Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Walker Audio Prelude Deluxe Cleaning System Accessory by vinyladct

Model:	Prelude Deluxe Cleaning System
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$135
Description:	Record Cleaning System - for use with Record Cleaning Machine
Manufacturer URL:	Walker Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by vinyladct on October 05, 2007 at 12:09:09
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for the Prelude Deluxe Cleaning System

First off - if you're looking for a review of how this record cleaning system made my records "sound", look elsewhere!

I've always been amazed at reviews of record cleaners that go on about how the cleaning fluids impacted things such as soundstaging, high-end/bass response, etc. Record cleaning fluids, in my opinion, should not have a "sound" - if they do, they're not being fully removed. For me, record cleaning systems should lower the noise floor and result in no residue remaining on the LP - plain and simple.

With that out of the way - some quick bacground. I've owned a wide variety of gear over the years, ranging from total junk to "wow, I could have bought a decent car for this". About two years ago I settled on downsizing to a mid-fi system and have spent my time listening to records ever since instead of listening to the gear.

No matter at what level you're playing the analog game, a record cleaning system is vital if you're going to really enjoy it. Over the years, I've used cleaning fluids from Disc Doctor, VPI, Nitty Gritty, and, most recently, RRL. I had settled on the RRL with the Disc Doctor Brushes in conjunction with a VPI 16.5 as the best out there in my price range.

I was wrong...

The Walker Audio Prelude system is, by far, the best system I have ever used - with one caveat that I'll get to in a second. The bottom line is that used records cleaned with the Prelude System have consistently resulted in much quieter playback. Records that I've cleaned multiple times with RRL that were still noisy have been greatly improved with the Prelude System.

I'm getting zero residue buildup on my stylus. However, to be fair, I never did with the RRL system either. The Prelude system is obviously removing gunk from the groove that multiple cleaning with the RRL system left behind.

The Deluxe system comes with 3 brushes that work very very well - as good as the Disc Doctor brushes in my opinion and the pads are easier to change. I wish, though, that one of these brush manufacturers would make a brush the actual width of the record! The caveat I mentioned above is that I do not like the use of the Prelude brush with the ultra pure water rinse.

I found it nearly impossible to distribute the rinse water with the supplied brush. I instead have had great success by gently applying an AudioQuest CF brush to the spinning record on the VPI, and slowly dropping a bead of the rinse water on the surface of the LP from label to outer rim. It works perfectly and distributes the water evenly in the grooves.

Overall - I highly recommend the Walker Prelude system to anyone that takes cleaning records seriously. A solid 9 out of 10 in my book!

Cleaning Method Used:

1 Starting on Side 1, CF-Brush to remove large debris, repeat on Side 2
2 Wet bottom of Brush 1 with mixed Enzyme Solution
3 Starting on Side 2, liberally spread solution on LP Surface
4 Allow 30-45 seconds for Enzymes to work, lightly scrub LP
5 Place LP on VPI and remove foam with Brush 1 / Vacuum 4 revolutions
6 Remove LP from VPI, wet bottom of Brush 2 with Cleaning Solution
7 Liberally spread Cleaning Solution with Brush 2
8 Allow 15-30 seconds for Cleaning Solution to work, lightly scrub LP
9 Place LP on VPI and remove foam with Brush 2 / Vacuum 4 revolutions
10 Place CF-Brush 3 on spinning LP, apply bead of Pure Rinse Water
11 Lightly work rinse water into grooves / Vacuum 2-4 revolutions
12 Rinse again (repeat steps 8 & 9)
13 Repeat steps 1-10 for Side 1
14 Displace static with Zerostat and place in clean sleeve

Product Weakness:	Supplied brush does not work well with Pure Water Rinse.<br>Take about 4-5 minutes per side to clean.
Product Strengths:	Cleans better than any other system I've used.<br>No residue remains on the LP.<br>Reasonably priced.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Outlaw Audio RR2150
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): KAB SL-1200MK2
Speakers: NHT Classic 3's & Outlaw LFM-2 Sub
Cables/Interconnects: Zu Audio Oxyfuel / Julian
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Classic Rock
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Outlaw Audio RR2150
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	KAB SL-1200MK2
Speakers:	NHT Classic 3's & Outlaw LFM-2 Sub
Cables/Interconnects:	Zu Audio Oxyfuel / Julian
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Classic Rock
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner