Kirmuss Audio KA-RC-1 Ultimate Ultrasonic Vinyl Restoration System

During AXPONA 2018, I was introduced to Kirmuss Audio’s KA-RC-1 Ultimate Ultrasonic Vinyl Restoration System. The $970 KA-RC-1 system incorporates ultrasonic cleaning in a more involved “vinyl-restoration” process, which Kirmuss Audio has developed. The restoration process is the subject of this review. 

The KA-RC-1 system comprises an ultrasonic cleaning unit, a patented record washer assembly and sonic-control process, a drain hose, and an AC power cord. The ultrasonic cleaning unit is a custom OEM model modified by Kirmuss to Kirmuss specifications, approximately 21.3″ x 13.3″ x 10.9″ with an IEC AC power inlet and a power switch on the rear. There is a valve on the lower right front to control a drain on the lower forward right side. Also on the right side is a 3.5 mm power jack for the record washer assembly. The stainless-steel ultrasonic tub is visible from the top. On the top right a control panel allows you to start, stop, and adjust ultrasonic operation-time/type. The control-panel’s display also has a color-coded bar for temperature monitoring. The record washer assembly contains slots to support up to four records—two 12″, one 10″, one 7″. (Note: the 10″ slot is configured for 78rpm records.) It will also handle shellac and transcription records. The patented record-washer assembly contains a series of gears, a drive belt, and a sealed motor tucked underneath the top cover. Each record slot has a set of felt assemblies to support records and prevent excess liquid from leaking out during vinyl rotation in the cleaning cycle. 

The supplied, and necessary, accessories include: an anti-bacterial/anti-static/ionizing surfactant solution in a small spray bottle, an optician’s microfiber cloth, a combination carbon-fiber and parasitic felt brush, a goat hair brush, a felt mat, a microfiber “Rabbit” cloth, and a non-alcohol-based liquid stylus cleaner. Also included in the package I received were a re-supply container filled with the anti-bacterial/anti-static solution and a KA-RS-1 record platter (which can be used to hold the record during cleaning). To proceed with the KA-RC-1 system’s restoration process, the user will need to purchase distilled water (approx. 1.75 U.S. gallons used), 70% isopropyl alcohol (1.4 ounces used) and one additional spray bottle to fill with distilled water.

The KA-RC-1 system arrived with instructions for use. Towards the end of the evaluation period, the instructions were updated, which added an additional selection to make before proceeding with one of two cleaning processes. This evaluation is based on instructions in the version 8.4 of the owner’s manual (there has since been a version 10). For readers interested in the KA-RC-1 (or for its owners), regular periodic visits to the Kirmuss website for online manual updates are suggested. Because the owner’s manual is filled with many steps, I’d suggest reading through it several times to grasp the process, which is pretty involved but straightforward once understood. With that said, there are sections of the KA-RC-1 restoration process that require user judgment before moving on to the next step. Specifically, the user must determine visually when all the contaminants and residual release agents have been removed from the grooves so that he can proceed to the next (polishing) step. In order to allow space for describing the results achieved, the steps and process will be briefly covered in this report. The user is encouraged to visit the Kirmuss Audio website to get more detail, read the user manual, and view training videos.

System Preparation
A preparation process is required each time the KA-RC-1 system is used. The process begins with adding approximately 1.75 gallons of distilled water to the stainless-steel ultrasonic basin followed by 1.4 ounces of 70% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol kills any dormant or live fungus removed by the process, and is not part of the cleaning agent. The Ultrasonic washer assembly is turned on, and a one minute and thirty-six-second pulse cycle (to de-gas the water/alcohol solution) is activated. This pulse cycle is repeated a second time. This removes any air that has been introduced in the basin when being filled. Air in the water reduces the cavitation effect and its efficiency. Once the second pulse cycle is completed, the record washer assembly (the device that holds the records) is placed on top of the ultrasonic washer and plugged into the 3.5mm power jack. The unit is now ready for record-groove restoration.

Restoration Process
To start the restoration process, the ultrasonic washer is set to a five-minute cycle and the record is placed in the proper rotating slot; the record should be rotating during the process when properly seated. Upon completion, the record is removed and sprayed with the anti-bacterial/anti-static record-ionizing solution in three locations (12, 4, and 8 o’clock). The goat hair brush is used to work the solution into the grooves of the record. The spray process is repeated for the other side of the record. The record is then placed into the ultrasonic washer for a second five-minute cycle. At the end of the second five-minute cycle, the user has to make his first decision.

According to the user manual, if the record has large sheets of water or hundreds of water droplets remaining on its surface, the user proceeds to implement a total of 5-to-6 two-minute wash cycles (anti-bacterial/anti-static solution and goat hair brush followed by a two-minute wash). During this process a “toothpaste-like” material forms after application of the anti-bacterial/anti-static solution with the goat hair brush. This is material that the ultrasonic cavitation has softened and dislodged, and then brought to the surface via the goat-hair brush. If there continues to be toothpaste-like material during final cycle, another cycle should remove it. 

After the anti-bacterial/anti-static solution, it is time to move on to the final steps, which Kirmuss calls polishing. These include placing the record on the KA-RS-1 record platter (or felt mat), spraying it with a very light mist of distilled water, wiping the record with the optician’s microfiber cloth, polishing the grooves with the felt side of the carbon-fiber/felt brush, followed by polishing it with the carbon-fiber side, and repeating this process for side two of the record. Next, the owner’s manual says to place the dried record onto a turntable and spray the goat-hair brush with a small mist of the same anti-bacterial/anti-static solution. With the record spinning on the turntable, the user moves the goat hair brush across the record several times. Repeat for side two. At this point, the manual says the restoration process is complete. There are additional suggestions for record maintenance following the restoration process.

Cleanup
The owner’s manual warns against keeping water in the ultrasonic washer tank overnight. The unit has to be drained and cleaned at the end of the day after each restoration session. The process includes draining the water from the tank, wiping the tank with the 70% isopropyl alcohol-damped Rabbit cloth, removing the felt assemblies from the record washer slots, rinsing them with a light mist of distilled water, patting them dry with the Rabbit cloth, and then letting them air dry before reinserting them into the record washer assembly. The user must also rinse the underside of the record washer assembly and use the Rabbit cloth to dry it. The water may be drained from the unit and returned to the original containers, but must be used within one day (or a maximum of 15 records) to prevent fungus from growing in it. 

Observations
The KA-RC-1 system is unlike other record cleaners. There are many steps and decisions to be made in the groove restoration process that require user engagement during the hands-on process. Several 12″ records were given the Kirmuss restoration treatment. In all but one case, the 4-to-5 five-minute process was used—only one 2-LP used record boxset required the 5-to-6 two-minute cycles. 

One of the notes in the KA-RC-1 owner’s manual informs the user to quit using the unit after 35 minutes of nonstop operation to allow a 10 minute cool-down (the top cover is removed for this cool-down). In one instance, on an autumn day, the temperature monitor moved to the high temperature mode during a multiple LP cleaning session. When this occurred, the temperature inside the room was near 76 degrees. The cool-down process listed in the owner’s manual requires removing the top cover and letting the water temperature decrease until the monitor bar shows an acceptable color. This is said to take 10–15 minutes. The cool-down on this autumn day required a little more time than specified—closer to 20 minutes. After that cool-down, the restoration process continued without further issue. 

Because of the ultrasonic cavitation heats the water, the parts of the records immersed in the water will thermally expand as they do with other cleaning units (this is normal thermodynamics), while the portion of the record in the air will want to retract to normal. The result is a slight bit of expansion and retraction visible during the cleaning process as a mild warp. When the record is removed and reaches room temperature, it returns to its normal state.

When compared to other methods used to clean records, the KA-RC-1 system yielded results that ranged from no sonic changes to a more open sound. In one case, an album of Mahler’s Fifth produced a much more spacious sound with excellent instrumental timbre. The entire soundstage was more clearly audible to the point of near-supernatural reproduction of instrument placement. However, this same performance lost a noticeable amount of initial transient information. Moreover, upon removal of the album from the turntable, the cartridge contained a healthy amount of white crud pulled from the grooves. The KA-RC-1 owner’s manual points out that when this happens, the record needs to go through another cleaning process. This LP met the criteria for completing the first round of the two-minute cycles. Even though this record didn’t produce any toothpaste material during the second round of 5-to-6 two-minute cycles, the entire process was applied a second time. Upon playing the record, the white crud showed up again. Instead of doing a third set of two-minute cycles, the album was subjected to a single five-minute final cycle without any of the anti-bacterial/anti-static solution added. After this replay there was zero white crud from the grooves. In addition, the initial transient information missing prior to the final extended five-minute ultrasonic wash was restored. Subjectively, it appears the final cycle needs to be longer than two minutes when that cleaning cycle is used. Perhaps the manufacturer can shed some light on this observation. It should be noted, that this was specific only to the multiple two-minute cycle process. Finally, note that the stylus profile used to play the restored records (line-contact) falls into the high-precision category (along with micro-ridge, microline, and Shibata) that provides more intimate contact with the groove walls.

Conclusion
At an affordable price of $970 for a restoration system that incorporates ultrasonic cleaning, the KA-RC-1 gave expected audible results when a record was “cleaned.” The process worked with some reservations. The first reservation (the accumulation of toothpaste-like goop on the stylus) was lessened with a longer final five-minute ultrasonic cleaning cycle after the multiple two-minute processes. The second reservation is allocating the time it takes to complete the restoration process along with the necessary preparation and cleanup. For those of us with busy schedules, a dedicated day may be required to utilize (and maximize) the KA-RC-1 restoration process when cleaning multiple records. With each record requiring several minutes to process (only two 12″ records can be ultrasonically cleaned at one time—three 12″ records with the model made for Upscale Audio), inclusive of the initial 5-minute start cycle to polishing finish, a certain level dedication is required to use the Kirmuss. If you can devote the time and energy needed to get the best of this restoration process, you should seek out a demo and give the KA-RC-1 vinyl restoration system a try. It works, if you have the time and patience to use it properly.

Specs & Pricing

Type: Ultrasonic record cleaning system
Dimensions: 21.3″ x 13.3″ x 10.9″
Weight: 21.6 lbs.
Price: $970

KIRMUSSAUDIO DIV. OF 
KIRMUSS & ASSOCIATES, LLC
51 West 84th Ave., Suite 301
Denver, Colorado 80260
(303) 263-6353
kirmussaudio.com
ckirmuss@frontier.net