Record Cleaning Machine


I'm looking for a good quality RCM for about $500-$700. I've narrowed down my choices to the VPI HW-16.5 and the Nitty Gritty 1.5.

A friend is suggesting the Nitty Gritty due to the fact that the design of this unit minimizes the chances of "decontaminating" the cleaned side of the LP.

Comments?
agiaccio
Buy used the first time. I recently bought a co-workers used NG 1.5Fi for $125 - a steal IMHO. My first RCM - wished I had done it sooner. It clenas the LPs so ggod and they look prisitne when I remove them from the RCM. I will replace the scrubbing strip and capstan drive roller. I am very happy with this model.
agiaccio: A good RCM is just one part of the plan ... Do remember that Steam Cleaning is a perfect marriage to any RCM ,,,The cheaper the RCM the better !!
I would go for the VPI. There are many advantages to the VPI. It has a platter and washes right side up!

You can scrub with the fluid/brush of choice and then rinse with distilled water if required. The NG washes upside down and there is no way scrubbing manually. You cannot see what's going on. I have gone through 2 NG machines (2.5fi) without getting any good success. I cannot and would not recommend. Just got a VPI typhoon a couple days ago. What a difference.
I use a set of Beretta shooting protection "earmufs" while cleaning with my VPI. I'm protecting what hearing I have left after 30 years in the military. They're easy enough to use, so I do.

OTOH, I've never had the machine overheat, perhaps I clean (as I do everything else) too slowly.

Either machine would do the trick. I do notice, tho, that 16.5 users seem to get 20 years out of the machine without trouble.