Looking for advise and recommendations on a nice record cleaner.


Hello,

I have a McIntosh MT10 and a good size collection of records. 

I noticed some of my records not sounding like they use to. 

I was told that my records were dirty and to look into a good record cleaner. 

I am now here for recommendations and where to look to solve my issue. 

128x128uavnola

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

@uavnola  How much do you want to spend? The best record cleaner costs $6000.

For value I would suggest The Nessie Vinylmaster. Any record cleaner that does not use vacuum drying should be avoided at all cost. This includes most ultrasonic units. The air is full of debris, if you fan dry or air dry a record that debris sticks to the vinyl rapidly. Vacuum drying removes all of the fluid and debris from the record. A dry surface is less likely to gather dust and debis than a wet one. Another factor is you do not want a cleaner that reuses it's fluid. Always use fresh fluid to clean a record. 

If you want to go for broke the Clearaudio Double Matrix Sonic Pro is fully automated, uses fresh fluid for each cleaning and does both sides of the record at the same time making it the fastest cleaner out there, but it is not cheap. 

If you are interested I can give you the recipe for a great cleaning fluid that is for vacuum cleaners only. It kills static and lubricates the record. Records are definitely quieter using this fluid. 

@cleeds ​​@dogberry  The KL uses blowers to dry the record, https://klaudio.com/kd-cln-lp200t-lp-vinyl-record-ultrasonic-cleaner-dryer

Unfortunately, this is just as bad, maybe worse than plain air drying in a rack. Any contaminants dissolved in the water remain on the record as water evaporates. This is the main reason I did not get one. The set up is also awkward with a tank on the floor. 

I would like to see an unbiased study on what method produces the cleanest record. US cleaners being better is an assumption based on assumptions. I am stuck following my own logic which I admit is based on assumptions. 

@pindac I have yet to see  scanning electron microscope pictures of records cleaned by various methods. It is all assumption, all of it. Some is actually mythology. IMHO the best cleaning method is the one that is most convenient, fast and uses vacuum drying.  Others feel differently and that is why Howard Johnson's made 28 flavors.