I finally bought a record cleaning machine $

I sort of have the same problem. I recently got the 16.5 thinking it would give me dead quiet vinyl. That has not been the case for me either. I have some new records that are pretty darn quiet, with just the occasional pop, but I also have new LPs that seem to have more than you would think a new one would. Maybe it's just the odd gem that you find that is totally quiet. I've bought some used LPs that look to be really good and sound horrible with constant popping. I have found that quickly rinsing the record and then vacuuming prior to listening helps a lot. I too wonder if it's a static thing or just the record and there's not much I can do about it.

All that said, having just gotten into vinyl after many years of owning high end systems I love it. The sound is immensly better than even the best digital systems that I've owned, and I've been learning to not focus to much on the noise and instead take in the vastly superior sound that the LP has.

Thanks for your thoughts so far guy's. Albert, I'm sure the records aren't damaged........... the noise isn't a real loud crackle ar anything, more like a background kind of distortion or static (and it happens on new and older stuff that I have owned for some time) and, it's not there before I use the RCM.

I live just down the road in Austin so it doesn't seem like our climates would be too different but, maybe so (it hasn't rained here very much lately).

I wonder; what kind of brush are other people using to scrub with. Could that make a difference?

Chris

Check out Justin_time post currently on the forum right now:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1126313662&read&3&zzlJustin_time&&

He's a real chemistry guru -- and, based on what he said (you should read it for yourself) it souns like what he describes a a classic case of record cleaning fluid residue. Check it out, it's very interesting.

Chris, I just read your post again where you say you try not to run the vacuum any more than possible.

That could be part of the problem, leaving wet residue on the LP to dry out and cause noise. I vacuum my LP's six or seven revolutions after each wash (three times total).

First time after Record Research Deep Clean, second time after Record Research Vinyl Wash and third time after Last treatment (and Record Research AGAIN) before play.

Try that and see if it helps. If not, it must be set up. I wish Austin was a bit closer, I would visit and look over the set up. Your welcome to visit here and experience the results for yourself if travel brings you to the D/FW area.

I hit the records that I clean with my DIY cleaning machine with the Zerostat every time. A quick carbon brush dust off before playing also helps,..

But, yes, I would suggest that you get a Milty and use it after cleaning with any kind of vacuum. This plus the actual vacuum cleaning has made a tremendous difference for me.