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Record Cleaner Side Effects?

My vinyl collection is expanding and I am feed up with borrowing a friend's top of the line VPI ( before he can part with this holy grail of cleaning machines for the weekend I gotta kiss his _$$ , do a ceremonial bow down combined with backwards walking from the moment I leave his front door untill I can reach my car meanwhile he and his girlfriend smile at my display of graciousness. All this is happening fast enought so that the neihbors don't see the embarrassing display). Not really, but sometimes it feels like that when borrowing something expensive from someone else. Now to the point: Recently I came across an old issue of The Absolute Sound magazine and read an article in which the author was stating that record cleaning machines and their chemicals do more HARM than GOOD. The author did not state reasons/proof to validate his claim and instead he refered back to an earlier issue that covered his argument (and I don't happen to own this issue). I've always believed that record cleaning machines provide the best method for removing contaminants...we are after all taking the grime off the grooves aren't we? Any vinyl addicts here aware of reasons not to clean records using this method? Anybody hear about issues with the solvents more than the machine (new vs. old formulas, certain brands, chemical residues left behind on groves)? I am no expert on this subject and would like to get more input from someone more knowledgeable on this subject. I just know there are several vinyl gurus reading this that can shed some light. Also any recommendations on sub $500 machines (low end VPI, mid-upper end Nitty Gritty)? All info highly appreciated.
one_audiophile

Showing 1 response by herman

herman
2,215 posts
 
I have owned the Audio Advisor $200 model and now use a VPI 17. The VPI does a much, much, much better job of sucking up the fluid off of the record. No matter how long I went with the AA machine there was always a little moisture on the record when I was done and the VPI seems to get it all.

I also use a large amount of rinse water, spraying it on as the vacuum is running for a couple of rotations. I put it on just to the point where the water it is about to run off the record and then let the vacumn run for a about 3 more times around to dry. This you can't really do with the AA machine because the VPI vacuums on the top and the AA machine from the bottom.
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