Do I need a record cleaning machine

You don't necessarily need a cleaning machine, but I do think you do need to clean your records. There is tremendous concensus that clean records sound better than non-cleaned ones, even new pressings.

I built a simple RCM with a thrift-shop Ice Cream Maker, a hockey puck, a cheap wet/dry vac, and some commercial RCM parts. EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE with only about $50 invested.

Many folks stand by their manual cleaning routines and I respect that, but it wasn't for me. After a period of various manual cleaning methods, I went the wet wash and vacuum dry route and am glad I did.

Hope this helps! Don

I built my RCM out of an old Pioneer PL-A25 table, some tubing, and a shop vac. It's the best "upgrade" I've done to my analog setup, period. Make sure you get a bottle of the MFSL Plus fluid, too.

IMHO, some sort of wet cleaning process (preferably with a vacuum) and an accurate cartridge / table setup process may have the largest impact on the performance of your analog front end. Sure it's not as sexy as telling your friends you just bought mega-buck cartridge, but it's oh-so worth it.

I agree with Nrenter that my DIY RCM was the best upgrade I ever did to my system.

Any previous equipment upgrades tended to make the flaws in my vinyl (mostly used) all the more clearer, sometimes making upgrades sound great for other media (CD, SACD, etc.) but disappointing for records, even really good ones.

Being able to clean records much more effectively (my opinion) than I could using any manual method, my enjoyment of vinyl recordings has increased exponentially.

I have no experience with steam cleaning vinyl, but there is much (also hotly debated) information around to check out.

Now get out there and build a RCM and clean those records! :)

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Buying a RCM was a huge step up and a long overdue and long overlooked component. As I look back on it, having about $7k tied up in a table, cartridge, arm and phono preamp....it was downright stupid not to own a RCM. I have to admit, I was just too cheap in the past to buy one....now I'm singing its praises.

If you have a good selection of LP's, a RCM is requirement you cannot afford to be without.
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taters - do a search on the word loricraft