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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional (2013 model) Turntables by bruckner9

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REVIEW: Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional (2013 model) Turntables

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Model: Double Matrix Professional (2013 model)
Category: Turntables
Suggested Retail Price: $4000
Description: Double sided automatic record cleaning machine, 2013 model
Manufacturer URL: Clearaudio
Model Picture: View

Review by bruckner9 on October 27, 2013 at 13:53:04
IP Address: 108.0.223.79
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for the Double Matrix Professional (2013 model)


Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional current 2013 model

A little background;

I have owned, bought, and sold many brands of record cleaning machines over the years, and still own a Loricraft PRC4, a VPI Typhoon, a VPI 17I, two Nitty Gritty Mini-Pro's, and the Disc Doctor brushes/fluids, etc, so my 'review' here will focus on how I perceive the Double Matrix Professional relative to my experiences with those machines.

Lemme start by saying that I've absolutely NEVER had so much 'fun' cleaning records as I'm having with this machine. I actually look forward to using it; every time I walk by it I grab another record or two, or 10! lol, to clean. I have over 28,000 records here…MOST of my uncleaned are just 'dusty', and don't really need heavy soaking/heavy scrubbing, although this unit can do that if needed, so for the vast majority of records here CONVENIENCE is THEE key for me…but i DO want a CLEAN record w/o ‘sacrificing’ sonics!

After using this thing for about 6 months now, I've concluded that there are some incredibly super duper aspects of the Double Matrix Pro, certainly as compared to the aforementioned units:

HUGE time savings:

Cleans two sides at once,thus it's already twice as fast as any single sided cleaning machine
Dries record edge. Huge convenience, and time savings
No 'platter' to have to clean when flipping over dirty records to clean side 2. Ditto on the convenience and time saving factor
Built in anti static arm. Another ditto on the convenience/time savings factor
Infinitely variable platter speed, which is MUCH more 'useful' than I would have thought
Super easy to use hold down clamp, which btw completely covers the entire label, unlike many other brands, AND it takes only one-quarter turn to unscrew
Fluid injects quickly
Bi-directional platter that reverses on a dime, etc

And…

SUPER quick, and SUPER convenient
Quiet. Only the monks/loricraft units are quieter
Stunning cosmetics, workmanship, and engineering
Scratch proof aluminum finish
Continuous use cooling fan...absolutely ZERO overheating issues
Heavy weighted 'push' fluid filler cap
Really long drain hose, which is REALLY much more convenient that the aforementioned units
Virtually no leaks/spills/mess anywhere

Cons:

Master power switch located on the rear. Can't see it from the front, thus can forget to turn 'off' the machine's master power switch, although I had gotten the hang of it by the second day.
Price. RELATIVELY speaking, it's priced 'right'. But yeah, it's not cheap!

Basically, to use the machine, just swing the upper vac arm to the left, swing the anti static arms to the right, place the record onto the center spindle, place the cap on it and give a quarter turn, hit the platter button, and the fluid button, then watch. Hit the reverse button if desired. Then when cleaned to your satisfaction, hit the vacuum button (or if you want to soak a record, just inject fluid, then turn off the platter and let it sit for as long as you desire.) After vacuuming dry, swing the anti static arms over onto the record and let it spin for a round or two, then voila, all done; The record is clean and dry (both sides), including the rim, and it’s been treated for static. Just place into a new clean inner sleeve and you’re done.

Since there’s no “platter” on the DMPro, there is no need to wipe it clean to remove the ‘dirt’ that the uncleaned side of the record has just laid down; no need to manually dry the edge lips of the record because the DM’s felt arms sorta wrap around the record edge during the vac stage; no need to dry the record label area that may have (and many times does) gotten wet from fluid, and no need to shoot the record with an external Zerostat or equivalent unit, due to the built-in anti static arms.

Both the platter revolutions and vacuum functions, are the quietest I’ve yet encountered, sans the newer hannl/monks/loricraft units. Turn the platter on and no 'grinding' sound heard in other brands. It just turns with a slight hum. And hit the vacuum button, and voila; again, the quietest of the 'wand' style units I’ve used.

So far, I’ve used three different ‘one-step’ cleaning fluids in the machine; the Nitty Gritty Pure 2, the Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions No 6, and the Musical Surroundings Record Time, and all three have shined. Virtually every record I’ve played after it’s been cleaned on the Double Matrix Pro has sounded squeaky clean, regardless of which fluid was being used at the time, so I can’t at this time recommend one of those over the other, although the Nitty Gritty Pure 2 seems to ‘flow’ better than the other two. And I haven’t used any home-brew fluid in this machine as of yet, but will soon.

Prior to obtaining this machine, I was a devotee of the 2 and 3 step cleaning methods via soaking, brushing, clear rinsing, repeating, et al. But after using the DMP for over 6 months now and comparing the results to records previously cleaned on my other machines, I’m ‘sold’ on the currently available ‘one-step’ fluid methods…certainly as used in this machine. I virtually cannot tell the difference between records cleaned here vs records cleaned on the other machines (that I had used a 2 or 3 step process on). And again, the HUGE, HUGE, HUGE convenience and time benefits this thing provides CANNOT be understated here. I’ve now cleaned over 500 records since owning this thing, and that is more than I had cleaned the past several years combined! I recently returned home with 20 'used' records, and in 30 minutes time I had cleaned ALL of them, placed them into new inner and outer sleeves, and was ready to PLAY them!!

I still love my VPI Typhoon; I love its large 'open' top deck, good for lots of elbow room, and wiping down, etc. And I love its 'built like a brick' quality. But again, for usage of any of the 'one step' cleaning fluids, in my experience, this is THEE best RCM for the job. Is it worth almost twice the cost of its main competition? Well, for me, unequivocally yes. It’s more than twice as fast, and more than twice as convenient overall. I've got thousands of records here that I’ve never even played just because I didn't have time to hassle cleaning them, but this machine has more than solved that problem.
Bottom line here is that the records I’m cleaning on the Double Matrix Professional are playing super QUIET. I virtually hear NO residual dirt or fluid, et al. So, IF the records cleaned on this machine are playing with super black backgrounds, and the music is sparkling as it should, what more SHOULD it be doing that it’s NOT doing, again, in comparison to the other machines? Records cleaned on this machine are sounding EVERY BIT as ‘clean’, in all aspects, as records cleaned on my Loricraft, VPI Typhoon, and Nitty Gritty Mini Pro’s, Disc Doctor pads, etc. Again, i cannot hear a difference, and trust, i have NO dog in this race, and would tell you if i did.

At this point, this is turning out to be THEE single ‘best’ audio purchase I’ve just about ever made, and trust me, I gotta lotta stuff! Lol. After all, EVERYTHING starts with the record itself. If the record is dirty, I don’t play it. And if I don’t play the record, I don’t listen to my audio system. So really, nuttin happens without a CLEAN record. This is as hassel-free, quick, and fun as I’ve EVER had cleaning records…and I’ve been cleaning records for well over 40 years.
And note: Any/all of the questions/inquiries I initially had on this machine were handled promptly, professionally, courteously, and thoroughly. Both my dealer and the U.S. importer/distributor were FANTASTIC to work with!! I have ZERO hesitation in recommending this unit to anyone, and certainly to those concerned with customer service/followup, etc. Also…I did get a pricing discount on my unit…didn’t pay $4000.

http://pinterest.com/msurroundings/clearaudio-double-matrix-professional-record-clean/


Product Weakness: Master power switch located on the rear. Can't see it from the front, thus can forget to turn 'off' the machine's master power switch, although I had gotten the hang of it by the second day.<br>Price. RELATIVELY speaking, it's priced 'right'. But yeah, it's not cheap!
Product Strengths: HUGE time savings:<br><br>Cleans two sides at once,thus it's already twice as fast as any single sided cleaning machine<br>Dries record edge. Huge convenience, and time savings<br>No 'platter' to have to clean when flipping over dirty records to clean side 2. Ditto on the convenience and time saving factor<br>Built in anti static arm. Another ditto on the convenience/time savings factor<br>Infinitely variable platter speed, which is MUCH more 'useful' than I would have thought<br>Super easy to use hold down clamp, which btw completely covers the entire label, unlike many other brands, AND it takes only one-quarter turn to unscrew<br>Fluid injects quickly<br>Bi-directional platter that reverses on a dime, etc<br><br>And…<br><br>SUPER quick, and SUPER convenient<br>Quiet. Only the monks/loricraft units are quieter<br>Stunning cosmetics, workmanship, and engineering<br>Scratch proof aluminum finish<br>Continuous use cooling fan...absolutely ZERO overheating issues<br>Heavy weighted 'push' fluid filler cap<br>Really long drain hose, which is REALLY much more convenient that the aforementioned units<br>Virtually no leaks/spills/mess anywhere


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Conrad Johnson Premier 11a
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Conrad Johnson Premier 14
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Roksan Xerxes X
Speakers: Audio Physic Virgo
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost, Morrow, et al
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All types
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional (2013 model) Turntables - bruckner9 13:53:04 10/27/13 ( 51)