Reddit mentions of Hunt: EDA Mark 6 Carbon Fiber Record Brush

No. Get an actual record brush. Like this Hunt brush

I have a generic version of this brush. It works pretty well for surface dust.

www.amazon.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/dp/B001A9ST2G

If you want a deeper clean a DIY vaccuum wand is a good place to start.

Just started using the Hunt EDA Mark 6. Very happy with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/dp/B001A9ST2G

Clean, clean, clean. And not just dollar bin finds, or records when you can visibly see dust. Serious collectors spend $$$$ on crazy contraptions, bu there are plenty of cheaper options.

An anti-static brush is not an option. There are plenty out there. I use this one. Place it on the record while it's spinning, and let it hang under it's own weight (i.e. don't put down) for a few rotations. Scrape and dust off of the bristles and do it again. Do this before and after you play each side.

There are lots of solutions and cleansers, some specifically made for vinyl, some general cleansers, some homemade, that are touted as the best way to clean records short of buying a $5000 machine. And a raging debate regarding isopropyl alcohol. Because I prefer to avoid the pain of rinsing, I like cleaners that evaporate/wipe off without leaving residue. I like Lasermedia VNC-8 personally. Ammonia and alcohol free. In between the obligatory anti-static brushings, I spray the record with this, spread across the surface as evenly as I can with one microfiber cloth (call this one the 'wet' cloth, then I use a cleaning brush firm enough to put some reasonable downforce on the surface, then 'wet' microfiber cloth again and then another ('dry') microfiber cloth, by which point most of the solution should have evaporated or been dried by the second cloth. When using cloths and brushes, I always start from the edge of the record and move inwards, following the path of the groove. Never against or parallel to the grooves.

Old, used records obviously should be cleaned before being played, as is true of any records that you've let get dirty/haven't cleaned thoroughly in a while, but new records need a cleaning too. Perhaps not so vigorously, but there are chemicals, residue, and other unwanted debris that can remain from the pressing process.

I know it all seems tedious, but it protects your records (playing a dirty record can permanently damage the surface) and your stylus. Plus they'll sound better. Isn't that the whole point?

> but should I be brushing my records for dust before each play?

It's a good idea. Also before doing a wet clean. Get a carbon fiber brush. I'm using something very similar to this Record Doctor one, but I've also heard very good things about this one from Hunt.

So the bristles are made of carbon fiber... those wipe out dust. The velvet on the spin clean "digs" deep into the grooves combined with distilled water for a much more thorough cleaning. I use this brush on records I've already given a wet clean. It's a better design imo.

I just use a brush I got off Amazon...but I do passes on my records until I don't see anything visible being picked up (sometimes 5+ full rotations)

Hunt: EDA Mark 6 Carbon Fiber Record Brush https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001A9ST2G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qK9WCb36TXPQH

This is the one. I like it cuz it has felt between the bristles on either side. I have one without felt and it doesn't do near a good as job. Reviews be damned.

Theres more expensive options but they use liquid and usually means cleaning all your records at once to make it worth doing.

Just because you mentioned Hunt brushes ... is this the one you have?

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B001A9ST2G/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_4nzQwbB8JDF9Z

I was looking to purchase one and this is by far the cheapest one I found that seems to be of high-quality. I'm hesitating between this and the Audioquest one.

Dust won't ruin a record, but you probably should invest in a record brush so that you can clean off surface dust before playing your records. There's plenty of choices out there but this is the one I prefer: https://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/dp/B001A9ST2G

There are more expensive brushes, I have also seen people here recommend the Hunt record brush. It is $30, so it is not the "ballin' on a budget brush", but if you have extra cash go for it!

I'm not too sure about the brush scratching records (although I hear a bit of bristles breaking off), but I would assume misuse of any brush will damage records.

Amazon link There's a large felt block in the middle of the brush that the audioquest style brushes don't have. So while the bristles pickup dust, this big pad glides along the record surface collecting anything that broke away from the bristles. You also use the weight of the brush for cleaning, instead of pressing down you just hold it in place while the record spins. Keeps the bristles from fraying like on the audioquest.

Toke a bit, throw the record on the 'table, hit it with the brush (Hunt EDA Mark VI - it's amazing, thank me later) and sit back and listen.

Beyond that, just depends on the day. If I'm doing nighttime headphone listening, I'll usually end up falling in and don't dink around on my phone or anything.

My absolute favorite is to crank up the speakers and clean the house, specifically sweep/mop the floors. There is much jamming to be had.

Ooh la la! Impress all of your friends with this Mr. Fancy Pants record brush. The ladies will want to be with you and the guys will want to be you. Check the graph! https://camelcamelcamel.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/product/B001A9ST2G?active=price_amazon&context=popular

Google homemade recipes if you want to go that route. Also you should use a brush before each play. I prefer the Hunt. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/social/swf/B001A9ST2G/o=ShareProduct/ref=tsm_1_aw_swf_d_sp?vs=1

Get yourself a good record cleaning brush if you don't have one. Avoid the "Vinyl Style" brand. I recommend the Hunt EDA Mark 6: https://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/dp/B001A9ST2G

Bonus that it's on sale!

Some great headphone.
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000ULAP4U

Record brush
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-LP-record-clean-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A9ST2G/

Record Cleaner
http://www.amazon.com/SPIN-CLEAN-STARTER-RECORD-WASHER-SYSTEM

Been using this one for a year, carbon. Hasn't shed a single hair.

http://www.amazon.com/Vinyl-Styl-Static-Carbon-Record/dp/B00C4UBQ2U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419652154&sr=8-1&keywords=vinyl+styl+carbon+fiber

More money:

http://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/dp/B001A9ST2G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419652193&sr=8-1&keywords=hunt+eda

Like this?

I just purchased my first vinyl and audio system. Waiting for it all to arrive but is there anything I need to do to the record itself before playing it? Some people seem to wash it/clean it first even with brand new vinyl. I bought a Vinyl Buddy. I've also heard this Hunt Carbon Fiber Brush is a must have but I've just spent a ton on this equipment so not ready to buy that yet.

Any other process to do before playing a brand new record? I got mofi sleeves because I heard the regular ones can damage the vinyl.

One of these works wonders

I'm not a fan of just the brushes with just carbon fiber bristles.

The experience has been good overall.

The built in preamp is good but the level is still not as high as you might like, so in the Sonos settings the line input level for the connect has to be more or less all the way to the top (resulting level is loud enough at ~2/3 volume for the two gen1 Play5s to fill the combined lounge/dining/kitchen area). Not a problem at all for how I want to use it, and turned up unbearably loud the sound is still really clear (definitely recommend cleaning your records before each play, I use a carbon fibre brush like this).

Sonos' detection of the line in seems to be good too, switching the turntable on reliably turns the Play5s to the streamed line input. No problems with dropouts with uncompressed audio (that said, the connect and left channel are both hardwired, and the right channel is using my WiFi, not SonosNet).

I'm definitely considering a Sub now given the size of the room, but it's hard to decide between it and more speakers to just have music in more rooms.

Well, you could just get a brush: www.amazon.com/Hunt-Carbon-Fiber-Record-Brush/dp/B001A9ST2G/

Or you could go all out and get a Spin Clean: http://www.amazon.com/SPIN-CLEAN-STARTER-RECORD-WASHER-SYSTEM/dp/B002UKSZUU/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_z

Or a Disc washer: http://www.amazon.com/RCA-RD-1006-Discwasher-Record-System/dp/B000KMZKTO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1411660898&sr=1-1&keywords=record+cleaner

There's plenty of options, but at the least I recommend a carbon fiber brush.