What is the best record washer I can get for $300-500?

[twilyth]

I'm seriously thinking of setting up the spare room where the servers are to do some album rips. I'll use the on board chipset but I need to clean the albums thoroughly first. I know decent wet machines aren't cheap but I don't want to go full audiophile retard either,. so what are my options?

[Bundy]

Use a dishwasher on rinse?

[twilyth]

Originally Posted by Bundy

Use a dishwasher on rinse?

A dishwasher works mainly via the caustic detergent you put it in. That wouldn't produce very good results on vinyl - not to mention the high temps.

I figured our resident audiophiles could give me some guidance, but they never seem to have any advice when I need it.

[m1dg3t]

VPI 16.5

I own 1 & mein papa own's 1 as well, excellent machines! I would invest in extra supplies to start

[m1dg3t]

If you don't mind me asking, how many album's do you have twil and what table you got?

You can find those 16.5's on the used market usually pretty easy but a deal on a new one with the extra accessories is too hard to pass up IMHO. Usually the difference between the 2 option's is $150 and no extra's with the used

A local (Ontario) company TTweights make's/sell's a slick cleaning clamp that fit's over the entire label and seal's it keeping the fluid's out. Another one of my ideas that i didn't get credited for

[twilyth]

Originally Posted by m1dg3t

If you don't mind me asking, how many album's do you have twil and what table you got?

You can find those 16.5's on the used market usually pretty easy but a deal on a new one with the extra accessories is too hard to pass up IMHO. Usually the difference between the 2 option's is $150 and no extra's with the used

A local (Ontario) company TTweights make's/sell's a slick cleaning clamp that fit's over the entire label and seal's it keeping the fluid's out. Another one of my ideas that i didn't get credited for

I'm not sure how many albums - I'd say about 3.5 linear feet worth? 5 ft if I include all the crap mom bought, but I don't think there are any gems in there. This doesn't include any 78's and any old Victrola records (the thick 78's - not many of those though) - or any 45's.

Yeah, the VPI 16.5 seems to be the clear winner. The real issue is how many lp's do I want to actually rip. I'm sure at least 90% have remastered CD equivalents. Of the 10% remaining, probably 90% of those have already been ripped. So if I'm only going to do 1%, then I might consider just using wood glue.

I know it sounds crazy, but I've researched it and if you use good quality wood glue, it's even more effective than a wet, vacuum system - not by much, but still. It's cheaper but only if you do small quantities. You have to use good quality glue and you need to hone your spreading technique in order to be able to peel off the skin w/o any residue.

Of course it's much more labor intensive and you run the risk of getting the label wet.

Anyway, I'm still pondering. The first thing I'll need to do is go through the whole collection and pick out the stuff I know is rare. I have some seriously obscure shit plus demos and such.

As for the turntable, it's a midlevel Technics - SL-D30 with a Pickering cart. Do you know anything about carts? What should I look for if I want to upgrade but not go full retard?

[m1dg3t]

Shit! That's a lot of vinyl

I run a Dual 505-3 (modified) with a Shure m97xe, decent combo IMHO, i paid $100 for the table, about $60 for the cart, another $150 or so on mod's and $100/$150 to have it "professionaly" aligned/tuned up

I have about 300 title's i think, a mix of old/new about 75/25 i'd say

Cart's are extremely subjective, as is all audio, i'm looking at an Ortofon 2m blue to try out myself

Regarding the wood glue trick; it work's, really well in some case's, but trust me not as good as a proper RCM

Here are a few link's you can explore if you're up to it:

http://www.needledoctor.com/

http://www.mds975.co.uk/index.html

http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

http://www.vinylengine.com/

I use these guy's for new vinyl's and they have a good assortment of vinyl related thing's http://www.soundstagedirect.com/ if you use them for anything tell 'em crazy Mike from Brampton, Canada sent you and worst case PM me i'll give you my "preferred customer" discount code if they forget

Of course there are the standard audio forum's you can visit but these link's are vinyl specific

[twilyth]

Well, I probably need to replace the needle. I have a 300x USB microscope, so at some point I'll take a look, clean it and see if seems passable. I'm sure I can get some good micrographs for comparison.

My main concern with the cart is linearity and sensitivity. I don't do any of that subjective bullshit. Show me money - or in this case the numbers. All I care about is accurate reproduction.

edit: /rant - so what parameters should I look for to get flat signal response and high sensitivity across the spectrum?

[m1dg3t]

Originally Posted by twilyth

Well, I probably need to replace the needle. I have a 300x USB microscope, so at some point I'll take a look, clean it and see if seems passable. I'm sure I can get some good micrographs for comparison.

My main concern with the cart is linearity and sensitivity. I don't do any of that subjective bullshit. Show me money - or in this case the numbers. All I care about is accurate reproduction.

edit: /rant - so what parameters should I look for to get flat signal response and high sensitivity across the spectrum?

I have no idea about the technical aspects of cartridges I base my choice off of user review's and budget I'm sure you can come to a proper conclusion Human ear can only register 20Hz - 20Khz IIRC so something that fit's in that range coupled with user reviews get's me to my end point. Sorry can't be of more help

[m1dg3t]

http://www.lpgear.com/ Forgot about these guy's! They may have a/the stylus for your Pickering cart if you decide to stick with it

More possibly will come to me once the brain wake's up

I'm an audiofool, NOT an audiophile lol