A farewell with dignity - and a new beginning at the highest level
Twenty years. Tens of thousands of cleaned records. Countless hours in the service of music.
Our Hannl Mera record washing machine has given everything a machine can give - and now it's time to say goodbye.
It is one of those moments in the life of a record dealer that is both sad and exciting at the same time. Sad, because a loyal companion is leaving. Exciting, because what's coming is the best the market currently has to offer.
Thank you, Hannl Mera - a legend is retiring
The Hannl Mera was not just an appliance for us. It was the heart of our panel cleaning system. Developed and manufactured in Germany, the Hannl Mera has stood for reliable, gentle wet cleaning of vinyl for decades. With its proven suction arm principle, it has accompanied us through two decades of daily operation - without grumbling, without complaining.
Anyone who regularly buys or sells records knows that a clean record is the cornerstone of an optimal sound experience.
Dust, fingerprints and dirt embedded in the grooves are the biggest enemies of good sound. This is exactly where the Hannl Mera has been doing its job reliably for decades. It has rescued rarities, helped new records to sound their best and given thousands of records a second life.
What a professional record washing machine has to do
Different standards apply in the everyday life of a record dealer than in the listening room at home. A machine not only has to clean well - it has to work reliably every day and under heavy loads.
Pure ultrasonic water bath systems are too complex and have too many moving parts, which is why surface suction systems have proven to be clearly superior: They capture the entire panel surface evenly, completely suck up cleaning fluid along with dissolved dirt and reduce the risk of water residue in the grooves to a minimum. They work purely mechanically with a vacuum.
This was the decisive criterion for us when choosing the successor.
Welcome, Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic
The Double Matrix Professional Sonic has been ordered and will be arriving shortly. And yes - we are already extremely excited.
Why this machine of all things? The answer is as simple as it is convincing: it is quite simply the best record washing machine on the market today. Developed for continuous professional use, it combines vacuum cleaner technology with ultrasonic cleaning - a combination that leaves even deeply embedded dirt no chance.
The technology behind the Double Matrix Professional Sonic
The heart of the machine is its double matrix system: both sides of the panel are cleaned and vacuumed simultaneously - the entire cleaning process therefore takes place in a single pass. This not only saves time, but also protects the plate by minimizing handling.
The integrated ultrasonic generator creates microscopically small cavitation bubbles in the cleaning fluid. These implode in the grooves in a controlled manner, loosening dirt particles that are simply inaccessible to mechanical methods - without touching or damaging the sensitive groove structure too much. Ultrasonic cleaning has been considered the gold standard in professional conservation and restoration for decades. The fact that this technology is now also available for vinyl is a real milestone. The Clearaudio's ultrasonic arm design is unique on the market.
Finally, the surface vacuum cleaner ensures that no cleaning residue remains on the record. This is the absolute advantage of a combination of both concepts, ultrasound and surface suction.
In contrast to spot suction systems, it captures the entire width of the sonic grooves in one go - evenly, reliably and without leaving any residue.
Why we deliberately opted for an area suction system
This decision was not a spontaneous one - it is the result of twenty years of experience in the daily handling of vinyl.
The purchase costs a little, but the results are second to none. For the occasional user, a simpler system may suffice. For us, who clean dozens of records every day, it was the only logical choice.
What this means for our customers
All records that pass through our store from now on will be cleaned with the Double Matrix Professional Sonic. This means: even cleaner records, even less residual dirt, even better sound - right from the first time you put the needle on.
We take record cleaning seriously. Not as a formality, but as part of our promise to you: that every record you buy from us will be in the best possible condition.
In the meantime, take a look at our latest vinyl arrivals or browse through our selection of home cleaning accessories - because a good care routine is worthwhile for your own collection too.
Here's to the next twenty years. With the best machine there is.
