News

"Kirmuss Restoration Process" Easier to See on an Edison Cylinder

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 23, 2021

Readers skeptical of the Kirmuss Vinyl Restoration process should examine the above photo. Lately Mr. Kirmuss has been using it to restore Edison cylinders. The results are easier to see here than on a vinyl record.

Kirmuss plans on demonstrating this process at the next ARSC (Association For Recorded Sound Collections virtual gathering. He says 30,000 cylinders are in need of restoration.

I can't see the restoration on vinyl records, but I can definitely hear it. Yes it's time consuming but on your most prized records it's well worth the effort, IMO.

COMMENTS
WallyTools - WAM Engineering LTD's picture
Submitted by WallyTools - WA... on Tue, 2021-02-23 14:27

It works as advertised! I sold my record vacuum the day after I got my system from Charles.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on Wed, 2021-02-24 00:39

I do appreciate Wally chiming in too. If both of you say YEAH! It's a YEAH!!

Kudos to AP's honesty and transparency!

vince's picture
Submitted by vince on Wed, 2021-02-24 13:46

I'd love to see a local record store offer the process for hire. It would be nice to bring some vinyl to the store and have them do the work and charge me for it. Much better than buying another record cleaner for those records that need it. As a bonus, the record store gets two visits from a person with a demonstrated interest in purchasing records. Seems like a win-win.

Nathan Zeller's picture
Submitted by Nathan Zeller on Wed, 2021-02-24 16:39

I'd also be interested in a service like that. I'm the kind of person who keeps a smaller collection, so buying the entire kit may not make sense for me.

BobBobby's picture
Submitted by BobBobby on Thu, 2021-02-25 09:46

Can it restore a damaged groove? Or is it a deep cleansing of the groove.

Russo7516's picture
Submitted by Russo7516 on Thu, 2021-02-25 14:19

Mike you haven't reviewed the I Sonic Cleaner. It can do 5 or Ten at a clip. The I Sonic has done wonders for my collection . The I Sonic body is the same as the Krimuss or UpScale Cleaner

bkinthebk's picture
Submitted by bkinthebk on Thu, 2021-02-25 15:15

between the Kirmuss system and the other brand name and/or DIY sonic cleaners? Is it the frequency difference? The special spray? The goat hair brush? The lab coat?

Speaking of which, the difference in frequencies among the popular cleaners is confusing to me. Why is one better than another and is there solid evidence that some frequencies do indeed damage the grooves? In my case, until I fully understand this I can’t imagine sticking my prized records in an ultra sonic cleaner when some say certain frequencies may damage the grooves and it’s not clear which frequencies those are. I’d hate to look back in 10 years and swear at myself for damaging my collection.

The claims and the price are very intriguing for the Kirmuss system (esp since MF is a big proponent) — the unknowns are not.

Also, does Kirmuss claim that my 3 step (enzyme, super cleaner, pure water) Audio Intelligent + VPI 16.5 process is either doing nothing or leaving deposits or doing damage?

Looking forward to seeing more extremely clear evidence from Kirmuss in the future. I don’t need science to convince me of every tweak, btw, but pricey cables don’t risk damage to my equipment or LPs.

weirdo12's picture
Submitted by weirdo12 on Sat, 2021-02-27 12:32

You should use Google or Bing or whatever internet search service you prefer - the answers to all of your questions are already readily available.

BobBobby's picture
Submitted by BobBobby on Thu, 2021-02-25 19:11

Carlos Santana. The best.

akubacki's picture
Submitted by akubacki on Fri, 2021-02-26 16:19

Is it the multiple rubbing with the brush with Propylene Glycol or the multiple ultrasonic treatments? This is like the ED adds in magazines...until he gets an independent lab (Underwriters, Consumer Reports, RIAA)to confirm his assertions, I am a sceptic!
I do thing the USC machine with its transport is the only "real" thing that works.

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on Tue, 2021-04-06 04:44

I've pared down my collection to about 1k lps and have done my entire collection with the Kirmuss using a mix of about 98% distilled water, 2% IPA, .1% Triton X-100 and Behentrimonium as a quat. I use a 5 minute spin and they come out clean and static free. I only use the Kirmuss surfactant on the occassional used lp that has some surface noise that require a rescue attempt as it's a PIA to use but can be effective often with some noticeable results.

In his usual hyperbolic way Charles Kirmuss doesn't believe anyone should be mixing their own cleaning products and calls audio forums "dangerous" (he's said so in a recent e-mail to me) and should only use the product & RCM in the prescribed method. My response to him was "how man of us can spend half an hour cleaning every record in our collection?".

Hyperbole aside the machine is great, the surfactant works but is a PIA to use and my records sound great.

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