Although vinyl records can be a superior sound-storage medium, they are inevitably plagued with a number of drawbacks which affect the sound, not least, the accumulation of environmental dust - a problem which is exacerbated by vinyl's tendency to become charged with static electricity. The very act of removing a record from its paper sleeve will negatively charge it up to a few kV whereupon it immediately starts to attract airborne dust particles which and their way almost irretrievably into the deepest recesses of the groove.

Traditional mechanical removal processes relying on dry micro-fibre cloths not only risk scratching the record surface but also fail to reach far enough inside the record groove and only further increase the static charge on the record. Although a velvet cleaning pad impregnated with anti-static solution can be used, these will only make a record superficially clean by removing some of the surface dust, converting the remaining dirt into a sticky residue which then adheres to the record all the more, attaching itself to the stylus, causing long term record damage and short term sonic distortion. human hair, sweep the finest particles from the very bottom of the groove. Because each of the filaments is also electrically conductive and is attached to the conductive brush handle, any static charge leaks harmlessly away to earth. At the same time the velvet pad traps the dust as it is liberated, leaving the record groove spotless from top to bottom.

The Goldring Exstatic is so effective that the first few times it is used on older records, an ultra-fine powder which has accumulated and remained out of reach of traditional cleaning methods over the years may be liberated from deep within the record grooves to form a line where the brush is removed. It may take several sessions with the new brush before the record is returned to pristine cleanliness, which will persist so long as it is treated with the Goldring Exstatic before each subsequent playing.

Features:

• Gold-plated contacts and carbon-fibre bristles
• discharge static and release dust from static cling.
• Ultra-fine filaments remove deep-seated debris
• Flat velvet pad collects and immobilises sweepings

Specifications:

• Handle: Black anodised aluminium
• Contacts: Gold plated steel
• Bristles: Carbon fibres (8 μm diameter)
• Pad: Velvet over compliant foam
• Holder: Steel with wall-mount slot