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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
terry9
2,333 posts
 
DG, you are going to LOVE that Elmasonic. Nothing like German precision, here as elsewhere. I clean for 12 minutes at 80 KH, more for the very dirty. Enjoy!

Steve, it's very simple to test: clean a record the conventional way, dip it half into the US tank, cook it for an hour, rinse, dry, and play. The sound will change dramatically about every second. If you prefer the sound from the US side, you have your answer. This I have done - and the answer, to me, is obvious.
pops
2,275 posts
 
Simao, great question you pose.  If you have not been around agon that long you probably were not expecting an ambush!  Some around here wear their opinions and stereo hobby on their shoulders.

i have used a VPI 16.5 for years and it has worked wonders.  Do I enjoy cleaning records....no, is it a little labor intensive....yes.  But all things vinyl come with a little work but the end results are worth it for me.  And I agree, memories are way better than material objects!

good listening. 

stevme
2 posts
 
Terry

The question I was trying to raise is whether an ultrasonic cleaner achieves its results at the expense of loss of high frequency data. There have been some anecdotal reports of this result:  cleaned records are silent, but lacking in presence. If true, this would be a serious problem, as it goes to a principal benefit of vinyl as a music source.  One could test for this by measuring frequency response before and after ultrasonic cleaning. 

Steve
dgarretson
2,598 posts
 

Minkwelder, Paisan, was it a fly yellow '98 monoposte?

Terry9, Thanks for the encouragement to stretch for the Elma Sonic.  I haven't heard that much praise of "german engineering" since the Volkswagen saga...we'll see how it goes.

Samzx12, I envy your moto location.  I did the Blue Ridge & Diamondback loop last fall on the Ninja with full bags and the wife.  On a side trip I followed three local long-beards with ladies on Harleys from the ridge down into a valley for gas.  I was fairly impressed how well they ran their hogs through the twisties.  It's a great place to learn.    

dgarretson
2,598 posts
 

I took delivery today of an Elma P60H.  So far cleaned just one record for 5 minutes at 37khz and 15 min at 80khz.  The Elma removed loads of noise that the Chinese unit couldn't touch, and it's quiet enough to use in the room while listening to music.  Its advanced features and quality build appear instrument grade.

The other piece of this DIY ultrasonic cleaner is at:

https://thevinylstack.com/ultrasonic-cleaning/ultra-sonic-spin-record-cleaning-kit/

   

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