Record player accessories - vinyl care
A record brush is the cheapest upgrade a system can make - and also the most frequently neglected. Anyone who buys a cartridge for several hundred euros and then has it scanned with dust-laden grooves is wasting money both sonically and economically: dust between the diamond and groove grinds on both, audibly as crackling and background noise, invisibly as permanent wear. This is where the Ortofon Record Brush comes in with its consistent choice of materials and well thought-out design - developed by a design studio that is responsible for Ortofon's most important cartridges.
Danish industrial designer Møller Jensen Innovation and Design created the Record Brush - the same studio that designed the award-winning MC Jubilee, the Kontrapunkt series, the 2M series and the Concorde MkII series. This is not a marketing platitude, but a design decision that makes a statement: a brush that comes from the same company as the cartridges it is supposed to protect has the same design and functional self-image. The result is a brush that immediately feels right in the hand - balanced, easy to grip, clear to use.
Carbon fiber bristles
Two rows of firmly bonded carbon fibers - reach deep into the groove geometry without endangering vinyl or diamond
Conductive plastic
Injection-molded housing made of antistatic conductive plastic - dissipates electrostatic charge instead of accumulating it
Award design
Designed by Møller Jensen - the design studio behind MC Jubilee, 2M Series and Concorde MkII
Carbon fiber is the superior bristle material for record brushes - for several reasons. The fibers are extremely thin, typically 5 to 8 microns in diameter, making them narrower than the narrowest part of a vinyl groove. They physically penetrate deeper into the groove geometry than any natural hair material and mechanically loosen dust particles where they are harmful to the sound: directly at the bottom of the groove. At the same time, carbon fibers are electrically conductive - they directly dissipate the electrostatic charge built up by friction during scanning before it can accumulate on the record.
The Ortofon Record Brush combines this effect with a housing made of conductive plastic: the entire antistatic system - fiber, holder, handle - forms a continuous discharge path for electrostatic charge. The result is a plate that is measurably less charged after cleaning, attracts less dust and is quieter under the needle. Anyone who listens directly before and after brushing will immediately understand the difference: more blackness between the notes, less crackling, a tidier sound.
The two-part design of the Record Brush is a design achievement in itself: minimum number of parts, maximum functionality. The handle made of conductive injection-molded plastic holds the brush head, which snaps into place and locks with a sliding mechanism - no wobbling, no unintentional opening. The red protective cap performs a dual function: it protects the sensitive carbon fibers when the brush is not in use and at the same time cleans the brush head of accumulated dust when it is attached. A well thought-out mechanism that elegantly integrates the care of the brush itself into its use.
The concept is rounded off by molded-in details, a lanyard hole for convenient storage and a non-slip surface. The brush lies securely and effortlessly in the hand - even after years of daily use. It is clear to see that Møller Jensen, the studio behind some of the most important pickup designs in analog history, has applied the same level of care to this seemingly simple brush.
Place the record on the turntable, start the record player, place the brush lightly on top - as the record spins, the carbon fibers glide through the grooves and transport dust to the record surface, where it is picked up by the brush body. After two to three rotations, slowly guide the brush radially outwards to remove the collected dust from the record. Done. The same procedure is recommended after listening, before returning the record to the sleeve. Then replace the protective cap - the brush head is ready and cleaned for the next use.
| Manufacturer: Ortofon |
Ortofon (Denmark) |
| Model |
Record Brush |
| Design by |
Møller Jensen Innovation and Design (Denmark) |
| Bristle material |
Carbon fiber, firmly bonded, two rows |
| Housing material |
Injection-molded conductive plastic (antistatic) |
| Antistatic |
Yes - continuous discharge path via fiber and housing |
| Construction |
Two-piece - brush body + protective cap with cleaning function |
| Locking mechanism |
Slide lock - engages securely, does not open unintentionally |
| Special features |
Cast-in details, lanyard hole, protective cap cleans brush head when attached |
| Cleaning method |
Dry cleaning with rotating plate |
| Compatibility |
All records - LP (33 rpm), single (45 rpm), 78s |
| Color |
Black / Red (protective cap) |