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Record Cleaning Machine RCM

My present vinyl collection consists of about 100 LPs. On average, I purchase about 3-5 new LPs per year when the annual HI-FI Show comes to town. I've always purchased new with the odd purchase coming from friends for mint condition used LPs. My analog set-up is a VPI Scoutmaster.

I've read some very positive comments concerning the benefits of using a RCM and I'm serioulsy considering purchasing one.

For the money, I'm looking at the VPI HW-16.5 but I've read posts where people are complaining about how hot the unit gets due to the lack of a cooling fan while others have complainted about the noise. Should I be concerned?

My next choice up would be the VPI HW-17 but this unit costs about 2.5x more.

Suggestions / comments?
agiaccio
tubetan
24 posts
 
Headsnappin,

I know why the spindle gets hot. I've had the 16.5 for about three years now. I was describing a symptom for the benefit of the OP.

I do let the enzyme solution sit for about three minutes during the first of three cleaning cycles. That is why I can get through four or five LPs instead of just three before a cool-down is in order.

Thanks for responding to my previous post.

Eric
rotur
8 posts
 
HAving used the 16.5 in my LP store for 13years it never missed a beat and I would clean 100's of LPs a week. The thing I liked about the 16.5 was that you could monitor the application of the liquid and brushing as a manual exercise as opposed to the automated 17 which did not appeal to me. Noise is only a temporary issue as an LP will take 30secs to a min to do. As they go for 350-450 on Agon, it is a very wise investment IMHO.
Roman
headsnappin's avatar
headsnappin
295 posts
 
Hey Eric, have you tried a towel or a piece of carpet under the machine? It certainly helps lower the noise. It is a great machine, isn't it?
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
If you buy only 3-5 albums per year a manual machine is all you need.

No automatic machine can never compare with good brushes, a good solution, and elbow grease.

Save the unspent money and buy more vinyl.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Bill said,

"No automatic machine can never compare with good brushes, a good solution, and elbow grease."

Wow! I absolutely disagree with this statement. I find it as wrong as Roy Gandy's assertion that the stylus does all the cleaning a record requires.

I do agree that good results are possible with manual cleaning and it may be the best option for a small collection.

Wendell
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