I’m too cheap to buy anything expensive, if I can get results manually. I can afford it, but have nowhere to set it up if I bought ...
I started cleaning my old LP’s, nasty, mine, or given to me by friends when they went to CD’s. Cleaned, they sound very good and quiet. I keep them or sell them on eBay.
mix my own cleaning fluid, manual spray bottle, a bit more than needed for 10. mostly 91% alcohol, some purchased mix, a few drops of wetting stuff from dishwasher machine. manual rinse with distilled water, pre-dry lint free cloth, in the 10 lp rack.
I scrub VIGOROUSLY with baby scalp scrub brushes
https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=289SP...=
your modern stylus profile is getting down into the grooves where old elliptical never reached. deep groove cleaning, then improved groove wall contact, they sound surprisingly good.
I protect the paper labels with the lid from a Chinese Soup container.
........................
In this listing, next to last photo, you can see what I worked out, cleaning and drying batches of 10 while listening in a perfect triangle. Normal listening chair is 4 feet behind, L & R projecting toed in, without table obstruction.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/George-Harrison/133555126055
Last photo is the Vintage TT I assembled with lots of help here. I just squeezed in a 3rd arm on left side, backwards, only 210mm spindle to pivot, and short counterweight rear portion (to fit inside the dust cover).
3 cartridges ready to go, back and forth during a listening session.
left side Grado Mono MM; rear arm is Stereo MM, replaceable stylus; long right side arm is Stereo MC which I love but don’t want to wear out playing ’not too special’ LP’s.
Mono Lp’s played via true Mono Cartridge can be better, much better, and vastly better than playing via Stereo Cartridge, even when using McIntosh ’Mono’ via it’s Mode Switch. A few old Jazz Mono LP’s were transformed from non-involving ’history’ lessons to very involving musical experiences. Not imaging, but nice distinction of individual players.
MM is no slouch Shure V15VxMR body with new Jico SAS stylus. MC, AT33PTG/II is favorite, Very similar performance to Shure, except Imaging is best due to wider channel separation and tighter channel balance improving sound and location of individual players.
.............................
Stylus, I keep a 20 power make-up mirror below the stylus
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXKFT6J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
typical little brush, gel pad, liquid stylus cleaner, Discwasher static brush.
I just cut small hunks off of these,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WNQV39L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also keep small alcohol wipes handy, if I encounter a ’blip’, I watch the track and spot on the label rotation, and manually clean that area with the pad, 9 times out of 10 it’s something you cannot see or feel.
I started cleaning my old LP’s, nasty, mine, or given to me by friends when they went to CD’s. Cleaned, they sound very good and quiet. I keep them or sell them on eBay.
mix my own cleaning fluid, manual spray bottle, a bit more than needed for 10. mostly 91% alcohol, some purchased mix, a few drops of wetting stuff from dishwasher machine. manual rinse with distilled water, pre-dry lint free cloth, in the 10 lp rack.
I scrub VIGOROUSLY with baby scalp scrub brushes
https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=289SP...=
your modern stylus profile is getting down into the grooves where old elliptical never reached. deep groove cleaning, then improved groove wall contact, they sound surprisingly good.
I protect the paper labels with the lid from a Chinese Soup container.
........................
In this listing, next to last photo, you can see what I worked out, cleaning and drying batches of 10 while listening in a perfect triangle. Normal listening chair is 4 feet behind, L & R projecting toed in, without table obstruction.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/George-Harrison/133555126055
Last photo is the Vintage TT I assembled with lots of help here. I just squeezed in a 3rd arm on left side, backwards, only 210mm spindle to pivot, and short counterweight rear portion (to fit inside the dust cover).
3 cartridges ready to go, back and forth during a listening session.
left side Grado Mono MM; rear arm is Stereo MM, replaceable stylus; long right side arm is Stereo MC which I love but don’t want to wear out playing ’not too special’ LP’s.
Mono Lp’s played via true Mono Cartridge can be better, much better, and vastly better than playing via Stereo Cartridge, even when using McIntosh ’Mono’ via it’s Mode Switch. A few old Jazz Mono LP’s were transformed from non-involving ’history’ lessons to very involving musical experiences. Not imaging, but nice distinction of individual players.
MM is no slouch Shure V15VxMR body with new Jico SAS stylus. MC, AT33PTG/II is favorite, Very similar performance to Shure, except Imaging is best due to wider channel separation and tighter channel balance improving sound and location of individual players.
.............................
Stylus, I keep a 20 power make-up mirror below the stylus
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXKFT6J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
typical little brush, gel pad, liquid stylus cleaner, Discwasher static brush.
I just cut small hunks off of these,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WNQV39L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also keep small alcohol wipes handy, if I encounter a ’blip’, I watch the track and spot on the label rotation, and manually clean that area with the pad, 9 times out of 10 it’s something you cannot see or feel.