Loricraft Record Cleaning

Jfrech -

Hi John. We had corresponded in the past. I went from the 16.5 to the Loricraft. To compare both machines, I would clean an LP on the 16.5 and listen to a cut. I would then clean with the Loricraft using the same fluid and listen again. The results were consistant for each LP. Lp's cleaned on the Loricraft were very noticably quieter with a lower noise floor, blacker more grainless background, better sense of space and depth and more tranaparent.

I would then clean the lp again thinking that maybe it was the second cleaning (first cleaned on the 16.5, listen and then clean on the Loricraft). After I would clean again on the 16.5, I lost the effects I heard after it was cleaned on the loricraft. My guess is that the wand that is used on the 16.5 would recontaminate the lp even though I would keep it clean.

The only drawback is that it takes longer and is more combersome using the Loricraft.

In my opinion...there IS no drawback. The Loricroft produces better results. Plus, it is quieter.....quiet enough to listen to records on the turntable while cleaning. A BIG plus, in my book!

Not cUmbersome at all.

I recently received the TW brand Hannl Mera EL. All I can say is that love it. It is semiautomatic in some ways. It uses a higher rotation speed as the default speed for the scrubbing process. It uses the lowest speed for vacuuming. The pump puts the right amount of fluid each time. It is quiet. And I don't hate cleaning records as I did before. The explanations above are perfect. I can set the suction higher if need be. I don't have static problems and can replace the vacuum arm if I want to do a manual application using a multi step process. While I am sure they work, I don't care for them. I always did a double rinse w. my VPI but using the Hannl fluid alone for me is good enough. Every LP sounds very good. I am sure the Loricraft is better, but I don't have the time & patience to deal w. its quircks. I want something that works for me. Not me for it. That is why I bought a RCM. Mind you, the vacuum is quiet enough that I can talk on the phone while cleaning records. It also has a fan to keep the motor cool and the extras aren't ridiculously priced. You don't need to screw on a piece of plastic to hold down the record. It is a puck that you just push on. The puck also seals the label from getting fluid on it. The suction tube is not plastic, but I think anodized aluminum. I can clean records at night without waking up the neighbors. Highly recommended. I considered the Loricraft. I believe it is better since it tracks each groove individually. But what good is it if you don't use it at will. Next to try L'Art du Son fluid. The 2 sided machines sound interesting but I can't imagine the upside down side getting as clean as the top. Finally, my records sound better than w. the 16.5. Is it the fluid (I was using RRL & DW) or the machine. I just don't care. It sounds better and I use it.

I used to have my cleaning woman clean my LPs w. the 16.5. That is how much I hated it. Now I do it myself.

Dgad, I also have the TW Hannl and agree with all your comments except for the supplied fluid.
I found it left my records with audible clicks and pops and disappointed me immensely.
When I changed to the L'Art du Son fluid, things were much better.

Dgad... congrats on getting the Hannl RCM. I have mine a few weeks now, and it's hard to imagine being without it. The x-2000 fluid that came with it is OK, but the L'Art du Son does a much better job. Make sure you find some really pure water to mix with it. I found some reagent grade water and it makes the records shine after cleaning. I also bought new inner sleeves for the freshly cleaned records.

I just got 300-400 used records from friends as a birthday gift, so I've been busy cleaning them and cataloging them in Music Collector. Lots of good hours of music ahead.

Paul

Thanks Paul & Halcro.
Going to order L'Art Du Son today. I wish I got presents of LPs. Unfortunately all my US friends build vinyl collections for free.

Paul, is Music Collector free or sharewware? I keep entering everything is a big spreadsheet. I rate the quality of sound, pressing, condition of LP, how much I spent & how I cleaned it. It is a pain, but I keep finding I buy things I already have so I have to do it.

Dgad,

It's a commercial program at www.collectorz.com. I have the Movie Collector Pro and also the Music Collector Pro. The Music Collector Pro is of course oriented toward CD's, but it still does a great job on records. You enter the name of the album and it will search several locations on the internet for the album data. Most time it finds the equivalent CD, but that's OK. On CD's you can even scan the bar code, or put the CD into your computer drive and it will read the info directly.

It then imports the album cover, track info, etc into its' data base. You can then manually edit anything. Then like a good data base, you can search on any field.

The software comes from the Netherlands and I've been using it for 4-5 years. The probably have a free trial version that you could download. Give it a try.

Paul

Paul,

Thanks.