best fluid for vpi 16.5 cleaner non-vpi brand?


hi,

I just purchased a vpi 16.5 on the 'gon and have not received it yet. It has some vpi's own fluid but wanted to know what people recommend for basic versus deep cleaning with the the vpi.

I know there have been similar threads but they often go onto tangents about brushes and other stuff!!

thanks

Michael
audiohifila
My current bottle of Disc Doctor is almost gone which would make it easy to try something new. Would my Mofi and Disc Doctor brushes work well with the Walker system to save some expense or do you really need the Walker brushes too?
I purchased the Walker deluxe Prelude kit from a local dealer.
He told me straight up...follow the directions, clean a few Lps, then play them.
If you do not hear an improvement or do not like this cleaning solution for any reason, return it for a full refund.

Off the top of my head.
The prelude deluxe kit comes with three directional brushes with replacement pads and a tray to set them in as you go through the cleaning steps.

A small jar of active enzymes, a mixing bottle,with filler lines marked on the bottle, two sized very tiny spoons to scoop the enzymes for mixing, depending on how many Lps you want to clean.
This is to be mixed with the supplied laboratory grade water.

A bottle of liquid cleaner for the second step and a bottle of laboratory grade water including extra lab water for rinsing.

Also you get a nifty 6 inch cobalt blue ruler in case you need one.

There is nothing complicated with using this method of cleaning at all.

I have cleaned quite a few Lps, I'm just starting to get low on the lab grade water, I also use it to wash out the brushes.

Anyway, $135.00 for the kit is expensive, however I was offered a full refund on the initial purchase.

Check it out....
Sonofjim, your MoFi and Disc Doctor brushes will work fine. I've used them quite satisfactorily with Disc Doctor, AI and Prelude. I've come to prefer the shape and texture of the Walker brushes, which I know use, but any of these three brands will work fine.

As Stiltskin points out, Walker Audio offers a refund guaranty of purchase price if not satisfied and the unused portion is returned within 30 days. Hard to go wrong.
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Audiohifila, let us know how your cleaning ventures go with the VPI 16.5 and the new cleaning fluids! Congratulations on getting started!
Sonofjim,

For spreading the enzyme mix almost any brush that doesn't contain natural fibers will work. I use an Audioquest carbon fiber brush, but the cheapie Last brushes or even a painting pad/brush both work *almost* as well. A DD/MoFi brush is probably overkill. You have to apply enough enzyme solution to prevent the LP drying out during the soak phase, and a DD/MoFi brush would absorb/waste alot of fluid.

DD/MoFi brushes are fine for steps after the enzyme solution but before the final rinse(s) with ultra pure water. I use my DD brushes for those steps. Install new pads to avoid contamination from your old fluids of course.

For the final water rinse(s) I much prefer Audioquest CF brushes. The tiny fibers help force the water deep into the grooves and they don't hold much fluid, so you don't waste much. Also, the fibers start clumping together when the brush begins to get dirty, an early warning sign that it's time to rinse the brush (with some of the ultra pure water, *nothing* else). The purity of the last rinse (or two) is very important so I use two CF brushes, always in the same order, and they're never used for anything else.

Others will have their own preferences. As long as there's some reasoning that makes sense to you it's your choice - as Rushton said about AI vs. Walker.