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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
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
2,601 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
2,601 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/

   

recordgenieusa's avatar
recordgenieusa
26 posts
 
dgarretson:

I’d be interested to know how many records you’ve been running in your Chinese made (40khz?) tank with the Vinyl Stack while still being able to get consistently good results on every side of every record?

Are you using the "wider" spacers that Vinyl Stack offers as an option?

Obviously you just got the Elma Sonic cleaner, but I am curious how "even" you find the cleaning with the Elma cleaner with varying number(s) of records loaded on the Vinyl Stack? If I was going to buy a tank cleaner to use then I’d probably also want to get the Elma P60H.

I’ve been cleaning with Audio Desk and Klaudio machines for almost 3 years now, and have 2 of each machine, but tank cleaners are interesting since they would allow increased productivity, but I’d need to be sure that quality would be as good or better than the "single slot" machines. How are you drying your records?

Much of what I’ve read online in the last 3 years indicates that 80khz would be useful, and apparently smaller cavitation bubbles are gentler on the records, all other things being equal. Another option would be a 60khz tank, I know Sonix makes one, and it may even be US made, so more than Chinese units, but less $ than the German made Elma.

Thanks,
Dave
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