RRL Cleaner, Vinyl Zyme, and Groove Glide

David,
Fair question.

The known safety and purity of RRL will keep it our primary solution, for now and possibly forever. If RRL cleans a record thoroughly then that record never sees anything else. I'd guess that's about 80% of the records we clean. But what about the other 20%?

As good as they are, SDC and SVW are not universal solvents, at least not in our experience. RRL does not get every record 100% clean, even with multiple applications, vigorous scrubbing and soaking. What to do? Throw a record away just because the safest cleaner can't remove whatever's on it? Playing the record dirty is riskier than trying a different cleaner IMO.

Currently we use Vinyl-zyme, Smart Developments foaming cleaner and Micro Care Premier for these problem cases. AIVS will initially join this stable of fallback products. Time will tell whether it deserves to advance to a more primary position.

I'm not going to sell or give away my supply of RRL. I've got a quart of each. My circumstances and needs are different from a lot of audiophiles, I think. Here's a great example. I purchased a collection and much to my surprise Cowboy Junkies "Trinity Sessions" was in the batch and looked wonderful. At the time I was using my home brew and there was a constant crackling (granted, at very low levels) surface noise. After reading so many postive things about the RRL products I stepped up and purchased some and recleaned the record again. The noise was reduced but not by a wide margin. After receiving my order of AIVS I pulled this album, cleaned it again in the same manner I used the other products and was shocked to hear no surface noise at all. My wife who was preparing dinner at the time put the meal on simmer and came in to join me. Honestly, she almost never takes the time to sit and listen. She commented about how great it sounded and how she was just drawn into listening.

4yanx has made some valid comments regarding his concern for the AVIS treated records and the future. Who knows, maybe my records will degrade from this product. I don't know. But I do know that those difficult to quiet used LP's that I otherwise wouldn't play are now quiet and I'm happy. I've got so much software that re-cleaning everything I own isn't going to happen in this lifetime. I will use it on difficult to clean albums for sure and really don't have any reason to be concerned for the future.

My turntable is a Linn which uses a felt mat to decouple the vinyl and I've found that I can't improve upon it with any other kind of mat. I live in a dry environment so without some type of anti-static the record will lift the mat with it. That's a major pain in the ass. With the AIVS and it's inherent anti-static properties I no longer need to use Gruv Glide. So, for me it's a double win situation. I couldn't be happier. YMMV, there is more than one way to skin the audio cat and to each his own.

Doug, a fair response. :-) You should have a few records on which to test these products right now! ;-) Let me know how that works out!

"Playing the record dirty is riskier than trying a different cleaner IMO."

Depends on the definition of dirty. I suppose you refer to stylus damage. If a record, once thoroughly cleaned by most any of the many available cleaning fluids, still has the remnants of a greasy fingerprint or two, I'm not sure that is of a greater risk than possibly damaging the entire record. But, yes, if it is a "lost cause" otherwise, what does a guy have to lose?

Actually, my answer to Dan's post was not really intended to pit one product against another but, rather, to reinforce the virtues of the RRL fluids. I know that Brian Weitzel went to considerable effort and expense in the pursuit of due diligence in making a proven and safe product - and that counts for a lot in my book (though there will likely never be sales of my book). :-)

"You should have a few records on which to test these products right now!"

Do I ever! Damn things will probably take me weeks and a whole roll of thread for the RCM. I'm thinking Brillo pads. ;-)

"Depends on the definition of dirty. I suppose you refer to stylus damage."

Well, I suppose any grunge left behind after RRL + Loricraft vacuuming is likely to be pretty tough stuff. My chief concern is having the stylus grind it permanently into the vinyl. I worry less about damaging the diamond itself.

BTW, did you get my postage refund? Are we square?

Oh, we're square! I think that's been proven. I know, I know, speak for myself! :-)