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overwhelmed by record rituals

Hi all-

I'm new to vinyl and starting to build a collection. Because I am just buying new audiophile quality vinyl (so far) it never occurred to me I should be washing the vinyl before I play it. So far my process has been to use a bit of Last stylus cleaner on the stylus (maybe after every 3 or 4 plays) and to use an Audioquest brush on the record before dropping the needle. I am starting to get some pops and clicks, though, so wondering if I should be doing more. I read through record rituals and I am a bit overwhelmed and looking for a simple process. My first question is if I should invest in a record cleaning machine before I invest in more vinyl? Is VPI a decent (modestly priced) one? Second, this article in Stereophile on Last record preservation made me wonder if I should be doing that?
http://www.stereophile.com/content/last-record-preservation-treatment
So I guess that would mean my process might be VPI (or other record cleaner) for a new record (and periodically, I'm assuming, after that) followed by a one time treatment with Last record preservative. Using the carbon Audioquest brush and Last stylus cleaner as I have been all along?

Any guidance?

Thanks!

mc
mcanaday
mcanaday OP
169 posts
 
Great piece, Bill. I love the interview with the Library of Congress specialist. Fascinating!
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
I've had a bunch of different cleaning machines, each of which I've thought where over-kill so I eventually sold all of them. These includes the VPI's: 16.5, 17F, and HW27 Typhoon, and a Clearaudio Matrix.

All worked well with the VPI 17 and 27 being incredibly powerful and easy to use.

I tried multi-step (Walker Audio) and single fluid (MOFI) washes among many others, and found that for old records the 3 step Walker Audio enzymes made the biggest difference, and with new records, just laboratory grade water.

With all of that said, I now have a Nitty Gritty Mini Pro 1 and find that the convenience of washing both sides at once have made me wash tons of albums. For newly bought older albums I still hand scrub both sides with the Walker system, but on any new or existing albums (cleaned when initially bought) a quick run through the Nitty Gritty washing both sides with laboratory grade water (from a scientist friend of mine's lab) is all I need.

Records have never sounded better. I think this is the one machine I will keep.

All of that said, if you buy lots of used records, the ultrasonic machines that are all the rage now and can clean multiple albums at a time make the most sense. If you've ever owned a Sonicare tooth brush, you know sound waves are a more effective way to clean surfaces.

So my recommendation is either buy the Nitty Gritty Mini Pro 1 and easily clean all the time, or buy one of the Sonic cleaners.

Then of course every time you play a record use a static proof brush, and a Zerostat Milty.

Cheers.
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
What about the "cover the LP with peanut butter and let insects eat it off" solution? My fave ACTUAL thing was when a guy from Rega suggested playing the LP and letting the needle do the work…really…by the way, the Spin Clean does both sides at once, and helps build up forearm strength.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
Audio Advisor has the Record Doctor V (a Nitty Gritty-style vacuum cleaner) on sale right now for $199.
mcanaday OP
169 posts
 
Hey, thanks! I just purchased the VPI 16.5. Looking forward to cleaning some records this weekend, I hope.

Thanks again for all the great suggestions here!
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