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.
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.