Do I need a record cleaning machine

Taters you may be buying new now but if you are just getting into vinyl you will most certainly be purchasing used also. I cleaned my vinyl in many different ways manually. When i realized i would be buying a lot of vinyl because of its superior sound getting a RCM was a no brainer. Ease of use for one and if you include a steamer the results are fantastic. The low cost VPI 16.5 does all thats needed and will pay for its self with the time saved cleaning your collection and new purchases. If you are going to get a few lps here and there then search manual cleaning methods. All vinyl new and used needs to be cleaned to achieve the best sound.

I use an old Keith Monks Record Cleaner. Easy, cheap, effective and does the trick. Bit noisy though. I agree with the others - a wet cleaner is pretty essential if you have any sized record collection.

Charlie

Yes. Buy an RCM and clean your new records.

I lived without one for about 20 years and my mint, new, or very clean vinyl sounded great. The reason I bought my VPI was because I buy so much used vinyl now (I find great deals in abundance).

So, now that I have the machine, I use it on EVERYTHING. Let me tell you, I should have done it years ago. It is not just pops and clicks disappearing, it is more dynamic and resolving.

Buy it. You wont regret it. And if not, sewll it on Agon!

I don't clean brand new vinyl, but after a record has been played once, then yes, I will clean it before each subsequent playing. It makes a HUGE difference. As someone else mentioned earlier, the AIVS fluids are excellent. You also don't have to pay a ton of money for a really good machine. If you don't mind turning it by hand, you can buy the Nitty Gritty Record Doctor 3 from Audio Advisor - very inexpensive. It does a great job. You will not be sorry.