Can anyone help identify this LP cleaning machine?
The German version of the Keith Monks is called the RCM MK5, it's sold by Axiss distribution in the USA, same people as Air Tight. Here's a photo of the RCM from my system thread. http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/f/1184570880.jpg |
Thanks for solving that mystery for me, gentleman! I had been wondering about that for years. One of the albums I had cleaned on it is the CBS Masterworks' half-speed pressing of Michael Jackson's "Thriller". The horn section on the title track sounds awesome on that LP! I'll have to check out the Stereophile article. Cheers! -jz |
It was a Keith Monks system and the shop was dB Audio on Shattuck (at Blake). FYI, another Berkeley shop "Music Lovers" has moved just behind where dB used to be. The address is 2106 (I think) Blake. It's a good shop with great equipment (and some used stuff). I learned this from the guys at "The Soundwell" on University. who are moving soon after many years in the same location due to the recession. Very sad! |
Keith Monks, Loricraft and Albert's RCM Mk5 all use the same principle. Loricraft is the least expensive of the three, though still around $2K+ depending on the model. My PRC-3 is no-frills, but built like a tank and capable of cleaning dozens of LP's in a session without a hiccup (I once cleaned 37 in a single go, the vacuum pump ran for 9-10 hours non stop.) I agree that records cleaned on these machines sound cleaner than on vacuum wand style machines like NG, VPI, Clearaudio, etc. The only downside, other than the cost, is that it's notably slower. Each vacuum pass takes a bit over a minute, so if you use multiple fluids the time per side adds up. The results make it worth it, for us, but that's a personal decision each of us has to make. |
