Yo Grimace,
Back in August, I sold a Series 3 Sota Star Sapphire turntable with vacuum and Electronic Flywheel to a friend who wanted to add vinyl playback to his system. He had the turntable a few weeks and then invited me over for a listen. In the meantime he had upgraded the tonearm, the tonearm cable, the cartridge, bought a VPI HW-16.5, and a Perfection steamer.
My JAW DROPPED at how good his system sounded; his system killed mine (Sota Series 5 Nova, SME V, Koetsu RSP, Pass Labs Aleph Ono) and he had only been into vinyl for a few weeks or a month at most.
The first VPI HW-16.5 I owned was an older version and another friend borrowed it to clean some of his record-convention aquistions and never gave it back. He said let me write you a check for the record cleaner and I said "fine". That was a couple of years ago. Also, at the time I owned the first one, I was not aware of how steam cleaning your records can improve the removal of the mold-release agent used on records.
So, I am now the proud owner my second HW-16.5. I bought it new from a dealer who advertised it on Audiogon.
Watch the videos on YouTube by searching on the phrase "steam clean your records"... and then rush out and buy a Perfection Steamer (you might still be able to find one at Walgreens... they are about $30).
I also own the entire assortment of Osage record cleaning solutions that I bought from Jim Pendleton at RMAF last year. (BTW Jim's stuff is great and I am not affiliated with Osage in any way, just a satisfied customer.) His products plus steam cleaning improves the sound quality dramatically on new (unscratched) records. It takes an average sounding record with the occasional clicks and pops and reduces the surface noise to near CD quality.
The last thing that you will need is a package of Last Microfiber applicators (pun intended) from lastfactory dot com (also about $30).
The combination of the VPI HW-16.5, Perfection Steamer, Osage Solutions, and Last brushes will dramatically improve the sound quality of your records by allowing you to effectively clean the dried-on mold release off of your vinyl.
Back in August, I sold a Series 3 Sota Star Sapphire turntable with vacuum and Electronic Flywheel to a friend who wanted to add vinyl playback to his system. He had the turntable a few weeks and then invited me over for a listen. In the meantime he had upgraded the tonearm, the tonearm cable, the cartridge, bought a VPI HW-16.5, and a Perfection steamer.
My JAW DROPPED at how good his system sounded; his system killed mine (Sota Series 5 Nova, SME V, Koetsu RSP, Pass Labs Aleph Ono) and he had only been into vinyl for a few weeks or a month at most.
The first VPI HW-16.5 I owned was an older version and another friend borrowed it to clean some of his record-convention aquistions and never gave it back. He said let me write you a check for the record cleaner and I said "fine". That was a couple of years ago. Also, at the time I owned the first one, I was not aware of how steam cleaning your records can improve the removal of the mold-release agent used on records.
So, I am now the proud owner my second HW-16.5. I bought it new from a dealer who advertised it on Audiogon.
Watch the videos on YouTube by searching on the phrase "steam clean your records"... and then rush out and buy a Perfection Steamer (you might still be able to find one at Walgreens... they are about $30).
I also own the entire assortment of Osage record cleaning solutions that I bought from Jim Pendleton at RMAF last year. (BTW Jim's stuff is great and I am not affiliated with Osage in any way, just a satisfied customer.) His products plus steam cleaning improves the sound quality dramatically on new (unscratched) records. It takes an average sounding record with the occasional clicks and pops and reduces the surface noise to near CD quality.
The last thing that you will need is a package of Last Microfiber applicators (pun intended) from lastfactory dot com (also about $30).
The combination of the VPI HW-16.5, Perfection Steamer, Osage Solutions, and Last brushes will dramatically improve the sound quality of your records by allowing you to effectively clean the dried-on mold release off of your vinyl.