I don't see how that is even possible? Are you sure something else was not the cause of that? I've been using one since they came out and the only thing it's ever done is eliminate static.
DS Audio Ionizer
- Thread starter Kcin
- Start date
Once you listen to it, you can't do without it.
So if you are not prepared to buy one, never try it.
Also I don’t know how
Is possible
My friend told seems the cartridge go on the record with less resistance
With 2 song tried to off and on the ionizer
And when on bass was more controlled and high more clean
No big difference sure but you can listen well
Also for dust is good because we. He has
turntable DPS and the black surface of turntable is without dust
When no listen put the glass cover and when listen and use ionizer and no dust
Before without ionizer always newt to clean the black surface of turntable
Is possible
My friend told seems the cartridge go on the record with less resistance
With 2 song tried to off and on the ionizer
And when on bass was more controlled and high more clean
No big difference sure but you can listen well
Also for dust is good because we. He has
turntable DPS and the black surface of turntable is without dust
When no listen put the glass cover and when listen and use ionizer and no dust
Before without ionizer always newt to clean the black surface of turntable
It is good you had a chance to try before you buy.Tweaks can be subjective so in your case best you do not buy one..
Hi Maril555,
Thanks for posting the photos. I'm considering one of the SPI Westek ionizers. Does it have any hum or other noise?
I see that the new internet price is <$400 and it has replaceable emitters for $34 a pair.
Other comments?
Best,
Don
No hum or noise, completely silent.
I paid $125 on EBay for a brand new, sealed unit
In this case, for the price, I'll be happy if the static and dust disappear. Anything else will be a bonus.
Incidentally, FWIW, I did buy a toy that helps with record maintenance: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WN6D3TK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's fairly quiet and just powerful enough. I trimmed the smaller brush to better clean the worst dust off records. The other end is a blower to blow dust out of record sleeves without damaging them. I have two of these now.
Don
I purchased the DS Audio Ionizer-001 and absolutely love it. I was getting static pops while playing records (even after using the Milty). By the time I had flipped the record and played side 2 my wool mat would be stuck to the record when I removed it. You could hear the static as I would peel it off the album. I bought the Ionizer and all those problems went away. No more static pops when playing a record and the wool mat does not cling to the record at all. It is silent and extremely effective. I assume (have not had it long enough to confirm) that it will also attract less dust to my records since they keep zero static charge while playing and go back in anti-static sleeves when stored. To me it was well worth the money and the Milty is now stored in a drawer gathering dust ironically 
. Other than the lack of static pops I cannot say there is a definitive improvement in the audio quality produced during playback, but the peace of mind of not having to deal with the static issues and the Milty are well worth the price.
. Other than the lack of static pops I cannot say there is a definitive improvement in the audio quality produced during playback, but the peace of mind of not having to deal with the static issues and the Milty are well worth the price.
I ordered the SPI Westek ionizer from DigiKey for $340.
My setup is a bit different because of the way my tonearms function. You can see in the photos. It’s about ten inches above the record. Velcro makes it adjustable if needed. It seems to work great. My record surfaces are quieter
Hopefully the ozone smell will dissipate.
Don
My setup is a bit different because of the way my tonearms function. You can see in the photos. It’s about ten inches above the record. Velcro makes it adjustable if needed. It seems to work great. My record surfaces are quieter
Hopefully the ozone smell will dissipate.
Don
I just had the opposite experience. As @mtemur suggested on the thread discussing “smear”, I was shocked that the ION-001 reduced clarity!
I have been toggling the DS-001 on and off a couple of dozen times while playing back classical and jazz albums. There is an audible slight loss of clarity in the high frequencies — just a ”smidge” of edge lost (~1-2%) on the leading and trailing notes of a trumpet or a violin… It’s not a huge difference by any means; but once you hear it, you cannot ‘unhear‘ it.
For now, I will turn it on only when setting up the record (brushing, centering), then turning it off. I do not have a static problem in the house, even in winter. I have very good steam humidification throughout, so there is no static that I can see or feel.
(In case you are wondering, powering the ION is a linear power supply which is in turn powered by a Shunyata Denali v2. Ground is connected to a Shunyata Altaira Signal Hub. So there’s no issue with dirty power or grounding…)
EDIT: I just read @TLi ’s post recommending that the green light be off. (“I like to keep the green LED light off because the green LED tends to dim the sound, ie the light will tune down the treble a little. “) My light is on, so perhaps that’s the issue. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy for me to reach the light adjustment dial without removing the TT platter, which is not something I want to do.
EDIT 2: Dimmed the light all the way (doesn’t seem to turn off fully). That was not it. Sound is noticeably better with the ION-001 OFF. Listening to Al Di Meola Friday Night in San Francisco (Impex, 45 rpm) and the difference is not huge, but obvious: each plug of the string is clearer and further extended in the high frequencies. Again, I don’t have a static problem, so it’s not a tradeoff between ’pops’ and this benefit.
Attachments
Last edited:
Thank you for a detailed report. I suspect the issue with DS-001 is ion bombardment of cartridge while playing and I don’t think CS Port is any better. I don’t know how people are convinced to play their records when cartridge is under ion bombardment.
I think Mike loves his, he has multiple to cover many TTs.
After a long period of using the SPI Westek ioniser, I'm retiring mine. Comparos in and out showed blunting or smoothing of treble info for a tamer, more beige sound.
After a long period of using the SPI Westek ioniser, I'm retiring mine. Comparos in and out showed blunting or smoothing of treble info for a tamer, more beige sound.
That’s really interesting as it’s essentially what I heard with the ION-001 [to be clear, I was not referring to the DS Audio cartridge].
Interesting, and perhaps not all systems are negatively affected. I also think that mentally people are thinking that it improves sound by reducing static (which I’m sure it does); so they are not listening for other changes to the sound.
I like the idea of using it for a burst prior to playing each side of an LP. I was also concerned that using a step up transformer (100V JP to 230V UK) might be pumping some SMPS noise back into my system (despite me powering the ionizer transformer from my domestic power grid, seperate from my balanced power transformer/dedicated lines audio grid).
