2. analog
  3. 124008-527

Why are record cleaners so expensive?

Full disclosure: I have only the Spin-Clean record cleaner and a Hunt EDA brush to clean my vinyl, but as someone who's been in the digital side of audiophilia for decades, and as someone who knows how much gear can get in any dedicated hobby, I'm still curious as to why a high end vinyl cleaner can cost more than three grand.

I'm not disputing the price; after all, Smith said that something's worth whatever someone pays for it. Moreover, a high end record cleaner might be able to do things to vinyl that nothing else can. Still, paying three grand for an Audio Desk cleaner seems a bit out of reason. $3K can buy a good set of speakers; a hand-made fly-fishing rod based on your height and weight and arm length; two weeks at a Fijian resort for two; a custom-made suit from an Italian mill. So why is a glorified vacuum cleaner $3K?

Again, not flaming, just curious. Enlighten me?

s
simao

Showing 1 response by bondmanp

bondmanp
1,832 posts
 

I buy most of my LPs at shows used.  So a cleaner is very important.  But like the OP, I have a tight budget.  Two of the best values in record cleaners, IMHO are:

http://kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/

I own this cleaner, and hook it up to a standard canister vacuum.  Does the job pretty well.  I use a one-step cleaner since I lack the patience and time for a multi-step process.  Then I finish with this:

http://www.amazon.com/In-The-Groove-Record-Cleaner/dp/B004MG9YYQ/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=14598574...


But if I were buying today, I'd pay the extra $40 and get this cleaner, which I feel is the best value in vacuum record cleaners out there today:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RDV



More to discover