We audiophiles love to argue! There's no shortage of passionate "experts" espousing opinions regarding all things playback. These spirited debates definitely keep our hobby fun and interesting. Digital vs analog, cable believers vs non-believers, gear heads vs music heads, brand loyalists, etc. Just post about your favorite cables on social media and stand back! In a world full of tribalism, political rancor, and divergent opinions on just about every subject you can think of, it is lovely to know there is at least one topic all vinyl loving aficionados can agree on—dust and static are the common enemies of our combined analog bliss.
The truly committed among us employ a range of devices to eliminate the evils of dust and static. Whether you're using a record cleaning machine, anti-static brush, stylus cleaner or a combination of methods the goal is the same, create an environment as free as possible from dust and static when spinning records. Dust and static are the main culprits for the disruptive, annoying pops and clicks we're all doing our best to mitigate.
Canadian based Integrityhifi, creators of the popular Tru-Lift Tone Arm Lifter, recently introduced Tru-Sweep, a static draining arm and brush combination that gives users a terrific new tool in the battle against pops and clicks.
Image by Lee Shelley
A thoroughly modern and redesigned take on old school and largely ineffective dust busters such as the Watts Dust Bug and the cartridge head shell brushes many of us owned as kids, the Tru-Sweep is anything but ineffective and a visual knock out, bonus! Crafted from solid 304 & 316 surgical stainless steel this is one sexy beast that's sure to look right at home with any stylish high end turntable you pair it with. Sitting on the back left pod of my VPI Avenger's 3 legs, it looks like it came straight from the VPI factory. In other words there's nothing "after market" or low rent looking about it, quite the contrary. Plus I'm a sucker for beautifully machined objects and Tru-Sweep definitely fits that bill.
Tru-Sweep achieves its static draining mojo via an ingenious design featuring a ground wire attached to its stainless steel base that is in turn attached to your phono stage or preamp, grounding it and virtually eliminating static. It works like a champ, tracking in prefect unison with my tone arm as it travels along LPs from beginning to end, gently picking up dust with the camel hair brush mounted to its head, and removing static in real time along the way. The brush/head assembly can be easily removed using an included Allen key and washed as needed.
Image by Lee Shelley
With Tru-Sweep in place records are demonstrably quieter, free from pops and clicks, and when my stylus reaches a record's run out groove there is now little to no dust to remove. In fact when I spun my first record using the Tru-Sweep, in my excitement, I forgot to apply the Levin Designs record cleaning brush I use prior to every side I spin. Guess what? Nary a click or a pop was heard. I'm not saying you should throw away your record cleaning brushes, they'll still be part of my pre-spin routine, but that's still pretty impressive!
Image by Lee Shelley
Set up is easy, quick, and intuitive with Tru-Sweep coming fully assembled in 2 parts. Simply balance the Tru-Sweep's arm assembly on its uni-pivot base, adjusting the counter weight at the rear of the arm as needed, place the arm's brush on a spinning record with your turntable's tone arm and stylus engaged, slide the collar on the right side of the Tru-Sweep's pivot point until the desired tracking/skate force is achieved, and you're in business. If any of that sounds confusing Integrityhifi's got you covered with a sheet of instructions included with every arm, and easy to follow installation videos available on their website. Compatible with virtually any turntable Tru-Sweep attaches via 3 small dots of Blu-Tack placed under its base. That means when you're ready to upgrade to the turntable of your dreams, Tru-Sweep can be easily removed and come along for the ride.
After thorough torture testing in dry static producing forced hot air conditions, Tru-Sweep never once let me down, continuously keeping my records quiet and dust free. This bad-ass arm now falls squarely into my turntable essentials category. Recommended with 2 big thumbs up!
Available in 3 adjustable sizes: small, medium or large designed to fit most turntables or custom as needed.
Tru-Sweep Anti-Static Dust Cleaner/Sweeper
Retail: from $259 USD
Integrity Hi Fi
Web: www.integrityhifi.ca
