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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
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Bill said,

"I hope this helps."

It doesn't. I too have been collecting most of my life and I'm not sure there is a cleaning method I haven't tried. I always went back to a machine as the best tool to facilitate the process.

If you manually clean 6500 LPs, good for you!

BTW, I know that number was meant to impress. 6500 doesn't come close to the number of records I have purchased in the last 46 years. Who cares? It doesn't mean a thing.

Regards,

Wendell
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I too would love to know how Bill manually removes grunge-laden cleaning solutions from inside the grooves without vacuuming. If you don't remove it all quickly the liquid evaporates but the grunge remains behind - and nothing IME removes liquid from a groove faster or more completely than vacuuming.

Of course I only have 3,250 LP's, so I'm only half as qualified...
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Doug,

I agree. Manual cleaning can be quite effective but I've never discovered a better way to quickly and completely remove the fluid, from the record, without using a vacuum.
There are various ways to vacuum but none, in my experience,
as efficient as a purpose built machine.

Of course, Bill may have some special way I've never tried.

Wendell
tubetan
24 posts
 
VPI 16.5 = manual cleaning
VPI 17 = automatic cleaning
Both remove fluids via a vacuum wand.
handwashing = disappointment

Before we resort to snark and sarcasm, we should all be on the same page with terminology.

Eric
narrod
1,064 posts
 
No snark and sarcasm? What fun is that?

You make a good point and when Bill refers to manual cleaning he is not meaning to not use a vacuum to remove the fluid.

Wendell
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