ST-50 Drop-in Micro-Dust/Cleaning-Gel Stylus Cleaner

I have tried most of the gel-based cleaners available and this is the one to get. First, a bit about DS Audio. Their business is in manufacturing optical-engine phono cartridges which need the stylus to be consistently clean after each side. This is their solution, and it really works without risking your delicate cartridge. Now one can argue they spent too much on the case versus its contents and thus the high price. I can’t comment on value, except to say this is a one-time purchase and if you’ve spent several hundred to several thousand on your cartridge, ensuring the extra life and enjoyment our of it this is worth a try. As to why it is different than the competition, it has several advantages. First it is shallow which make using it with all types of turntables, even automatic ones, easy and very safe. Second, it is not as gelatinous as others. Only the very tip of the stylus penetrates the surface yet it is entirely effective. Others I have found are too soft and can close around the stylus resulting in the potential to stress or over-extend the suspension over time when lifting the arm clear. The very cheap ones suffer also from being able to flow which can leave residue especially if your ambient temperature is above 80 deg. Finally, it is easier to clean as it has better integrity and the particles to not get as deeply embedded. Overall, it could have been made for less with a cheaper case; however, in the absence of the identical urethane gel from another vendor, this is the one to get knowing you’ll only buy it once.

There’s a good reason it’s so expensive, you’ll never need to buy another stylus cleaners. DS Audio is coming through with the goods in analog tweaks and quality.

I bought this cleaner due to trying everything to clean very expensive cartridges with. I own 2 $3000 cartridges and several that cost in the thousands too. I have ripped-off one stylus when cleaning it a $1200 clearaudio cartridge, so I know the risk well. I think the Onzow for half the price is a better product. I have owned the $40 Onzow for as long as it has been around. I wanted to try this due to it having an adhesive quality to it and seeing how well it works. I think it works well, but I do not think it is worth twice the price. Also, I think the swallow and sticky aspects of it make it more easier to damage your cartridge when using it. I would say the round clear light and bright aspects of the $40 Onzow is better and safer to use. I would either way use both of these over the liquid cleaners. I know liquid cleaners are much cheaper but they can really damage your cartridge too. I have known them to cause the stylus to come lose from the adhesive wearing away from the liquid cleaner it sometimes takes several uses.

I have been a Koetsu cartridge user for 20+ years.My current cartridge is the Onyx Platinum stone body.These cartridges cost $11,000 so cleaning them requires something that does the job but doesn't damage the stylus or the suspension.I have tried many ways of cleaning stylus over the years and wet cleaners are a definite NO.Alcohol and rubber never mix and the cantilever can act as a pipette and suck alcohol all the way back to the suspension, resulting in premature wear.I'm also not a fan of abrasive cleaners so no sandpaper or ultrasonics for me either - they both wear the stylus unnecessarily.Until I found the ST-50, I just used a Last stylus brush, but that involves bringing the brush through the stylus from back to front with the risk of damaging something.The ST-50 is benign. I let the stylus sit on it for a good 5 minutes and then remove, doing this 3 times to give it a clean before a listening session.I clean my records with a degritter ultrasonic cleaner before playing, so I never need to clean the stylus again during a listening session.When the ST-50 gets cruddy, it's an easy job to wash it in distilled water and leave it out to dry in the air.It is an excellent product and the only one I trust.

I do like it better than the Onzo, but it is expensive.

I have used various stylus cleaners over the decades, from brushes and liquid cleaners and an older gel type dust removal system.This unit really does the job! I like its low profile so all you need to do is lower the stylus onto the pad and let the sticky substance remove the grunge. And if you have already put your vinyl on the platter and then realized you forgot to clean the stylus....no problem.No need to remove the album or risk cleaning by hand, simply stop the platter and with the leather backing protecting your vinyl ease your tonearm onto the surface and start over.Definitely worth the few extra clams!Just do it....you will be satisfied you did.

This is more expensive than theThis is more expensive than the "End dust" cleaner,but so much safer to use,and will never wear out. If you spin vynil this ia a must have item.

Works great. Highly recommended.