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LP care

I've made the commitment to get back into vinyl, purchasing a VPI Classic 'table with Lyra Delos cartridge. routed through an ARC PH-5 to Ayre amplification and on to Vandy 5A's. Recognizing the importance of a quality RCM, I also bought a VPI 16.5, so all the basic elements for vinyl enjoyment are there. (Approximately one week until everything arrives and can be set up!)

With all that lengthy background, my question is: what are the most effective record cleaning fluids. I have to admit that I am getting high-centered over the range of choices: regular cleaning fluid, "deep" cleaning fluid, enzymatic cleaner, rinses, etc. etc. etc.

This is especially topical for me, as 80+% of the albums I will be playing have been in storage (and not always perfectly clean storage at that) for 2-3 decades. Plus other music I want to acquire is probably only going to be available used, so good cleaning is important for that, too.

Second question: I assume that once one has cleaned a record with a vacuum RCM, that it remains relatively clean and doesn't need RCM treatment for every listening; instead, it simply needs to be wiped with a brush to remove dust and static before playing (assuming nothing odd happens). True?

Sorry for the long question, but figure the more detail I give, the more useful input I'll get. I'm hoping to tap the expertise of those on this forum -- and please feel free to simply point me to existing material, either in the form of previous threads here or other on-line resources.

Thanks to all, and happy listening!
dawgfish
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,033 posts
 
Well, the question for the best Cleaning fluid will be always a more or less endless discussion. I looked for it, too, for several years. I use a RCM since 1992 and tried a lot. Today I changed my mind a little bit about it. When a record was made right from the pressing factory, you can use more or less whatever you want. you need some time that this fluid will work and the most difference is in the removal of that fluid (everything out and dry or not). when you have reissues which have tics, pops...you can't remove it. this is based on inferior quality control from the manufacturer (cooling not long enough, groove damage and some more). You can clean them 10x with everything (multistep cleaning solutions), it will help a little bit, but it will never be a real silent record.
I tried a lot of fluids, from cheap to expensive and back, VPI Concentrate does a good job, L'Art du Son is ok, Audio Intelligent is ok, that I use now, but my favorite is a German - cheap - fluid, Hannl VI3. When you want something expensive, there is a Set available from Switzerland, it is called Audiotop, multi step solution. Tried it too.
But after all those years I think, the best investemnt you can do is to buy a Point Nozzle Design (Loricraft, Monks, SourceOdyssey). I closed that chapter.
Happy Listening
herman
1,974 posts
 
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I recommend steam cleaning with your 16.5, it is easy, it is a cheap addition to what you've already spent, and it works wonderfully.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1192142257&openfrom&1&4#1

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rushton's avatar
rushton
2,430 posts
 
Walker Audio Prelude Quartet is the best I've found after trying many others. Used with a VPI record cleaning machine, it has consistently given better results for me.

After wet cleaning and storage in a clean inner sleeve, you will not have to re-clean. I do find that a re-rinse with the Prelude Step Four Final Rinse occasionally provides an improvement after the LP has been played repeatedly and may have picked up some dust from being out of it's sleeve.
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bewi
9 posts
 

Syntax,

L'art du son indeed is ok for what it is meant to do (cleaning the record) but be careful.
I didn't use my cleaning machine (Clearaudio Matrix) for a while and some white slime (fungus ?) obstructed the drainage pipe.
Took me quite some time to open it up and clean the thing.

I read somewhere that this is because the reservoir is made of plastic which makes the fungus grow.
dunkmeister
52 posts
 
I will leave the fluid discussion to others, I have a VPI cleaning machine and the fluids I got with that seem to do a good job on both dirt and fingerprint oil. When considering whether to re-clean after a recent use I think you have to consider what you are storing the LP in. If it is going back in a stock paper sleeve I would considered recleaning. What I typically do is once I open an LP is replace the sleeve with a higher quality one such as the MFSL sleeves you can get for about 45cents/each. Typically if the original had notes or lyrics on it, I store that in the jacket so it does not get lost or damaged. Sleeves made of rice paper or similar media reduce static (and in turn dirt and dust) as well as eliminate sleeve caused surface scratches which are just another place to small dust particles to attach to the LP.
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