Best value record cleaner/cleaning system

slaw, I've not read this post for awhile, so going back a month to your comment I'll add this.

While my VPI was set properly as delivered, a friend received one which was not.  He is not a person with much patience so I offered to help.  Contacting VPI I was told (by Mike, though this was several years ago) about the 185 degree setting for the suction tube.  Thinking it through that makes perfect sense, but I agree it should have been in the manual.

I agree that ultrasound is the best method, by far. I had a VPI machine, and tested those results against an Elmasonic US machine running at 80 KHz. No contest. The Elmasonic was far superior.

To spin the records I use a spinner from Vinyl Stack: the Ultrasonic Spin Kit. The spacers also protect the labels.

It's a good combination - they both work well, they both look good, and they both have a fine fit and finish. The Elmasonic is German, and looks it; the Vinyl Stack looks German but is domestic. Good companies, good products. Highly recommended.

Oh dear...

Terry, 
It seems the Vinyl Stack Kit is reasonably priced but does it include a tank and if so what are the exact dimensions. Is a wider tank more handy in practice ? Do they provide any chemicals/solvents, or are they needed at all ? And how much time does it take to clean one record set ?

I just got the newest iteration of the Pro-Ject (marketed as the MK II in the UK) and have been pleased with it.  I paid $499, and the dealer threw in a dust cover. I still use my Spin Cleaner for the really dirty records first...don’t want to stress the new baby yet 🙂.   I am still experimenting with my cleaning process.  

The company has a recommended cleaning process of adding drops of their (diluted) cleaning liquid, turn on the machine rotation, use the goat-hair brush to spread the liquid, reverse the rotation and use the brush again, then vacuum two rotations and reverse for two more rotations.  

My dealer recommended another process that he uses for his record cleaningservice: he uses a Spin Cleaner for the initial cleaning of very dirty records, then attaches the record and cover, adds liquid, then gently scrubs with a Mobile Fidelity cleaning brush.  He then vacuums the machine in one direction.  

I have seen a marked improvement in the sound quality, and my cleaning and drying time is halved.  Love the fact the RCM has no platter.  I have had only two minor problems:  the aluminum arm rests on a plastic collar and is so tight I could not manipulate it; a little engine grease fixed that.  Also, the vacuum arm when fully swung over touches the record lock and causes aluminum shavings to fall on the record.   Slightly adjusting the vacuum arm avoids this. The factory-provided liquid seems to work well

Hi,  I'm considering a VPI 16.5 ($800) versus a Pro-Ject VC-e ($499) or VC-S2 ($699).
The VCI does not have a reverse button; The VC-E apparently has a hole on the base below the record which is sucked up when spinning the records so the bottom side of the record gets dirty while being cleaned. I heard they have a plate to cover this that they are including in newer models.

I'd appreciate any recommendations, i.e. which brand and model would you recommend and is the reverse feature that important in cleaning albums?