Is it worth purchasing the VPI 16.5?

Best money I have spent on audio gear.... It is amazing how much better the records sound after cleaning.

I just got mine yesterday, and cleaned three LP's from the 70's this evening. VPI recommends useing a dirty, dispensable record, when using for the first time. I found that dirty old scrached up LP, which used to belong to a Drummer friend of mine. I listened to it first, then washed and vacumed it, useing Record Research Lab Super Deep Cleaner and then with RRL Super Vinyl Wash. I was impressed with the results, as most of the snap, crackel, pop noise from the debris traped in the grooves were reduced to less then half, but obviously it won't take the scratches away, as a matter of fact, I think it enhanced the noise from the scratches, by cleaning and sucking out the debris that had been traped in there after all these years, creating a larger, cleaner, deeper gap for the stylus to run over. As for one of my records from the late 60's, that has no scratches or finger prints, and never been cleaned - I was very impressed with the results. So yes, for me, since I love my vinyl it was worth purchasing the 16.5

Yes, it's worth it. however, follow the advice of raytheprinter and use Disc Doctor brushes. Also read up on different cleaning solutions, many of us here use Record Research Labs (RRL) although there is at least one other people swear by. Happy listening.

Rfigster

The VPI 16-5 is well worth the money. It is built like a tank and the only upkeep is a brush replacement now and then. However, the most important aspect is that LP's before cleaning and the same LP's after being cleaned are just not the same records. The sound is soooo much more revealing in everyway. And it deminishes the surface noise considerably.

No LP gets to my VPI 'Scout' without being cleaned by the VPI 16.5 first. Indispensiable.

Regards,

AEW

I have owned a VPI 16.5 for probably 10 years now. I've replaced the vacuum tube several times. I remember debating when I bought it--do I really need something to clean my records like this? Well, I wouldn't be without it now. I don't see many used on the market--and that should tell you something, because as you can tell, a lot of people own them.