Best value record cleaner/cleaning system

slaw, more than reviews (who knows what experience many online posters have?) it seems like both VPI and your dealer were to blame.

I've owned two VPI 16.5s and had none of your problems with either one.  First it is hard to imagine your platter was not secured properly but obviously that somehow slipped through.  Regarding the strong suction, that is simply a function of the angle of the slot in the tube relative to the record surface.  Viewed from the outside end, if the slot points straight down (180 on a 360 degree reference) then the vacuum will be too strong.  If set backwards (< 180 degrees) it will not pick up the fluid.  VPI specifies the slot should be at 185 degrees for efficient vacuuming.  It seems your dealer should have checked that.  The two I've owned have been and I get complete drying in two revolutions.

I purchased mine through Galen Carol Audio.

The main point is/should be, (The VPI (manual).).... to my knowledge (as usual), did not have any information on any of these situations. (When did you find out that VPI specifies the slot should point in any direction?)  When I bought mine, the (manual ?) did not have any of this. This goes to my main point... If this was true during the time frame I was (drooling) about a 16.5, and the reviewers NEVER wrote about this, I can only assume, that the VPI (manual) never included such.? (Also, I asked questions to my dealer at that time.  The response was, as I remember, "It's not a intricate/specialized device..(paraphrasing)

BTW, I get complete drying in 2 revolutions as well. This happened only after I figured everything out for myself.

Please, someone, post one link showing  (any) issues I've posted from any reviewer in as long as the 16.5 has been in production

Happy listening.

Bradf was considerate enough to email me links to information about the "budget-priced" CleanerVinyl version of an osmosis cleaner. At around $700 for the 12-LP version, I do believe I'm gonna get me one!

Slaw, Rushton and others,

What do you use to protect label during steam cleaning.

Thanks in Advance 
Norb 

nkonor,

I've found that all of the hype over protecting the label is just that, hype. Early on in my record cleaning education, before the 16.5 and the AD and the steamer, I use to actually dip my lps into a sink full of distilled water to rinse. I never had one issue with the labels. (Of coarse you don't let them soak.) On older lps where the labels have aged, if they get wet, just blot them off, don't rub. Having said this, if I see my cleaning fluid seep onto a label, I'll blot it off.

While I'm steaming, during the time when the steamer is recharging, I'll blot off the label when necessary. As I mentioned earlier, I hold a record over a sink against my torso while steaming. This allows everything to drain off as much as possible.

Have fun!