Record cleaning machines - Audiodesk vs Loricraft/Keith Monks type

[montesquieu]

A modest bonus in June salary is making the likelihood of upgrading my RCM a distinct possibility. The old Moth works well enough but it's too noisy to use when the wife is around, meaning I only get it out when she is away doing stuff (and even then a lot of the time I can't be bothered).

I'm looking for something I can keep in the living room and possibly run while music is playing - the Loricraft models seem to allow that and I like the point vacuum approach.

However the Audiodesk seems to get some good reviews - easy to use, and thorough, although consumables appear to be an expensive down-side ...I have something like 4,000 records altogether so cleaning them all would be a pricey task. (I'd probably never get round to it anyway but I would like to be in a position to clean as I go, any time I find a dirty one, get it sorted there and then).

Anyone with direct experience of Audiodesk vs Loricraft type? I'm not far away from being able to pull the trigger on one or other.

[karma67]

When you upgrade would you sell the moth?

[montesquieu]

That's the plan. Another AoSer has first refusal.

[SquireC]

Well, a friend of mine says the Audiodesk is the dogs b**llocks, the best of your options.

Quiet enough to use as you listen? I doubt any of them are.

:)

[PaulStewart]

As people know, I have an involvement with Loricraft, these days on a casual basis. All I will say is that I looked at ultrasonic cleaning 25 years ago. It works by cavitation and in every other use I could find, cavitation causes damage. This is piling energy into delicate vinyl with microscopic detail on it. Cavitation can destroy steel and hardened brass in ships propellers for instance. It has been proved that a good vacuum RCM, with the right fluid can clean a record over a thousand times with no damage.

[Audio Al]

Loricraft would be my choice , I have used one once and hopefully one day will own one , Until then its the Moth 4 me :)

[Macca]

The advantage of the audiodesk seems to be that very little is required of you, you just stick the disc in and press a button. I do wonder if the air drying is as effective as vacuum suction drying, though. And as Paul says does the sonic action damage the record? I'd guess they would have tested this fairly extensively though.

I don't really understand why folk complain about the noise these things make. Even on a Moth it is only a couple of minutes to clean a record. Is it really necessary to have music on every waking minute of every day? (no doubt someone will come straight back and say 'Yes!' ;) )

[Audio Al]

NO

It would keep me awake :)

[montesquieu]

The advantage of the audiodesk seems to be that very little is required of you, you just stick the disc in and press a button. I do wonder if the air drying is as effective as vacuum suction drying, though. And as Paul says does the sonic action damage the record? I'd guess they would have tested this fairly extensively though.

I don't really understand why folk complain about the noise these things make. Even on a Moth it is only a couple of minutes to clean a record. Is it really necessary to have music on every waking minute of every day? (no doubt someone will come straight back and say 'Yes!' ;) )


On the Moth type:


4000 records is a lot to clean fully manually
Hassle factor - getting all the bits together
Noise - it's basically a vacuum cleaner in a box



I want something I can use on the fly - I like both the nozzle ones and the idea of the Audiodesk (though I've never heard/seen one of those directly).

[Parkie37]

A modest bonus in June salary is making the likelihood of upgrading my RCM a distinct possibility. The old Moth works well enough but it's too noisy to use when the wife is around, meaning I only get it out when she is away doing stuff (and even then a lot of the time I can't be bothered).

I'm looking for something I can keep in the living room and possibly run while music is playing - the Loricraft models seem to allow that and I like the point vacuum approach.

However the Audiodesk seems to get some good reviews - easy to use, and thorough, although consumables appear to be an expensive down-side ...I have something like 4,000 records altogether so cleaning them all would be a pricey task. (I'd probably never get round to it anyway but I would like to be in a position to clean as I go, any time I find a dirty one, get it sorted there and then).

Anyone with direct experience of Audiodesk vs Loricraft type? I'm not far away from being able to pull the trigger on one or other.

I have owned both and I prefer the Loricraft. It is much quieter, although if you truly want quiet, the PR-6 is even quieter than my PR-4. I also feel that the records are cleaner. The Audiodesk can't be beat for certain types of dirtiness, but the Loricraft allows different types of cleaner and you can scrub away dirty, greasy fingerprints or go over certain areas again and again.

I won't buy an ultrasonic again for another reason...a fellow on an American forum cleaned over fifty records in a row on his KL Audio ultrasonic and he had migraines for over a week and suffered other symptoms. You are exposed to high frequency noise, but can't hear it. A couple of records are probably fine but the gist of his story was to put the machine in the garage. He stopped listening to his Shindo system for over a week after that. You are supposed to listen to more not less.

Although there is noise with the Loricraft, you could still listen to music with it running. I have several types of cleaning fluid but my favourite is the Art Du Son.

[montesquieu]

I have owned both and I prefer the Loricraft. It is much quieter, although if you truly want quiet, the PR-6 is even quieter than my PR-4. I also feel that the records are cleaner. The Audiodesk can't be beat for certain types of dirtiness, but the Loricraft allows different types of cleaner and you can scrub away dirty, greasy fingerprints or go over certain areas again and again.

I won't buy an ultrasonic again for another reason...a fellow on an American forum cleaned over fifty records in a row on his KL Audio ultrasonic and he had migraines for over a week and suffered other symptoms. You are exposed to high frequency noise, but can't hear it. A couple of records are probably fine but the gist of his story was to put the machine in the garage. He stopped listening to his Shindo system for over a week after that. You are supposed to listen to more not less.

Although there is noise with the Loricraft, you could still listen to music with it running. I have several types of cleaning fluid but my favourite is the Art Du Son.


Thanks Don this is really useful info -just the kind of first hand experience I was hoping for.

[daytona600]

I get loricraft/monks/clearaudio as trade ins every month via the audiodesk
should have a good used loricraft next week if required

Audio desk does 200 LPs per batch 4000LPs can be done in a few weeks & as simple to work as a toaster
& you can play music while its working 100% automatic , mine sits 2 feet from me only noise is the air drying cycle

vertical loading & about a 1/3rd of the size of most vacuum RCMs & can be moved with one hand if you need a place in a cupboard

cleaned several thousand LPs on mine & results akin to buying a new turntable you have no idea whats lurking in the grooves until you use one

consumables - will cost you a fortune in inner sleeves must of used about a pallet of Mofi inners in the last year
buy distilled water very cheaply in 100litres drums does about 3000/4000 LPs

audio desk fluid & filters included with the machine & spares not to expensive
filters last 600-800LPs & bottle of fluid every 200lps , not a cleaning fluid like normal RCMs
as the audio desk is ultrasonic , fluid used to reduce static & break down water surface tension

re noise KL ultrasonic rcm uses a far more powerful ultrasonic generator ( 200w + ) & a different frequency
used on a korean industrial machine the audio desk uses a much lower power generator
does drive the dog batshit when its working he fecks off out the way

my 2nd choice , used & enjoyed a loricraft myself for years with great results

or i can add you to my list to try my demo machine

[paskinn]

I own a Loricraft. Good machine, well built and reliable, and fairly quiet, although I would not use one while playing music.
Downside, they are slow and a bit cumbersome to use. Personally I have never bought-in to the idea that all records need cleaning. Some of my vinyl has been used for several decades and never needed a clean. Further, much noise is caused by physical damage which can't be removed.
The whole compulsive business needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. And the biggest issue of all re record noise is often poorly matched equipment. A good de k and cartridge will halve noise, along with a fine phonostage and smooth speakers. Vinyl is inherently flawed, best to just enjoy it without neurosis.
But I'd still stick with the Loricraft.