To Vacuum or Ultrasonic my vinyl?

I recently got back into vinyl and my collection is around 50. I bought a Vinyl Styl Deep Groove thinking that it's more labor intensive but my records would still get clean. Well I'm not impressed. Biggest reason was after one cleaning the fluid was no longer clean. It doesn't have a good filter even if you did dump the fluid back into the bottle on every record with the filter they provide. The grooves aren't getting cleaned enough. No biggie, it was cheap on Amazon.

So I'm am struggling between getting a Project VC-S mk2 RCM or the Kirmuss Ultrasonic RCM. The Kirmuss seems very labor intensive. Does anyone know if the Kirmuss does a far superior cleaning over the Project VC-S to justify the extra time needed to clean each record? Or is there another ultrasonic RCM better than the Kirmuss around the same price?

 

Dunno about the Project, but my old Record Doctor vacuum cleaner has relegated to drying duty only since I purchased the Kirmuss. Pops and clicks are significantly reduced on nearly every record I’ve tried, in some cases dramatically. Every record I’ve cleaned was previously vacuum cleaned, and after every batch of 20-25 records there is always visible crud in the bottom of the tank. I’m an ultrasonic convert.

Negatives-yep, it’s time consuming. Every record needs at least 2 cycles and some of mine have needed up to 6 to get completely clean. Doing 20-25 records will take you the better part of an afternoon. I would buy from a vendor that offers the top plate that accommodates 3 LP’s and one 45 (unless you have a significant collection of 10 inchers, I only have 10 or so in my collection and those were done in my first day of use), that would reduce the time spent cleaning. Also, the surfactant refills are expensive-I’m going to try the recipe on Paul Rigby’s theadiophileman.com site soon (I highly recommend reading his lengthy 2 part review).

That being said, the size of your collection seems disproportionate to the cost of a Kirmuss. I’ve got over 1200 LP’s and I shop a lot for used records.

 

The Kirmuss really works, but wow it's labor intensive. Also at $900 that would be $18 per record. I would recommend that you either purchase the Spin-Clean record solution and use it in your Vinyl-Styl or just get the Spin-Clean. After cleaning, rinse your records with distilled water and dry with a lint free cloth.

 

For a small collection you may want to consider one of the less expensive RCMs:

Squeaky Clean Vinyl Record Care

VinylBug – Record Cleaning Systems

I’m using the VinylBug with Tergikleen and getting great results.

 

Agree. I recently got a VinylBug, and it has made me wish I had skipped the GrooveWasher and Spin Clean systems altogether (because I could have just had the VinylBug to start out for less than I spent on my previous cleaning solutions over the preceding years, though I’m not sure how long these have even been available, so maybe it wasn’t an even an option back then). If you’re looking for/open to advice on what may be the best value to effectively clean a small record collection, this may be a good option for you.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. My collection is small because I just recently got back into vinyl. I'll probably end up with about 150-200 records total.

 

Loricraft old fashioned but just works.

 

I bought a ultrasonic cleaner:



For 950 SEK.

Then I bought a motor for 5 records at the same time:

For 977 SEK.
Now I can clean stuff including records.
And also use it to cook
Sousvide meals!

What other RCM can you do that with?

 

LOL

 

You really need to use the 'search' function and see what has all been said before.

For me it's ultra sonic all the way!!!!!

 

Both.

 

If I had space - absolutely... May be I still will go with it eventually.

 

If you can only choose one, then go with a vacuum based cleaner because, IMO (having used both), you'll still need to get a vacuum based cleaner of some sort wwhen using an ultrasonic.

Since you only aim to have 150-200 records I'd go with one of the cheaper versions listed earlier.

I dumped my ultrasonic set up after conducting tests. I found it cleaned no better than a vacuum based cleaner.

 

All depends on your listening habits. Loads of different ones here. For instance, some spend hours cleaning their LPs and putting them away. Personally, I find that not only tedious but unnecessary as the sleeve will introduce, in my experience, some level of dust anyway, even if minor.

So I just use the RCM and put the LP right after on my turntable for immediate listening. Some would scoff at that.

Meanwhile, I don't want to wait 20 min or whatever amount of time it takes for an US cleaner to do its cycle. 30 secs on my vacuum-based RCM is all that's needed. For my needs and wants, an Okki Nokki is perfect.

 

Yep. But imagine - clean with US cleaner, then add surfacant such as L'Art du Son and vacuum dry it... Would it be perfect? ))

 

No. Nothing ever is. Some obsess to a ridiculous extreme with this stuff. This solution or that extra step, a rinsing cycle with pure water, using an US and then RCM or the opposite, etc. It's an insane rabbit hole I could never muster the energy to even fake being interested in. Get one that'll satisfy *your* needs. If you're the obsessive anal type with hours upon hours to spend on a cleaning regimen and believe the tales of incredible superior clarity by using this or that solution, device, or ritual, go right ahead.

Me, I don't have the money, time, or willingness to go through any of that so a simple vacuum-based RCM is all I need and I've been very pleased with the results. No rinsing cycle, no 3-step program. Just one solution, 2 rotations, and I'm done. Sounds amazing and quiet and takes all of 30 secs/side.

 

Yeah, I just want to get the clicks and pops out. One solution and a couple of rotations is usually fine (I spray enough solution on that it’s not going to dry out enough to need a rinse; the vacuum gets it up). I can do more if I have something particularly dirty, but I’m not going to spend more than a few minutes on most records.

 

Too much effort for ultrasonic cleaning. So I ordered a Pro-ject VC-S.

 

Find a way if you can. To my ears the improvement in vocal clarity with US was a game changer and absolutely worth the trouble. Certainly some records more than others depending on how and where they were stored and for how long. I do agree with Strat though, just do what you feel is worth your time. Even moderate cleaning will save your stylus.

 

I am inching close to full retirement, so in theory I will have lots of time on my hand... )). For now I am good with Pro-ject VC-S.

 

If you're one that really pays attention to vocals you'll really appreciate the difference for the time and effort spent. Bob Seger never sounded so good as he did after the US treatment.

 

And more immediately obvious than that, the music won't be polluted with that extra noise (pops, clicks)!

 

I have used a 4 to 5 min per LP steam/RCM cycle with RO water for many years and apart from scratches, most sound as near mint as I could want.

My main reason for cleaning has always been to avoid damage & prolong the life of a stylus because if we are being honest, no matter how much time is spent cleaning or whatever method is used, vinyl will never sound absolutely silent in quiet patches or between tracks when compared to a digital source (OK with me because most live music has background noise too).

In common with Strat-Mangler I'm just not prepared to spend excessive time cleaning that can be better spent enjoying music.

 

Good deal!
My listening habits are 80+% are in 1969-1979, which I bought recently (my original collection was destroyed some time ago in a flood). Lots of records I have required double wash to just sound reasonably well - they been through many years of neglect, baking in atticks and molding in basements, being for 25 years in rooms with heavy smokers, you name it..
In a weird way I like to clean records - they like babies to me, some nice and clean, some rough and mischievous.. I always put them in new inners and outers (I use 308 and, thanks to this forum suggestion, ultraviolet light to clean jackets from smell, bacteria, etc). It is a part of a routine. An extra US cleaning step will not bother me at all, time-wise for sure. Just need to clean up space to put near RCM and off we go )).

 

Welcome aboard matey. Good luck stopping at 200 LP's. Once you get vinyl fever there is no end.