Accessory of the Year
Degritter Mark II record cleaning machine
($3280; reviewed by Alex Halberstadt in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review) FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
AudioQuest Yosemite tonearm cable
($549/1.2m pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Collaro Cloth Turntable Mat
(£99; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Ikigai Audio Kangai-level loudspeaker cable
($9400/2m pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.3, March 2024 review)
Silent Angel Bonn NX network switch
($3999; reviewed by Jim Austin in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review) For years, Alex Halberstadt scrubbed and vacuumed his LPs with the effective VPI HW-16.5 record-cleaning machine, though, as he noted in his review of the DeGritter Mark II, it was not a whole lot of fun to use. "It's loud and messy," he wrote. By contrast, the ultrasonic Degritter II, from Estonia, cleans records from beginning to end with a single push of a button while displaying the progress on a round, smart-looking LED screen. It does this without emitting any painfully loud or jarring sounds. More importantly, it does a great job. The Degritter "removes a layer of sonic dullness, an entire membrane of crap I didn't know was there," AH wrote. "The change I'm describing isn't going to make you drop your sandwich on the floor, but neither is it difficult to hear." Notes on the vote
As is always the case in this category, a mixed bunch of accessories at very different prices were nominated in 2024. Yet, the Degritter record cleaning machine got twice as many votes as each of the next two products, with six reviewers giving it their highest score.
Degritter Mark II record cleaning machine($3280; reviewed by Alex Halberstadt in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review) FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
AudioQuest Yosemite tonearm cable
($549/1.2m pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Collaro Cloth Turntable Mat
(£99; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Ikigai Audio Kangai-level loudspeaker cable
($9400/2m pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.3, March 2024 review)
Silent Angel Bonn NX network switch
($3999; reviewed by Jim Austin in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review) For years, Alex Halberstadt scrubbed and vacuumed his LPs with the effective VPI HW-16.5 record-cleaning machine, though, as he noted in his review of the DeGritter Mark II, it was not a whole lot of fun to use. "It's loud and messy," he wrote. By contrast, the ultrasonic Degritter II, from Estonia, cleans records from beginning to end with a single push of a button while displaying the progress on a round, smart-looking LED screen. It does this without emitting any painfully loud or jarring sounds. More importantly, it does a great job. The Degritter "removes a layer of sonic dullness, an entire membrane of crap I didn't know was there," AH wrote. "The change I'm describing isn't going to make you drop your sandwich on the floor, but neither is it difficult to hear." Notes on the vote
As is always the case in this category, a mixed bunch of accessories at very different prices were nominated in 2024. Yet, the Degritter record cleaning machine got twice as many votes as each of the next two products, with six reviewers giving it their highest score.
