How good is a RCM?

tricka · « **on:** 31 Jul 2012, 10:08 pm »

Broke out the Okki Nokki last night and cleaned some vinyl with some AIS formula 6 (the 1 step - I'm lazy). Wow. Double wow.

I'd forgotten what clean vinyl sounds like. Not only a much lower noise floor but so much more detail. Great improvement.

I guess in the US most folks would be running a VPI - they seem the go over there.

Anyone else a cleaning convert?

jtwrace · « **Reply #1 on:** 31 Jul 2012, 10:14 pm »

Yes, I use a Nitty Gritty with great results.

tricka · « **Reply #2 on:** 31 Jul 2012, 10:17 pm »

what cleaning solution do you use mate?

I thought about a nitty gritty but they are hard to find here. Seem top value.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #3 on:** 31 Jul 2012, 10:38 pm »

Especially for really old musty, moldy records I use AP solution. It has both detergent and anti mold agents. For new records I just use the Mint cleaner (which comes with new strips for the VPI wand).

TONEPUB · « **Reply #4 on:** 31 Jul 2012, 10:41 pm »

Always used one. Started with Nitty Gritty in the early 80's. VPI and Clearaudio about 5 years ago, upgraded to Loricraft and now use the Audio Desk Systeme.

Clean is good.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #5 on:** 31 Jul 2012, 10:48 pm »

And Spin Clean is a great inexpensive place to start.

SteveFord · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Aug 2012, 12:05 am »

VPI 17 for me.

J-Pak · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Aug 2012, 01:33 am »

The most invaluable "tweak" I've added to my system was a record cleaning machine.

threadkiller · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Aug 2012, 05:00 am »

Yep! A must. VPI 16.5. Best thing VPI makes

roscoeiii · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Aug 2012, 05:41 am »

VPI 16.5 is great. Got a great deal for a used one on eBay. Then the motor was burnt out. So I got a new motor, a full refund and a 16.5 that finally cleans like a charm.

pumpkinman · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Aug 2012, 09:11 am »

A 16.5 for me "plus" steam yes it makes a difference

Check it out from fellow A/C member DaveyW

http://daveyw.edsstuff.org/vinyl/S&VVC/

jtwrace · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Aug 2012, 11:29 am »

Quote from: tricka on 31 Jul 2012, 10:17 pm

what cleaning solution do you use mate?

I thought about a nitty gritty but they are hard to find here. Seem top value.

Pure2 mostly but also have Pure Water and Enzyme.

You might want to contact kabusa.com and maybe he can help you on a NG as he does international shipping.

tricka · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 11:13 am »

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

Nope got a Okki Nokki from Germany: $600 on my door step. Shipping from the USA is a killer these days.

cheap-Jack · « **Reply #13 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 02:19 pm »

Hi.

Quote from: tricka on 31 Jul 2012, 10:08 pm

I'd forgotten what clean vinyl sounds like. Not only a much lower noise floor but so much more detail. Great improvement.

Anyone else a cleaning convert?

Quote from: tricka on 2 Aug 2012, 11:13 am

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

Nope got a Okki Nokki from Germany: $600 on my door step. Shipping from the USA is a killer these days.

You may call me cheap again. $600 or more to start plus detergents to paid for ever?

Not for cheap skate like me, budds. Yet I can get superb details from my many hundreds LPs (most most of them were recyled from thrift stores for only 75cents a pop) on WET play.

When I can hear the soul capturing powerful voice of Pavarotti & sentimental delicate throaty voice of Victoria de los Angeles from their 75-cent recycled LP recordings without using a RCM, I should not complain.

c-J

threadkiller · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 02:30 pm »

True, and agree, many goodies in the bargain bins.
But just think what you're doing to your stylus..

roscoeiii · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 02:39 pm »

Quote from: cheap-Jack on 2 Aug 2012, 02:19 pm

Hi.
You may call me cheap again. $600 or more to start plus detergents to paid for ever?

That's why I always try to remind people of the Spin Clean option. $70 or so to start.

Gopher · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 02:45 pm »

Are there any good cheapie RCMs from China these days that have spinning platter and vacuum? Voltage wouldn't matter much as its not an audio piece and a step down wouldn't hurt sq, and I bet theres stuff for under $500 that looks better then the VPIs.

This Amari for $313 was one I found: http://www.cattylink.com/page287.html
Shipping is a little spendy though...

roscoeiii · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 02:53 pm »

Grant Fidelity sells what looks like the same RCM for $550:

http://shop.grantfidelity.com/Consonance-Vinyl-Record-Cleaning-Machine.html

And once you calculate shipping for the RCM you likned to, that one becomes a $554 RCM.

If you are going for under $500, I would grab a used VPI-16 or 16.5. (if you can live with their looks.) They are plentiful. And if you are patient you can get one for around $250-300 on eBay. And parts are easily available from VPI, as is an upgrade kit for conversion of 16 to 16.5 (a worthwhile upgrade).

cheap-Jack · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 02:54 pm »

Hi.

Quote from: threadkiller on 2 Aug 2012, 02:30 pm

True, and agree, many goodies in the bargain bins.
But just think what you're doing to your stylus..

No sweats. Budd.

Against all the odds about WET play, I have been wet playing since day one I started vinyl a few years back & the same MM cartridge with its same stylus is still chiming like a nightingale.

Please don't take in gossips.

c-J

threadkiller · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Aug 2012, 03:07 pm »

What is WET play? Haven't seen that before..