Durable record vacuum cleaner recommendation?
I am looking for a durable record vacuum machine. Any recommendations?
Ideally will also do 10" and 7", and be on the quieter side. Should be able to handle some volume without breaking.
Background: my Project VC-S is busted; vacuum motor got noisy to 95dB at 1 m, a bit much, IMHO. ~$250 motor part with no returns and no guaranteed compatibility is a non-starter. This is already a replacement unit for one with bad gears for the platter. So Pro-ject is out of the running.
In the last couple of months, I used the unit quite a bit (around 1K records vacuumed) as I got an ultrasonic and go through my entire collection.
Thanks for any leads and recommendations, particularly if you have run a few thousand records through your unit with no issues.
@oberoniaomnia if you have the $$ look at the ClearAudio Double Matrix US. It scrubs, does US and vacuum’s both sides at the same time. Some members here have this RCM. Have read good reviews, not too many negative reviews. If my RCM stops working I would consider the CA. Joe |
The Record Doctor X is half of what the VPI is, plus it'll clean both sides and rotates both directions. It only supports the label area, which I have found to be no big deal, and vacuuming bidirectionally gets all the liquid off. That's with 130 gm vinyl, too. It's loud but it's not going to damage your hearing! I got an ear protector gizmo when I ordered it, but immediately realized that was unnecessary, even though the machine is n a small bathroom. I noticed Crutchfeld has these and others on backorder now. Maybe an order placed now avoids tariffs. VPI likely uses all-American components but is expensive. All thngs (price) being equal, I'd still get the RD. |
I went away from a VPI 16.5 as I had reliability problems with the latest version.(the older models are far more reliable and better built). |
What I do with the HW17, because I find that a distilled water rinse is worth the effort, is to wash with cleaning solution dispensed from the tank via the brush, scrub in both directions with brush, then vacuum, then rinse with distilled water from a squirt bottle, then vacuum again. A plastic squeeze bottle with a nozzle is cheap and easy to find, for the water rinse. |
