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Post by Martin on Jun 22, 2016 18:30:03 GMT
On another thread I recently mentioned that my newly acquired copy of Giant Steps was in need of a good clean. Well, last weekend I visited my local hi-fi dealer who offers a record cleaning service using his recently serviced Audio Desk ultrasonic record cleaner. I had read a number of articles, reviews and disussion fora about these machines and I have to admit to some skepticism about the glowing praise they've received. Now that I have taken the plunge, I've got to say that I have had an epiphany. The results are outstanding. The catch, of course, is that these machines are ridiculously expensive so I feel very fortunate to know that my nearby dealer offers a cleaning service using thse machines. He even let me clean some records myself to get a better idea of how simp!e (and quiet) the machine is to operate.
Does anybody else have experience of ultrasonic record cleaners?
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Post by gregorythefish on Jun 22, 2016 20:54:31 GMT
i have a similar dealer in my hometown, so whenever i visit family i usually take a few records for him to polish up for me. it works quite well and i am very pleased.
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Post by Rich on Jun 30, 2016 12:35:45 GMT
Wow...3700 USD for the Ultrasonic. I have a VPI HW-16.5 that's 1/6 the price and I'm very pleased with it (cleaners get even cheaper than my VPI). If you're picky, a vacuum-based machine is essential. I almost always hear a difference before and after cleaning.
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Post by gregorythefish on Jun 30, 2016 20:19:29 GMT
what is the consensus on these: www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RDVi am seriously considering buying one. they are far less expensive than most and seem to do a similar thing. plus, they work WITH gravity! but please, list all pros and cons you can think of. any money i spend on a cleaner is money i don't spend on RECORDS (or food) so I want that purchase to be good and informed. |
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jcband
Junior Member
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Post by jcband on Jul 2, 2016 23:56:38 GMT
I agree with Rich I have a VPI machine as well and it works wonders with my records. The only concern I have with the one your looking at GTF is that it doesn't look like it has a platter to use for scrubing and it looks like it vacuumes the bottom of the record so that would seem like it could get messy. I also use a spin clean on my really dirty records. I give them a soak in that first and them move on to different cleaners on the VPI.
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Post by gregorythefish on Jul 3, 2016 16:20:57 GMT
jcband: yeah, i noticed those things too. what do you think of this solution?
i typically 'scrub' records on one of several spare platters i keep around, and that solves that problem. couldn't i go for the excess and then vacuum off the record after it isn't dripping and such? my main concern is that $600 is a tremendous amount of money for me.
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jcband
Junior Member
Posts: 65
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Post by jcband on Jul 4, 2016 22:04:29 GMT
This may sound a bit crazy but if all your looking for is the vacuum why not find a way to attach a soft tube to a small shop vac to get the fluids and contaminates off the record after you use the old platter for scrubbing.
Then you can keep saving for the machine you really want.
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Post by alunsevern on Jul 5, 2016 13:34:42 GMT
Greg, I don't know the Record Doctor machine but for ten or twelve years or so I have used a similar UK product called the Moth Record Cleaning Machine: www.britishaudio.co.uk/mothrcm1.htmI find it fantastic. It cleans using a soft 'scrubbing brush', a solvent based cleaner and a vacuum. It works brilliantly and every record I own (and have ever owned) has been cleaned on it -- it never fails to make an improvement. I think the Moth currently sells at about GBP500.00 and I think that still represents good value. Periodically you need to replace the velvet strips that line the slot of the vacuum tube but other than that they seem pretty durable. |
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Post by gregorythefish on Jul 5, 2016 14:05:23 GMT
Thanks, alun. That would be a nice alternative to the VPI for consideration.
jcband, now i am interested! i like to tinker. i bet with the right brushes and such i could make an attachement for my vacuum cleaner... of course i will test it on a dollar bin record or something. ha!
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Evan
Junior Member
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Post by Evan on Jul 7, 2016 0:25:04 GMT
One of my local dealers has a VPI cleaner and lets me use it for a very small fee, which he'll usually waive if I buy something from him. I find it superb - it almost always makes a difference, though the occasional record has needed two or three spins.
I think a pertinent question here is whether anyone has has a record with which they had limited success cleaning with a VPI, but which cleared up significantly when given ultrasonic treatment (or indeed vice versa).
When I return home I'm going to propose buying an ultrasonic (or other) cleaner with a couple of collector friends. It could be rotated on a monthly (or whatever) basis, and flying visits could always be made in times of emergency. Better than forking out nearly four thousand dollars.
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mcsvt
New Member
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Post by mcsvt on Jul 13, 2016 15:14:24 GMT
As several posters have mentioned vacuum cleaning your records is a must, it has brought many a record back from the dead for me. I will not spin a record until it has been properly cleaned, that goes for used and NEW records. They get cleaned, shot with the Zerostat gun and put into a new inner sleeve (used records that is). I lucked up on a VPI HW17 on the cheap and use my own home made cleaning solution which is about 15% IPA (99% alcohol) to 85% distilled water, with a few drops of Kodak Photo-Flo as a surfactant. I have not had the opportunity to use an Ultrasonic cleaner but have heard only good things about them.
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Post by alunsevern on Jul 27, 2016 14:24:32 GMT
Evan, I can't compare vacuum to ultrasonic cleaning, never having sued an ultrasonic cleaner... But I wouldn't mind betting that the advantages of the ultrasonic cleaners are more in speed and convenience rather than the quality of the cleaning achieved.
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Evan
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by Evan on Jul 28, 2016 1:19:41 GMT
Evan, I can't compare vacuum to ultrasonic cleaning, never having sued an ultrasonic cleaner... But I wouldn't mind betting that the advantages of the ultrasonic cleaners are more in speed and convenience rather than the quality of the cleaning achieved. That's an awful lot of money for a little speed and convenience - VPIs are hardly slow or laborious. They are loud though. I don't know, if there was no discernible difference in cleaning results I wouldn't even consider an ultrasonic. |
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Post by alunsevern on Aug 2, 2016 9:58:10 GMT
BTW, I have just read that Pro-Ject, the Czech manufacturer of turntables has just introduced its own record cleaning machine, retailing at GBP299.00 in the UK. www.analogueseduction.net/category-1498/vc-s.htmlIt is getting extremely good reviews and would appear to be exceptional value. |
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Post by Rob on Aug 7, 2016 4:20:14 GMT
I have the KLAUDIO ultrasonic cleaner and it works great. I was skeptical taking the plunge but read good reviews. Very happy with it.
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