half the price of the ION-001. And that does your entire home and sets humidity automatically. (Just sayin')
Since I already own the ION-001, I turn it on while brushing & centering the record, then it's off during playback.
I just popped in to mention a new audio specific ionizer from Zorin Audio. AS-2 ION is the freestanding one [poised over the surface of the record] and another [AS-1] is incorporated in with their air bearing tonearm I believe. It's a more reasonable price, but obviously some more inconvenience as you have to swing it over and away from the record to change.
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I had good info from this thread and so was happy to add something to it!
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I had good info from this thread and so was happy to add something to it!
Now try running the ION while you brush the record, ie for a min or two, then shut it off during playback.
In my case, and a few others in this forum, it sounds better with the ION Off during playback.
In my case, and a few others in this forum, it sounds better with the ION Off during playback.
I saw that earlier. Yes, I’ve tried that a few times. There is no top end roll off to my ears. And my frequency range meter is showing identical results.
The difference I hear has nothing to do with more or less extension on either end, overall tone, airiness v tonal depth, … none of that. The presentation is just more poised and relaxed. I’m not saying it’s revelatory. I am saying that I like what I hear with ionizer on.
But you’ll need highly revealing ears to pick up on it.
The difference I hear has nothing to do with more or less extension on either end, overall tone, airiness v tonal depth, … none of that. The presentation is just more poised and relaxed. I’m not saying it’s revelatory. I am saying that I like what I hear with ionizer on.
But you’ll need highly revealing ears to pick up on it.
It’s not going to affect all systems the same. I know that on the SAT TT the results were the same as on my Nagra TT, both with DartZeel amplification.
Generating ions next to the tonearm cable is not a good thing, just common sense. But if you can’t hear a difference, nothing to worry about.
Generating ions next to the tonearm cable is not a good thing, just common sense. But if you can’t hear a difference, nothing to worry about.
Is it generating ions near the tonearm cable, or the bombardment of ions on the highly sensitive magnetic field within the cart? Or both? And the peer-reviewed electrical engineering literature says that?
Wonder what it says about the affect of static electricity on highly sensitive magnetic fields and tonearm cables?
Wonder what it says about the affect of static electricity on highly sensitive magnetic fields and tonearm cables?
Simple. You remove the static electricity on the vinyl beforehand or use DS ionizer while brushing and turn off before playing.
Thanks. I don’t own, have no experience with it and trust those who have used it. It is odd that the company seems to recommend keeping it on during play even though it seems problematic for the reasons stated here.
After reading some of the above comments I've experimented with the CS Port IME-1 being continously on while playing or on for a few rotations then turning it off or completelty off and only hear positive results when left continously on. I also see that when left on that dust doesn't settle on the record but if off you see dust does settle on the record. The unit or beam sits roughly 16" from the tonearm cable and 12" from the cartridge at the outer-groove and 8.5" from the cartridge when at the inner groove.
Disclaimer: We do sell the IME-1, have sold almost 25 units now, in-fact we always have a wait list. Currenlty waiting for another 6 units and most are pre-sold.
Disclaimer: We do sell the IME-1, have sold almost 25 units now, in-fact we always have a wait list. Currenlty waiting for another 6 units and most are pre-sold.
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For what it's worth. And please don't laugh.
I still have my Zerostat of 30? years ago. In ice white. Effect next to nil.
I religiously clean new cds with Furutech's PC-Alpha spray. The spray is a plastic container, material costs 0.5 euro, filled with 25 ml demineralized water(?), cost 0.01 euro. It retails for euro 25-35 and I can clean about 50 cds with one spray. At least, a microfibre cloth is included in the package to wipe off the cds after spraying. Cost per cd euro abt euro 0.50. The sonic improvement is spectacular.
Just before playing, I always religiously "blow-dry" cds on Audio Revive's RIO-5 coffee blender, complete with tourmaline balls. 15s each side, twice = 1 min. The sonic improvement is spectacular. I experimented with various combinations of demagnetizers, Furutech Destat III, RIO-5. Contrary to others, I concluded that, just before playing, simply blow-drying my cds on the RIO-5 for 1 min delivered the best result. Besides being a coffee addict, I am now a RIO-5 addict (one day, this will be fatal for my RIO-5). The RIO-5 is made of low-cost plastic materials, sports a small fan in its base and yes, tiny tourmaline marbles suspended over the airflow on a grid. I reckon abt euro 50 in material cost, another euro 50 in assembly+overheads. It retails for euro 700.
Another piece of plastic junk with excellent results is de Furutech Destat III. It is designed as a curling stone with batteries in the grip. After replacing the batteries a few times, the battery lid breaks off. This is my third, and I now refuse to buy another one (in use, I hold my thumb on the battery lid). A real scandal, considering Furutech's reputation. Material cost including assembly+overheads: euro 50. It sells for euro 350 (used to be euro 200). Once I put a record on the player and it spins, I apply the Furutech for 30s. above the record. The sonic improvement is spectacular. I used to apply the Furutech to cds just before playing, with clear audible improvements. However, the RIO-5 beats it in no uncertain terms.
Moral: these gimmicks cost nothing when considering HighEnd systems costing tens of thousands, and more. And yet, they improve sound reproduction as if they cost tens of thousands themselves. DS Audio now jumped onto the bandwagon with a gimmick costing euro 1,800, which is more in tune with HighEnd price extravaganza. Audio-Technica, Clearaudio, Marantz, Project, Rega please come to our rescue and offer these gimmicks, better designed, more effective, at much more reasonable prices! You will sell them by the thousands and boost brand awareness.
Note: in another thread, I relay my experience with ultrasound record cleaning machines (Glass vs Degritter 2). Glass does not stand a chance. It should gracefully bow out. Otherwise, Darwinian selection will do the job.
I still have my Zerostat of 30? years ago. In ice white. Effect next to nil.
I religiously clean new cds with Furutech's PC-Alpha spray. The spray is a plastic container, material costs 0.5 euro, filled with 25 ml demineralized water(?), cost 0.01 euro. It retails for euro 25-35 and I can clean about 50 cds with one spray. At least, a microfibre cloth is included in the package to wipe off the cds after spraying. Cost per cd euro abt euro 0.50. The sonic improvement is spectacular.
Just before playing, I always religiously "blow-dry" cds on Audio Revive's RIO-5 coffee blender, complete with tourmaline balls. 15s each side, twice = 1 min. The sonic improvement is spectacular. I experimented with various combinations of demagnetizers, Furutech Destat III, RIO-5. Contrary to others, I concluded that, just before playing, simply blow-drying my cds on the RIO-5 for 1 min delivered the best result. Besides being a coffee addict, I am now a RIO-5 addict (one day, this will be fatal for my RIO-5). The RIO-5 is made of low-cost plastic materials, sports a small fan in its base and yes, tiny tourmaline marbles suspended over the airflow on a grid. I reckon abt euro 50 in material cost, another euro 50 in assembly+overheads. It retails for euro 700.
Another piece of plastic junk with excellent results is de Furutech Destat III. It is designed as a curling stone with batteries in the grip. After replacing the batteries a few times, the battery lid breaks off. This is my third, and I now refuse to buy another one (in use, I hold my thumb on the battery lid). A real scandal, considering Furutech's reputation. Material cost including assembly+overheads: euro 50. It sells for euro 350 (used to be euro 200). Once I put a record on the player and it spins, I apply the Furutech for 30s. above the record. The sonic improvement is spectacular. I used to apply the Furutech to cds just before playing, with clear audible improvements. However, the RIO-5 beats it in no uncertain terms.
Moral: these gimmicks cost nothing when considering HighEnd systems costing tens of thousands, and more. And yet, they improve sound reproduction as if they cost tens of thousands themselves. DS Audio now jumped onto the bandwagon with a gimmick costing euro 1,800, which is more in tune with HighEnd price extravaganza. Audio-Technica, Clearaudio, Marantz, Project, Rega please come to our rescue and offer these gimmicks, better designed, more effective, at much more reasonable prices! You will sell them by the thousands and boost brand awareness.
Note: in another thread, I relay my experience with ultrasound record cleaning machines (Glass vs Degritter 2). Glass does not stand a chance. It should gracefully bow out. Otherwise, Darwinian selection will do the job.
I totally agree with you -Zerostat wears out with constant use. There is a pin connected to the trigger that does the squeezing action over the anti-static unit, but it deteriorates quickly.
Acoustic Revive has a similar unit with stones and a built-in light, which dramatically improves the sound of CDs. In my opinion, the Furutech Destat II is more suitable for CDs and works very well.
I haven’t tried Furutech Alpha Spray, but Gruv Glide does a very good job on CDs.
