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Record Cleaning Machine RCM

My present vinyl collection consists of about 100 LPs. On average, I purchase about 3-5 new LPs per year when the annual HI-FI Show comes to town. I've always purchased new with the odd purchase coming from friends for mint condition used LPs. My analog set-up is a VPI Scoutmaster.

I've read some very positive comments concerning the benefits of using a RCM and I'm serioulsy considering purchasing one.

For the money, I'm looking at the VPI HW-16.5 but I've read posts where people are complaining about how hot the unit gets due to the lack of a cooling fan while others have complainted about the noise. Should I be concerned?

My next choice up would be the VPI HW-17 but this unit costs about 2.5x more.

Suggestions / comments?
agiaccio
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Bill said,

"No automatic machine can never compare with good brushes, a good solution, and elbow grease."

Wow! I absolutely disagree with this statement. I find it as wrong as Roy Gandy's assertion that the stylus does all the cleaning a record requires.

I do agree that good results are possible with manual cleaning and it may be the best option for a small collection.

Wendell
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Which results in a cleaner car, your local car wash or a thorough hand wash?

I have 6500+ albums collected over 50 years to support my claim.

And you?

I hope this helps.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Bill said,

"I hope this helps."

It doesn't. I too have been collecting most of my life and I'm not sure there is a cleaning method I haven't tried. I always went back to a machine as the best tool to facilitate the process.

If you manually clean 6500 LPs, good for you!

BTW, I know that number was meant to impress. 6500 doesn't come close to the number of records I have purchased in the last 46 years. Who cares? It doesn't mean a thing.

Regards,

Wendell
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I too would love to know how Bill manually removes grunge-laden cleaning solutions from inside the grooves without vacuuming. If you don't remove it all quickly the liquid evaporates but the grunge remains behind - and nothing IME removes liquid from a groove faster or more completely than vacuuming.

Of course I only have 3,250 LP's, so I'm only half as qualified...
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Doug,

I agree. Manual cleaning can be quite effective but I've never discovered a better way to quickly and completely remove the fluid, from the record, without using a vacuum.
There are various ways to vacuum but none, in my experience,
as efficient as a purpose built machine.

Of course, Bill may have some special way I've never tried.

Wendell
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