The history of vibratory needle cleaners dates back to the 1970s. There were devices from various companies that used high frequency, transmitted through a liquid, to remove the contaminants from the needle. After the appearance of the CD and declining turntable sales in the 80s and especially the 90s, these devices disappeared from the market. To the chagrin of many record listeners, this was not reissued due to the high cost. FLUX-Hifi has taken up this idea with the FLUX-Sonic and redeveloped the technology. The result is fantastic!

The FLUX-Sonic needle cleaner was developed to gently, safely and quickly remove stuck dirt from the turntable needle with the help of targeted vibrations. Targeted vibration ensures residue-free cleaning.

Removing the scanning stylus is not necessary for this. The application is simple and works on any turntable. FLUX-Sonic can be used as often as desired. It is recommended to use it before each playback operation. The cleaning fluid FLUX-Fluid is also available individually in 15ml vials. Rediscover your record collection!

The cleaning

The pickup needle is the primary component in the playback process. The movement that later induces voltage is created here. The aim is to follow the groove exactly in the micrometer range. In order to achieve this perfectly, pickup manufacturers go to great lengths.

However, if the needle is dirty, the diamond – no matter how polished and ground it is – cannot follow the deflection exactly. It reacts too early or too late, distortions occur. Even supposedly clean records are covered with dust, sometimes visible, sometimes invisible in the groove. It contains particles of silicates, polymers and organic substances. These stick to the needle due to the high temperature during the scanning process. Already after playing one side of a record, almost nothing of the needle is recognizable from dirt. Fibers are removed, but the encrustation remains.

Only an aggressive liquid cleaner provides a reasonably cleaned surface of the diamond. However, since these cleaners can attack not only the adhesive of the diamond but also, and above all, the sensitive rubber parts of the needle carrier suspension, caution is advised here. Without attacking parts of the pickup, the result is excellent. The needle shines in new splendor.

The principle of action is similar to that of an ultrasonic cleaner used in dental technology or an ultrasonic bath for eyeglass lenses. A strong high-frequency vibration ensures cleaning of surfaces. Some materials, for example aluminum, are damaged by ultrasonic treatment. Even if the diamond were perfectly cleaned, the bonding points as well as the suspension of the needle carrier would be damaged, as would the use of aggressive liquid cleaners.

The FLUX-Sonic vibration cleaner, on the other hand, operates at a low frequency. The circuitry and mechanics are designed in such a way that a three-dimensional vibration acts on the needle, ensuring that any dirt particles are removed. The frequency is precisely adjusted so that damage to the bonding or suspension is excluded – but the cleaning result is maximum. The deflections are far from the values of the actual scanning. The movement of the needle therefore corresponds to only a fraction of the load of the playback process.

A liquid is required to transfer the vibration from the device to the needle. This has an additional, gentle cleaning effect and is made on an isopropanol basis. After application, it volatilizes without leaving any residue. FLUX-Fluid is applied on a specially designed pad made of finest PE fibers. Already these fibers create a capillary effect due to their number and the resulting density, which is very similar to the effect of a liquid.

Combined with FLUX fluid, the result is a perfect combination that transmits the vibration and absorbs the dirt at the same time. It is recommended to use it before each playback.