I recently received the TW brand Hannl Mera EL. All I can say is that love it. It is semiautomatic in some ways. It uses a higher rotation speed as the default speed for the scrubbing process. It uses the lowest speed for vacuuming. The pump puts the right amount of fluid each time. It is quiet. And I don't hate cleaning records as I did before. The explanations above are perfect. I can set the suction higher if need be. I don't have static problems and can replace the vacuum arm if I want to do a manual application using a multi step process. While I am sure they work, I don't care for them. I always did a double rinse w. my VPI but using the Hannl fluid alone for me is good enough. Every LP sounds very good. I am sure the Loricraft is better, but I don't have the time & patience to deal w. its quircks. I want something that works for me. Not me for it. That is why I bought a RCM. Mind you, the vacuum is quiet enough that I can talk on the phone while cleaning records. It also has a fan to keep the motor cool and the extras aren't ridiculously priced. You don't need to screw on a piece of plastic to hold down the record. It is a puck that you just push on. The puck also seals the label from getting fluid on it. The suction tube is not plastic, but I think anodized aluminum. I can clean records at night without waking up the neighbors. Highly recommended. I considered the Loricraft. I believe it is better since it tracks each groove individually. But what good is it if you don't use it at will. Next to try L'Art du Son fluid. The 2 sided machines sound interesting but I can't imagine the upside down side getting as clean as the top. Finally, my records sound better than w. the 16.5. Is it the fluid (I was using RRL & DW) or the machine. I just don't care. It sounds better and I use it.
I used to have my cleaning woman clean my LPs w. the 16.5. That is how much I hated it. Now I do it myself.