2. analog
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I'll never listen to another record...

...without cleaning it first.

Admittedly I've been very lazy in my pursuit of cleaning LPs - both old and new. Setting with dry brush cleaning only for decades.

Enter my new Loricraft PRC3. I've begun the daunting and arduous process of cleaning "every single LP" (worth cleaning of course - those 30+ year old teen year LPs are now being rounded up and put to the side - usually with deep scratches, beer stained covers and gatefolds with a "leafy" substance caught in the folds) in my collection. Starting with my favorites and what I consider audiophile recorded records first.

It's also starting another long put off task I've been avoiding for the better part of forty years: cataloging my collection. Cleaned records are now put into a spreadsheet and as if starting all over - these are the only records I'll put on the turntable. Forcing me to catalog them all. It's going to take some time tobesure. Periodically I'll save the list as a PDF and upload to my Android phone so that when I'm in the record stores browsing the record bins I'll be able to find out if I have the vinyl already.

Apart from what those with RCMs already know - the sonic benefits of a clean record and a sparkling clean stylus are extraordinary. Better late then never I suppose....
notec

Showing 4 responses by notec

notec OP
407 posts
 
Most of my old records I'm re-buying when I come across them when hunting for vinyl, as my care was mainly the Discwasher D4 system back in the day and I never cleaned the stylus'.

On new vinyl removing the mold release agent has been a real eye opener...

Abuck - I hear ya. I've been storing all my prized records in Discwasher VRP sleeve's (until they stopped production) then switched to Diskeeper Ultimate Audiophile Inner Sleeve's from Sleeve City. I prefer these over Mo-Fi's because Mo-fi's are flimsy and too big to fit inside most printed inner sleeves or card stock that often come with records. In some cases they dont even fit in the outer sleeve's! The only thing they have going for them are the marking's (arrows) that tell you where the opening is. SC now has new inner sleeves I'm using: Diskeeper Double Audiophile Inner Sleeves.
notec OP
407 posts
 
Posts here on aGon wrt pre-purchase RCM choices were key. Loads of helpful information that helped me make my decision.

It's a little daunting - having now cleaned 15 LPs with approx 1500 to go... but the results are stunning and all the motivation I need to keep going. It's a glacial pace but well worth the investment in time. It's like building a new collection again!

Since the machine's arrival, I'm looking at used vinyl with a *much more* critical eye now. As I dont want to waste time and fluid on non-revivalable disc's (developing a keen eye is a whole 'nother skill altogether). Just another dimension to the hobby that will either deepen your passion or move it away.

Guess I know what ask for at xmas every year: cleaning fluids!

Mitch4t, true that - "I have more records than I can listen to" but what a fabulous predicament to be in ;-)

Stl114_nj, I have many duplicates and agree with your assessment; deliberately buying two of favorites hoping for the perfect sound forever. In most cases the same records from the same pressing have different sound qualities (hey one can only hope for the first pressing from the first mother/first stamper)...

Dougdeacon & Dev, you guys helped me alot in choosing the Loricraft. Cheers!
notec OP
407 posts
 
Mitch4t, I stream flac thru a squeezebox duet to my Havana. 'S ok. Not a big fan of this setup - music at your finger tips has it's advantages tho....
notec OP
407 posts
 
The Havana on the other hand is glorious....
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