2. analog
  3. 124008-527

Why are record cleaners so expensive?

Full disclosure: I have only the Spin-Clean record cleaner and a Hunt EDA brush to clean my vinyl, but as someone who's been in the digital side of audiophilia for decades, and as someone who knows how much gear can get in any dedicated hobby, I'm still curious as to why a high end vinyl cleaner can cost more than three grand.

I'm not disputing the price; after all, Smith said that something's worth whatever someone pays for it. Moreover, a high end record cleaner might be able to do things to vinyl that nothing else can. Still, paying three grand for an Audio Desk cleaner seems a bit out of reason. $3K can buy a good set of speakers; a hand-made fly-fishing rod based on your height and weight and arm length; two weeks at a Fijian resort for two; a custom-made suit from an Italian mill. So why is a glorified vacuum cleaner $3K?

Again, not flaming, just curious. Enlighten me?

s
128x128simao
whart's avatar
whart
3,039 posts
 
Slaw: You are up in Buffalo if I remember (from a thread on record shows)? Do you get down to NYC metro area? I’m north of the city, near Nyack when in NY- would love to show you what I’ve been doing with various cleaning machines. (And you are welcome to be our guest). Whoops, just checked, you are in N.C. Well, the invite still stands. 

Sim- don’t get us started on stoves now! :)
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,491 posts
 
whart,

Why do you seem to find "sucking out" any contaminants better than allowing a "blow dry" method? It could only be that, your method still has crud at that stage, when my method has methodically washed away in an organic way, all of the crud that you want to continue to keep "in the conversation" at this point.

I can possibly accept your method if that is superior to mine. Thinking it through, however, I still find my method superior.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,491 posts
 
Somehow... after reading your last post, I find it hard for others reading this to accept your initial post as something they should really consider if you find it applicable enough to try and post my "whereabouts", only to realize you are wrong?

Whatever???
simao's avatar
simao OP
1,820 posts
 
Hey - one more question. The Spin-Clean has those two immersed brushes, right? After you manually rotate the lp three or four times, you're then to take it out and let it drip the "bathwater" for a few seconds, then dry it with the supplied cloths, rubbing with the grain until the lp is dry.

I've been doing this, then setting the lp's in a metal rack to air dry. Should I even bother with the cloths? Or will the Hunt brush remove most of the fibers?
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,491 posts
 
It kind of bothers me, that, you can, "on the fly" seemingly, locate my location. Why, would you even find a need to try? This IS just a discussion. Then, upon your, (finding my location), find it OK to broadcast it to the world, via, this forum... Wow!

Please reply to all of the above?
More to discover