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Onzow has wreaked havoc with my record listening! I have a respectable system (Linn LP12 Akurate with Hercules II PSU, Linn Ittok arm and Linn Karma cartridge, running through a Linn Linto MC preamp giving line level to my Genelec 1032/7070 system in a sound-treated room), and following a work-enforced listening break I had a hankering to hear a 1979 single I'd ripped to digital years before on an earlier and simpler Linn. The ripped song sounded OK, but I wanted to hear it on the uprated Linn and I dug it out and played it, and - horrors! Crazy distortion! I couldn't understand it. The single had been stored with others in a record case in a slightly record-hostile loft, but even after careful application of the carbon fibre bush and Onzow stylus cleaner, there was no improvement. I even bought an example of the album from eBay, and that sounded worse! Now, before my break I'd been playing a few records and using the Onzow, thinking it was a smart idea, but it seems it did add residue to my Karma stylus that not only built-up, but then hardened into something truly terrible for music reproduction. After a few more informative You Tube videos I tried something I'd never done - using a short-bristle carbon fibre brush moistened with isopropyl alcohol, I carefully brush-cleaned my stylus. The result: instant improvement! Significantly less distortion. I did it again and got a further improvement. Jeez! Those who know such stuff understand that the Karma cartridge is very much a legacy model, but it's beautiful-sounding, and as mine hasn't had loads of use, it's still excellent. In the many years I've had it (including in the previous, simpler LP12) it's always been consistently wonderful, but the Onzow swiftly reduced it to sounding like a badly-mistracking heap - I am genuinely astounded. I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to suspect the Onzow had I not seen the You Tube video about the Onzow by 'The Vinyl Attack', so huge thanks go to him, and this is definitely a cautionary tale to all vinyl fans. It's entirely possible that residue build-up will happen so gradually that a progressively worsening listening experience may be barely noticeable until you suddenly think your cartridge has died a death, when all it needs is a stylus cleaning - or, preferably, not being exposed to contaminating residues in the first place. I cannot stress this enough - after 2 decades of joy from my Karma, within months I was thinking I'd need to replace it - and that wouldn't be cheap! I'm also greatly angered that an apparently innocuous stylus cleaning product can perniciously wreck listening pleasure and give the impression that a cartridge is dying. After all, we can't all stick our stylii under a microscope to check for residue build-up, nor should we even expect it. Onzow clearly hadn't done any long-term testing of the effects of protracted use of their gel, and shame on them for omitting this before releasing it to the market. In light of my experience of 20 years of perfect reproduction followed by a few months of rapid Onzow-induced decline, I would advise all record fans to AVOID GEL STYLUS CLEANERS like the plague! You'd be far better-off sticking to the tried-and-trusted method of blowing over the stylus before each record playing! Caveat emptor!Read full review
Verified purchase: No
This Is great product works just like It says It will. The Bottom of the Box or Lid could do with being Fatter though Or Flat. So You don't have to glue a Piece of wood to the Bottom to It bring up to the right height (Technics 1210mk2) see photos. As You have to put It on the Turntable this could be bad If It turns suddenly tearing out the Stylus. Other than that It Is a step up from Magic Eraser.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I have used different brushes, compressed air (gently of course) and those got the stylus clean but still left alot of dust. The Onzow stylus cleaner gets all the dust and is so easy to use. I recommend this product to anyone serious about vinyl. Makes a huge difference.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I've owned vinyl for over 40 years. I've always been very diligent about cleaning the stylus before I play an album using a stylus brush. Even after using the stylus brush, after a while some gunk builds up on it that the brush does not remove. This comes through the speakers as distortion because the stylus is not fully in contact with the groove of the record. At this point I had found it easiest to remove the stylus, and using a magnifier with a bright light, clean the needle tip using my stylus brush. Ugh! What a pain. Not anymore! This product is better than claimed. (I guess they should put more exclamation points at the end of every listed benefit). Seriously though, I no longer use the stylus brush. This product cleans the stylus 100% by simply dropping the stylus on this clear blob. That's it. They even build in a magnifying glass so you can view the stylus before and after. I've only owned this a couple of months, so I can't vouch on it's longer term effectiveness or how easy it is to clean. At this point I have no concerns. At least I know the first point of the audio chain is the best it can be, and I couldn't say that before. And that's all I have to say about that. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
evaluate audio prototypes, act as a judge, and write reviews for magazines. Thanks to this, I have made many friends in the audio world, and a lot of people who share the same interest come to my listening room. Mr. John M. Argle of JBL was one of them.Since my school days, I have been pursuing my ideal sound by handcrafting tape recorders, amplifiers, and speakers. Even today, I continue to make speakers. Recently, I finally completed my life's work of researching the MFB speaker system and am now taking a break. As for amplifiers, many manufacturers have started producing great ones, so I shifted my focus to evaluation and criticism. While I did not personally make cartridges by hand, I have accumulated many valuable cartridges and rare prototypes from past generations over more than half a century of audio research. I am proud to say that all of these cartridges are in playable condition. I do not use liquid cleaners to clean my cartridges, but rather ONZOWZERODUST, which I have been using since its introduction. The main reason is that it can be easily and safely cleaned, and records can be played immediately after cleaning, making it very convenient. I used to struggle with cleaning cartridges using brushes and other methods, so I was thrilled when this product came out. I have recently come across some critical posts about ONZOWZERODUST. In all my years of experience, I have never observed any residue from ONZOWZERODUST on the stylus, as some critical reviewers have noted. The safety of ONZOWZERODUST is evident, and I want to reassure you that there is nothing to worry about when using it with common sense. In other words, it will not deteriorate unless intentionally exposed to sunlight,UV irradiation, or washed with hot water. However, since it is a cleaning product, it is necessary to replace it when it becomes difficult to remove dust and dirt after a certain amount of use.The recommended replacement period is 5 to 7 years. This consideration is important to ensure the longevity of your precious stylus. Having worked for an automobile manufacturer until retirement age, I have acquired knowledge about materials such as metals and synthetic resins while handling various parts. Like all audio products, please store and use ONZOWZERODUST with care. I hope you will be able to enjoy your music with your favorite stylus as long as I have.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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