It has been 40 years since I have been hifi recording and just before I started. I used to buy my vinyl.
Well within the last few years. I am back to purchasing vinyl again and playing those old LPs from the 80s.
Some are in better condition than others. so it was time to buy a record cleaner at last (I have been thinking about this for decades.)
I originally wanted a Keith Monks record cleaner. They were expensive then and even more so now.
In the end, I decided on a Pro-Ject VC-S2 record cleaning machine.
See link:
VC-S2 ALU – Pro-Ject Audio Systems (project-audio.com)
There are a few videos on YouTube, so I will not bother on pictures or a demo of it, but on my experience of using it.
First of all. It is bigger than I thought it would be.
It is an aluminium construction and pretty sturdy.
Now the cost is £450.
I managed to purchase this for £429 plus another 10% discount. So with postage (£5 nextr day) it was around £391
Not an insignificant amount.
For that amount of money. I expected a completely automated process.
Read on.
There is a spindle and clamp on which the 12" single or LP is placed
There is a 7" adapter available), Expect to pay another £110+
Project VC-S 7 Inch Arm and Clamp for 7 Inch Vinyl Records (hifix.co.uk)
The record is placed on a spindle and screw clamped.
The cleaning fluid is manually added.
The motor is turned on spinning the record and then the fluid is spread over the surface with a brush (supplied)
Leave for awhile and then the vacuum arm is moved in to position and the fluid is sucked off.
All done manually.
Now that is just a quick description and what I wanted to concentrate on, was the cleaning ability.
Pulling out one of my LPs from the 80s. I played a track before cleaning.
Yes the typical pops and clicks were there.
A clean with the record cleaner.
First impressions is that the record looked brand new.
All dust and marks had been removed.
So first of all. That was a plus point.
However, looks are not everything. So how was the sound quality?
Playing the cleaned record and the first thing I noticed was the reduced surface noise.
Now do not expect it to be noise free, because there is noise, but reduced. Reduced a lot
It made listening to my records a new experience.
Like the very first time it had been played.
It was a dream to play my records again.
If a record is in fairly good condition. It will sound better (noise wise)
If it is in a poor condition. It will sound a lot better.
So what to do with your cleaned record?
To complete my purchase. I have record inner and outer sleeves.
I have paper inner sleeves with an antistatic lining.
Do not expect miracle cure from record cleaners.
If you have a scratch. Then that scratch is there.
It's the same with certain clicks.
But is your record is dirty/dusty and there is noise because of this. Then a clean is a great idea.
I do have a carbon fibre brush (Originally a Hunt Eda) but it is no way as good as my cleaner. Though it costs a lot less!
£400+ is a lot of money
It comes with 100ml of cleaning fluid. Enough for 135 records.
Then there is the extra costs of buying a 7 adapter. Which I think should be included.
The cleaning fluid is not cheap.
I bought a litre for £50 (Amazon)
Plus 5 litres of distilled water for another tenner.
So for me. That is £450 of record cleaning stuff.
Do I think it was worth it?
Yes... and if you can afford it. Get one.
Sure I would like a completely automated process, but the one I found (Keith Monks) was over £2K
Overall. I am very happy with it.
Now my problem is where to place the damn thing
Well within the last few years. I am back to purchasing vinyl again and playing those old LPs from the 80s.
Some are in better condition than others. so it was time to buy a record cleaner at last (I have been thinking about this for decades.)
I originally wanted a Keith Monks record cleaner. They were expensive then and even more so now.
In the end, I decided on a Pro-Ject VC-S2 record cleaning machine.
See link:
VC-S2 ALU – Pro-Ject Audio Systems (project-audio.com)
There are a few videos on YouTube, so I will not bother on pictures or a demo of it, but on my experience of using it.
First of all. It is bigger than I thought it would be.
It is an aluminium construction and pretty sturdy.
Now the cost is £450.
I managed to purchase this for £429 plus another 10% discount. So with postage (£5 nextr day) it was around £391
Not an insignificant amount.
For that amount of money. I expected a completely automated process.
Read on.
There is a spindle and clamp on which the 12" single or LP is placed
There is a 7" adapter available), Expect to pay another £110+
Project VC-S 7 Inch Arm and Clamp for 7 Inch Vinyl Records (hifix.co.uk)
The record is placed on a spindle and screw clamped.
The cleaning fluid is manually added.
The motor is turned on spinning the record and then the fluid is spread over the surface with a brush (supplied)
Leave for awhile and then the vacuum arm is moved in to position and the fluid is sucked off.
All done manually.
Now that is just a quick description and what I wanted to concentrate on, was the cleaning ability.
Pulling out one of my LPs from the 80s. I played a track before cleaning.
Yes the typical pops and clicks were there.
A clean with the record cleaner.
First impressions is that the record looked brand new.
All dust and marks had been removed.
So first of all. That was a plus point.
However, looks are not everything. So how was the sound quality?
Playing the cleaned record and the first thing I noticed was the reduced surface noise.
Now do not expect it to be noise free, because there is noise, but reduced. Reduced a lot
It made listening to my records a new experience.
Like the very first time it had been played.
It was a dream to play my records again.
If a record is in fairly good condition. It will sound better (noise wise)
If it is in a poor condition. It will sound a lot better.
So what to do with your cleaned record?
To complete my purchase. I have record inner and outer sleeves.
I have paper inner sleeves with an antistatic lining.
Do not expect miracle cure from record cleaners.
If you have a scratch. Then that scratch is there.
It's the same with certain clicks.
But is your record is dirty/dusty and there is noise because of this. Then a clean is a great idea.
I do have a carbon fibre brush (Originally a Hunt Eda) but it is no way as good as my cleaner. Though it costs a lot less!
£400+ is a lot of money
It comes with 100ml of cleaning fluid. Enough for 135 records.
Then there is the extra costs of buying a 7 adapter. Which I think should be included.
The cleaning fluid is not cheap.
I bought a litre for £50 (Amazon)
Plus 5 litres of distilled water for another tenner.
So for me. That is £450 of record cleaning stuff.
Do I think it was worth it?
Yes... and if you can afford it. Get one.
Sure I would like a completely automated process, but the one I found (Keith Monks) was over £2K
Overall. I am very happy with it.
Now my problem is where to place the damn thing
Last edited: