In praise of RCMs

[Barry]

Recently I tried to play my vinyl copy of Sandy Denny - North Star Grassman and The Ravens.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bze43fYyL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

To my horror it was noisy and displayed distortion on the peaks.

Two or three minutes on a record cleaning machine sorted it out - something that a record brush would never do.

If you have a sizeable vinyl collection (anything over say 100 LPs) you owe it to yourself to get and use an RCM. They are not exactly cheap but well worth it in the long run.

[Alex_UK]

Recently I tried to play my vinyl copy of Sandy Denny - North Star Grassman and The Ravens.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bze43fYyL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

To my horror it was noisy and displayed distortion on the peaks.

Two or three minutes on a record cleaning machine sorted it out - something that a record brush would never do.

If you have a sizeable vinyl collection (anything over say 100 LPs) you owe it to yourself to get and use an RCM. They are not exactly cheap but well worth it in the long run.

Which one have you got, Barry? I've pretty much stopped playing vinyl regularly, as the clicks and pops drive me up the wall - a RCM is likely to be my next purchase (got pipped to the post on an Okki Nokki on eBay the other day) as most of my vinyl is 30 odd years old at least.

[Barry]

Which one have you got, Barry? I've pretty much stopped playing vinyl regularly, as the clicks and pops drive me up the wall - a RCM is likely to be my next purchase (got pipped to the post on an Okki Nokki on eBay the other day) as most of my vinyl is 30 odd years old at least.

My RCM is a fairly basic 'Nitty Gritty' Model 1.5i Mk.II

The Denny record was bought new and has always been handled carefully, played with a high quality cartridge and pick up arm and dusted with a record brush before use.

I was surprised by the distortion (:scratch:) and wasn't expecting the RCM to be able to do much about it. But it did! :)

[DSJR]

I'll wait for Alex to buy one and then be his bestest friend ;)

[keiths]

I've got a Moth Mk2 in kit form on it's way after doing a deal with that nice Mr. Brook from Mains Cables-r-us.

Soon be time to break out the rusty saw and gbh* and see if my feeble DIY skills are good enough to build the thing :eyebrows:

*gert big hammer

[vinylspinner]

I use a Moth pro machine, very pleased with the results, not the most quiet machine on the planet but does the job well.

Anyone close by is welcome to try it out and test the results.

Hope to buy a Keith Monks machine when I win the lottery!!

Nigel

[Alex_UK]

Question probably for that nice Mr Brooks then - what's the difference between a standard Moth & the Pro machine?

[Alex_UK]

I'll wait for Alex to buy one and then be his bestest friend ;)

You already are! :kiss:

[keiths]

Question probably for that nice Mr Brooks then - what's the difference between a standard Moth & the Pro machine?

With the amount of reading about RCMs I've been doing over the last couple of weeks, I can answer that. The 'Pro' has additional cooling fans for the vacuum motor - so you can run it for longer without the risk of overheating. Useful if you want to clean dozens of records per session. However, from what I've heard about the noise emitted from all the Moth versions, I'm not sure very long cleaning sessions are to be advised:):)

[Barry]

With the amount of reading about RCMs I've been doing over the last couple of weeks, I can answer that. The 'Pro' has additional cooling fans for the vacuum motor - so you can run it for longer without the risk of overheating. Useful if you want to clean dozens of records per session. However, from what I've heard about the noise emitted from all the Moth versions, I'm not sure very long cleaning sessions are to be advised:):)

That sounds rather a lot: I get bored after doing half a dozen! How noisy the machine is, is largely irrelevant - I don't clean records whilst listening to others.

Regards

[keiths]

That sounds rather a lot: I get bored after doing half a dozen!Indeed. I think it's aimed at those offering a commercial record cleaning service who may need to clean records continuously for hours on end.

[MartinT]

I've pretty much stopped playing vinyl regularly, as the clicks and pops drive me up the wall

Alex - that's as much to do with the turntable/arm/cartridge/loading interplay as it has to do with dirty records. Get both right - a good RCM (I have a Clearaudio Smart Matrix) and a superb cartridge/step-up/phono stage and surface noise and clicks/pops are virtually inaudible.

[Barry]

Alex - that's as much to do with the turntable/arm/cartridge/loading interplay as it has to do with dirty records. Get both right - a good RCM (I have a Clearaudio Smart Matrix) and a superb cartridge/step-up/phono stage and surface noise and clicks/pops are virtually inaudible.

Agreed - which was why I was puzzled by the apparent and audible deterioration of the record in question. I can only put it down to 'grot' that somehow had got pressed into the grooves.

Unusual, as I take good care of my records. I hadn't used my RCM for quite a while, so was pleased to be reminded of its efficacy. That was what caused me to write the OP.

Regards

[MartinT]

I think storage and inner sleeves play a part, too, Barry. Sometimes I have to clean a record again for the same reasons as you. Anti-static sleeves help a great deal, too.

[Barry]

I think storage and inner sleeves play a part, too, Barry. Sometimes I have to clean a record again for the same reasons as you. Anti-static sleeves help a great deal, too.

The record used a VPI inner sleeve. Still unclear as to the cause, however am delighted with the solution.

Suspect though, that my records might be stored with a little too much lateral pressure.

Regards

[Alex_UK]

Thanks chaps - a few at a time is probably all I'd be doing, and I intend to leave it in the garage!

[Alex_UK]

Alex - that's as much to do with the turntable/arm/cartridge/loading interplay as it has to do with dirty records. Get both right - a good RCM (I have a Clearaudio Smart Matrix) and a superb cartridge/step-up/phono stage and surface noise and clicks/pops are virtually inaudible.

I take your point Martin, but some records I have are pretty much CD-like in their "cleanliness" (I was playing a Human League LP earlier, and barely a pop or crackle to be heard) whereas a lot of my collection just sound full of crud - perhaps I'll get a few cleaned, and see what the difference is before taking the plunge.

[colinB]

Using my RCM has improved a lot of my lps but some of the new pressings crackle because theyve been manufactured so badly. Most of my 70s lps look badly scuffed but sound much better than a lot of new lps.

[BTH K10A]

I take your point Martin, but some records I have are pretty much CD-like in their "cleanliness" (I was playing a Human League LP earlier, and barely a pop or crackle to be heard) whereas a lot of my collection just sound full of crud - perhaps I'll get a few cleaned, and see what the difference is before taking the plunge.

You may think your records are spotless but when I got my EMT 930 and used the cuing lamp for the first time I had a shock. What seemed to be a clean pristine record was shown up to have a surprising amount of surface dust.

I assumed that some of this would eventually end up in the grooves so it prompted me to invest in my first RCM. I currently use a Lorricraft PRC4.

On the subject of new records. I've found quite a few that sounded poor until given a clean. I can only think there might be a residual amount of mould release agent left in the grooves.

[The Grand Wazoo]

A few points from me, if you don't mind me old muckers.
Rep the pro vs non-pro Moth - mine's a non-pro version & I once did 43 records in one session, with a break for a quick sandwich & a cup of coffee. It was warm (but then it gets warm anyway) but I don't think it came to any harm.

I'll never do that many again in one go, but it proves it'll stand it.

Secondly, Alex - don't stick it in the garage - you'll end up not using it. Since we moved to this house I have it right beside the TT & can clean any record I fancy hearing right there & then. If it's elsewhere, you'll often not bother playing the record because of the faff. It doesn't need to be right beside the TT like mine, but do yourself a favour & have it sitting somewhere that you can use it at short notice.........or be very self disciplined.

[Alex_UK]

Thanks Chris, makes sense on both counts - cheers for your advice.

[MartinT]

I came to the same conclusion, Chris, and moved it to my listening room. It's easy to fire up and use on demand.

[Barry]

I came to the same conclusion, Chris, and moved it to my listening room. It's easy to fire up and use on demand.

Mine's in the listening/living room but is light enough to be moved into and used in the kitchen.

[hifi_dave]

With the amount of reading about RCMs I've been doing over the last couple of weeks, I can answer that. The 'Pro' has additional cooling fans for the vacuum motor - so you can run it for longer without the risk of overheating. Useful if you want to clean dozens of records per session. However, from what I've heard about the noise emitted from all the Moth versions, I'm not sure very long cleaning sessions are to be advised:):)

We had a standard Moth RCM for around 15 years and it was used most days and occasionally all day without any sign of strain on the machine.

We offered a cleaning service and were sometimes presented with whole collections to clean, which could take a week or more to do. The machine was totally reliable but noisy and you need a break every hour or so to rest your ears.

If there's any need for cleaning I might well buy another and offer the service again.

[baron]

I think the Loricraft PRC4DL I brought a few years ago was one of my better purchases. A lot of my vinyl is over 40 years old and I buy a lot of used vinyl.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0001-2.jpg

[Dingdong]

As I don't have the spare cash for a proper rcm I got myself one of those Knosti thingies for £30 off of Amazon, and made up my own fluid with IPA and water. I'm sure it's not as good as a Moth or one of the others but it does ok.