Record Cleaning

I own a VPI 16.5, and I am very happy with the job it does. I use the VPI fluid and have yet to experiment with others. Ihave heard the disc doctor is good, are there any others? I do agree that you need two separate brushes for used and new records. but owning a cleaning machine really opens up new music to you for low expense.

 

Do you use the standard VPI fluid?

 

Andy, yes at this point, I use VPI fluid. I bought a gallon when I purchased the machine. Any feedback on other fluids would be greatly appreciated. My experience with new lps is that I don't clean them unless I see a need to or hear noise, as sometimes they have come out worse after cleaning. more ticks and pops.

 

I haven’t made the plunge into machine cleaning yet. I use disc doctor fluid on most of my records. I have also found that some records have more noise after a cleaning. The sound comes out better but there is also more vinyl noise. I’ve also tried last power cleaner fluid with the old discwasher brush. I haven’t decided how I like that combo yet.

 

Yes , Machine cleaning will make real dirty records much more playable. But also I have found that a second cleaning will help clear things up. As for jvc supervinyl, I try to keep them off the machine whenever possible.

 

I find the Disc Doctor cleaner to be awesome! It's cleaned stuff I thought would never quiet down. I had been using VPI's cleaner (manually) and recently tried out the DD. I'm sold on it.

I'd love to have a record cleaner, but until I can swing it, the DD stuff works for me...

 

Ya know, I was finding this too, but only on some records ... Just this weekend, I cleaned and played Side 1 of my newly arrived Classic Songs for Beginners LP by Graham Nash, and I heard what I thought was an undue amount of noise between cuts for a brand-new audiophile LP.

I remembered reading in a Michael Fremer column on Disc Doctor products in Stereophile that not rinsing well enough with distilled water can result in extra snap crackle & pop. So I recleaned the record and this time really made sure I scrubbed just as firmly with the water as I had done with the fluid.

When I put the record back on the turntable, it was DEAD quiet. I was quite relieved ... I always do two rinse cycles but I realized I don't always scrub as hard during those as I do with the fluid ... Now I know that's what I have to do for best results.

 

Thanks Jeff.

 

I also have the 16.5. Started with just the VPI fluid and 1 gallon purified water.

I have since begun to mix about 12 oz of 100% Isopropyl alcohol to the mix.

This new mix works much better than just the standard solution form VPI.

You may want to give it a shot.

What a great machine...