Berlin-based Ramar has introduced its new Tina record brush, a product clearly aimed—judging by its price—at the true purists among vinyl enthusiasts.
Streaming and digital media such as CDs or Blu-rays certainly have their advantages. Unless you handle them extremely roughly and scratch them badly, they will continue to play back bit-perfectly for years. Vinyl records, on the other hand, tend to attract dust particles and other contaminants. These are often almost microscopic, but even then they can be clearly audible in the form of “atmosphere-enhancing” clicks and background noise.
To keep vinyl records enjoyable to listen to, cleaning is essential. One option is to occasionally run your records through a record-cleaning machine. For everyday maintenance, however, a record brush is a practical solution. The new Ramar Tina is one such brush.
In the standard version it’s housed in an attractively designed holder, while higher-priced versions are available with a metal holder. The brush is held in place by strong magnets. A clever detail is that the brush can only be inserted into the holder in one specific orientation—otherwise the magnets repel each other. This ensures that the wood grain pattern of the brush and the holder lines up perfectly. Details matter.
Each brush carries a unique serial number, which allows the manufacturer to match the correct brush hairs in case of repair. The bristles themselves consist of a combination of carbon fiber and goat hair. A user manual and a QR code linking to video instructions are also included.
As promised, the brush—at least in terms of price—is aimed squarely at the dedicated vinyl audiophile. The Record Brush Tina (as well as the Joni, Red and Amy variants) is priced at €360. The Christo Tara and Noir versions sell for €582. All are variations on the same design, but made with different materials.