The Article
Dust Cover For the Audio Desk Pro
8th February 2019
A new dust cover has been released for the Audio Desk Pro ultrasonic cleaner by Peak HiFi, Paul Rigby takes a quick look
If you use an Audio Desk Pro ultrasonic cleaner then you know, only too well, that it has a whopping great hole at the top of the chassis. It’s has to, of course, because that’s where you put your records to clean them.
Thing is, though, if the room holding the Audio Desk is at all dusty then this cavity is going to slowly collect a heap of these particles. Of course, there you are, you’re being ultra careful in terms of vinyl cleaning, wanting to be rid of muck grime and, er, dust but more dust is falling into the Audio Desk’s cavity in between cleans! What to do?
Well, you could put a spare copy of War & Peace on there, if you fancy. Which might give it that interior design thing. A bit Homes & Garden possibly? Which is fine until the pages get wet from cleaning liquid. Or maybe a piece of tupperware? Which is not at all cool, I have to quickly add. You could add a bit of wood from the garage but more muck might fall from that into the cavity again and…oh look, what about a made-too measure dust cover instead, eh?
There’s not much to this thing. It’s a piece of solid, stiff, thick-gauged plastic with carry handles on the sides. That’s it. You put the cover on…you take it off. It’s not rocket science. There’s a little cut-out on the top to make way for the bubble level that’s fixed to the upper surface of the Pro but that’s your lot. Oh, and the corners have been chopped off so you don’t prang your arm or hand or other body part when you’re brushing past it. So it’s officially ‘cuddly’, then too.
Is it easy to install? I wouldn’t even use the word ‘install’, it’s that easy to plonk on to the top. Does it keep the dust out? Yes. It does the job – what more can I say? I can add that next day delivery costing £16 is available, if you’re desperate because you live in the Sahara.
I must lift an encouraging thumb to creators, Peak HiFi. The box needed a dust over and now we can all rest easy in our beds.
AUDIO DESK PRO ULTRASONIC CLEANER DUST COVER
Price: £65
Web: www.audioconsultants.co.uk
Tel: 0118 981 9891
GOOD: Simple to use, does the job, well made, good fit
BAD: nothing
RATING: 8
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The audiodesk already comes with a dust cover. Granted, it’s no more than a piece of fabric with a logo but it would seem to do the job just as effectively as this piece of plastic.
Thanks for your comments, Hugh.
I made my own quite a while ago using some blue pine board (finished with Tung Oil) and a plexiglass top. I also modified my AD because of some deficiencies in the design I was not happy with, especially access to the rubber rings. I also modified the way the ‘wipers’ are mounted as I wasn’t happy with that as well, even when the AD was brand new because as several others noted, the wipers left droplets of water that never dried. I now use automotive wiper blades and I can adjust the wiper tension. BTW, why didn’t the AD come with a ‘real’ cover considering how much it costs.
Great point on the wipers issue, Mike. Nice one. I think the company may (I *think*) have addressed that in a new version of the machine just released. Nevertheless, good idea. And yes, good point about the ‘real’ cover too. With you all the way there.
i wouldn’t use plastic (or war&peace or any other substantial literature) on the AD ‚Äì i learned the hard way that the wet rollers need air to dry. if the opening is closed with plastic, the wet rollers will eventually end up covered with mildew. gl√§ss’ fabric cover prevents this and lets the rollers dry naturally. but i agree, war&peace looks more impressive.
Good point, ©. Maybe after a period of drying? For when the unit is not in use for a few days?
you’d be surprised how long it takes for these rollers to finally dry‚Ķ (the plastic cover has one big advantage over gl√§ss’ “breathing” solution ‚Äì the fluid won’t evaporate. as for the fluid: even under duress, gl√§ss’ wouldn’t tell what the ingredients of his expensive special sauce are. he does however admit that the two main components are an industrial “wetting agent” and a fungicide. this makes sense since the fluid sits in an almost closed sump, and starts to ‚Ķ what did Zappa say about jazz? my major quibble with the AD is that the reservoir is hard to clean or flush properly. i’d much rather drain the fluid if i know i won’t be using the AD for a couple of days and refill it before use.)
Ahhh, well I have my own views on the AD liquid. If you’re interested, you might want to read Pt.2 of the Kirmuss RCM cleaner for more info. Scroll to the Disclaimer subhead РI’ve moved onwards from this point (I can provide more info if required) but this is a start: https://theaudiophileman.com/ka-rc-1-ultrasonic-review-kirmuss-pt-2/