I finally bought a record cleaning machine $

Rushton, you nailed it. The playback system has much to do with it. I have a TNT6/Wheaton/Helikon, Linn/Ittok/Grado, Oracle/SME/Blackbird and Horizon/Rega/Denon connected in my system at all times. I like them all but the VPI wins handsdown when it comes to music coming from a black background.

Wendell

CMO I have static problems in the winter and humidity problems in the summer. Both of these affect the sound of LPs. DOn't spend a bunch of money, but I wonder if a device for measuring relative humidity would let you get a handle on some of the static problem.

Plato do you have some problem with mental instability? Nothing Albert said deserved the scathing response you let fly. He was simply relating his experience!

Albert struggles to pay the bills and put food on the table just like anyone who posts here. I have known him for a couple of years and visited him twice. I have never observed him looking down on another person, or speaking abusively about their situation. I have seen him go out of his way to help a fellow traveler, and take a financial loss when one of those travelers stole from Albert when he was trying to help.

Rushton and Albert: If you will refer back to my post (the forth one down) you'll notice I said the same thing as regards RCF residue (not that it doesn't bear repeating, of course.) I strongly urge all of you, if you haven't done so already, to read Justin_time's two (rather lengthy but really good) posts on the subject. You can find them by typing RCF in the search field.

It's been my experience that the 16.5 is very critical about the angle of the pick up brush. It seems to leave a lot of gunk behind if not adjusted just so. The gunk ends up on the stylus which is definitely not good. I'd rather run the vacuum too long and then deal with the possibility of static rather than run the risk of having the record half-vacuumed.

Plato and others, I am sorry if my choice of words came off sounding wrong.

The following comments are in no way meant to gain sympathy, I don't need sympathy. What I would like is a little understanding.

When I was a young boy, our family was very poor. I vividly remember one Christmas getting a record of Gene Autry (something I had begged for months earlier).

I was so excited that I accidentally pressed against it with my knee while helping my younger sister. The record broke and I never got another copy.

Typical gifts for Christmas were jeans, socks and underwear for school and one good gift, accompanied by a secondary gift of a stocking filled with fresh fruit, pecans and walnuts.

Lots of people struggled back then, my sister and I had a VERY good life with wonderful loving parents, plenty of good food and my dog.

What I never had were the things that most young boys ask for and dream of. A new boy scout knife or flashlight, a camper tent , a BB Gun. Mostly I did with a surplus green Army blanket as a tent and an old knife my granddad gave me.

Deprived? Hardly, there were kids at my school that begged fellow students for change to come up with the 20 cents necessary to buy a hot lunch. Their parents could not afford the cash outlay.

I had it good, compared to many but it did teach me to not be wasteful.

Later as I grew up and graduated from high school, bought my first motor cycle from proceeds of my paper route (stated at 11 years old) and my way into the "toys" I always wanted.

In college I worked full time at LTV Aerospace, paying my own way through school. I got the job at LTV by working at a grain and feed store for spending money and attending night classes in order to qualify to for the job application at LTV.

What does all that have to do with audio? Not a damn thing, except I love music. It's my only passion other than my family. So when I post a comment that my software is too precious for me to destroy due to my negligence, it's my way of saying I respect how hard a buck is to come by. I don't waste any money and every penny in my audio system was a smart buy and paid for by hard work.

I almost feel I should apologize for this explanation. It's difficult reading words on a page to know if someone is angry, sincere or what emotion is being expressed. I am not angry, not upset. Just hopeful you guys understand.