Best Record Cleaning Process on a Loricraft

I've been using the AIVS 3 step formula with an extra water rinse, applied with Last brushes, on all of my initial cleanings for both new and used. All on a Nitty-Gritty RCM. I also de-stat with an Iconoclast from Mapleshade. After that I use the #6 1 step for subsequent cleanings.

This system is very effective, although not without its faults. It's time consuming - generally takes me 20 minutes to do the initial cleaning and of course it doesn't eliminate all surface noises.

I'm also interested in steam processes, if anyone could share experience/methods on that. Or, if anyone uses the ultrasonic cleaner that is out there.

FBhifi,
I have used the #6 One Step Cleaner "Of old", gotten from Osage Audio about 6-8 months ago. The newest #6 is said to be even better, now that Jim Pendelton has come across a better specific component in the cleaner. I could be wrong, but I believe that component to be an enzyme(s), the same used in #15 Pre-Cleaner.

How did I like the #6 One Step? It is very good. If I was goinG to select a sole one step cleaner, this would be my personal choice.

Does the multi-step process give better results, better fidelity than a one step? IMO, and probably everyone else's opinion, including the maker of these products, in one word, yes!

As I understand, it is said to be difficult to incorporate all the needed ingredients within a sole cleaner, that will properly act upon all the various contaminants that can be found on records. That the Specific cleaners have a better ability to combat those contaminants.

I'm sure it's the sole reason that another man such as Lloyd Walker has also chosen a multi-step cleaning process to be deemed superior to a single step process, when he invented-made-marketed his Prelude Cleaning System.

As all know, the downside is additonal time needed. To many, time is one of the investments to achieve uncompromising fidelity of playback. The variance, is not all audiophiles have the same needs, the same pocketbooks, so many of us can only do the best we can within our means.

I feel I chose to participate in the former camp, to the best of my abilities. I could not afford the uber expensive Loricrafts-Monks, but I am getting very satisfying, and superb results with my VPI 16.5 RCM, and the AIVS Multi-Step Cleaners, and Pure Water Rinse. Mark

A Loricraft PRC 4 Dlx replaced a 3 yr old VPI 16.5. While the more expensive PRC, IMHO, is a major improvement on the VPI, I suspect my cleaning results are still sub optimal in the absence of an enzyme in my cleaning regimen. Have just ordered an enzyme cleaner from Osage Audio. Will probably use this as the first part of a 3 step process in conjunction with the L Art du Son and distilled water. Would be happy to hear from Agoners who are satisfied with a L Art du Son based cleaning regime.
Cheers

Peter and Gradys,

Don't waste your time. In our experience steaming is ineffective at best, and more likely to do harm than good at worst.

We've tried it, with three different recommended steamers, using every technique espoused by the acolytes. Waste of time. Waste of money.

We've also re-cleaned friends' steam "cleaned" records (including one of Dan's while Sunnyboy was visiting). The results were the same each time. Steaming is a joke compared with methods that actually work.

Those methods do take time, as Markd51 described, but if we want to hear all the music in the grooves that's part of the cost of admission. Wish it weren't so, but it is.

Compared to the most effective methods, steaming actually makes things worse. The water we use for LP rinsing is so pure it leached impurities out of every steamer it touched. I'm not spraying that on my LPs, but we did keep one steamer for cleaning the toilets. ;)

Would be happy to hear from Agoners who are satisfied with a L Art du Son based cleaning regime..

I tried a lot of Cleaning fluids the last years, L'Art du son for example, too.
Honestly, first you should know for what you need what. Reissues for example have problems in the cooling process, nothing helps here, they are noisy and they will be noisy after cleaning, maybe a little bit less.
Old records have smoke, dust etc. in the grooves, here you can use 1 step solutions (one or multiple cycles) or multi step solutions. There is a big discussion about fluids, what is best and so on...and how much time it needs.. I don't share this view.
Most fluids do the job quite good, the real problem and the real difference is the way to remove it.
some fluids can't be removed properly, based on their mix, they need additional steps with distilled water, for example (but this is not written in the manual).
You described your experience with a Loricraft and a former VPI, the difference is in the way the fluid is removed (or how much of it), this is in my opinion the most important factor for a superior result.
I use AVIS for example, had LADS before & some others, real dirty records need multiple washings anyway and with a point nozzle design you can reduce that to a minimum.
The other units will have "wet lips" after a few turns and when the record is dry it will be noisy again. Most listen to their records right after cleaning and there the noise is reduced, but this is based on still being wet a little bit...