Richard Guba Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 I have slowly been getting back into vinyl. I got some used records last week from my family including both mono and stereo versions of Pete Rugolo Adventures in Sound and a 1960s Maynard Ferguson (MF SI SI). Anyway, the records had too much surface noise so I bought a spin clean record cleaner based on the positive reviews on Stereophile and on audiokarma. Here are my results. The only failure was on a rather beat up record of Maynard Ferguson Chameleon, the sound was improved a little but is still noisy due to the condition. The rest of the albums were improved to the point of sounding new. The early 60s recording MF SI SI had only one repeating pop which I think is probably an imperfection in the LP. After cleaning about 20 records I looked in the basin and there was hair and all kinds of nasty stuff. These records had mostly been cleaned before with a discwasher. So, I recommend the spinclean as a cost effective record cleaner at about 60 bucks. It is low tech, but works really well. It is also made in USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Good report and I agree, for the money the Spinclean is hard to beat. I have one and have since upgraded to a Nitty Gritty vac which offers better results. Steam cleaning is also nice, but from time to time, I still use my my Spinclean as a pre-wash and it's work well. IMO stay away from alcohol-based cleaning solutions, but if you spin vinyl you'd better find some method of cleaning records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 I have been a long time adviser to get the Spin Clean, it is a great low buck cleaner that works very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 regardless of which machine you use- highly reccomend chemicals and cleaning instructions from the Disc Doctor Pretty much foolproof.Even for a rookie like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runninshine Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I just bought one today at the local record store for $70 and I cleaned 15 or so records and I was surprised at all the smeg left in the tank. Great product...Im stoked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesV Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Richard, Thanks for the write up and reminding me that I need to start looking again at cleaners. I just might pick this one up, nice a simple and cost effective. My LP collection has grown so I need to start taking care of them for continued listening enjoyment.... James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laager Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Wouldn't an ultrasonic be a good choice for a spring clean job? One like this: http://www.ultrasystem.com/usfeaturedprodsAudioDeskVinylClnr.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Wouldn't an ultrasonic be a good choice for a spring clean job? One like this: http://www.ultrasystem.com/usfeaturedprodsAudioDeskVinylClnr.html Well $60 versus $3,500 might be one reason for using the SpinClean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Thanks for the recommendation. I am in severe need of a good modest priced record cleaning system, now that my Thorens is here....in fact I've put my table on hold for the most part until I DO get a cleaner in here. I too want a "Nitty Gritty" but after the expenditure on the Thorens I've got to wait a bit on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runninshine Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Its a great little unit....I've clean 50 or so now and with that and cleaning the stylus....it sounds pretty nice around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laager Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Well $60 versus $3,500 might be one reason for using the SpinClean. Had no idea they were so ridiculously overpriced. Nevertheless, surely a decent sized ultrasonic and a small frame over the top to act as pivot would do the same job even if not as simple or easy as the linked item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesV Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Looking to pick one of these up, has anyone found a better price then the list MSRP of $79.99? Thanks, James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runninshine Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 James, everywhere I looked had the same price. Thats why I thought I scored when I found one new for $69.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesV Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 James, everywhere I looked had the same price. Thats why I thought I scored when I found one new for $69.99 Thanks, that's what I was thinking... Congrats on the pickup... James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Well $60 versus $3,500 might be one reason for using the SpinClean. Had no idea they were so ridiculously overpriced. Nevertheless, surely a decent sized ultrasonic and a small frame over the top to act as pivot would do the same job even if not as simple or easy as the linked item. I've wanted to try ultrasound for awhile now. I think it might be a good way to clean records. Can't find one that's either long and deep enough to plop half the platter in the solution, or wide enough to immerse the whole thing. That's in my price range: i.e dirt cheap. Since its' an experiment can't afford big bucks. As far as the SpinClean, they've gone up. Bought mine for $60 at Garage-A-Records. now they are $80 but with free shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laager Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 I've wanted to try ultrasound for awhile now. I think it might be a good way to clean records. Can't find one that's either long and deep enough to plop half the platter in the solution, or wide enough to immerse the whole thing. If you immerse the whole thing you would end up damaging the centre label. Probably not what you want. I would think you only need to immerse about 1/3 of the LP. Namely from the inner to outer tracks. Then just turn it a bit every 30 seconds or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slovell Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I bought one a short while ago. After cleaning twenty-five records and looking at all the crud laying in the bottom I was initially impressed. When I played several of the cleaned lps I noticed a lot of crackling that wasn't there previously. Not so impressed then. I decided to reclean the twenty-five and make a few changes beforehand. I thoroughly washed the cleaning brushes, added some of my home brew record cleaner and used distilled water(50/50 mix in the tank), and after spinning them I rinsed them thoroughly before drying with microfiber towels. The first twent-five are now dead quiet, with the exception of any imperfections that existed to start with, and sound much better than they did before the first cleaning. I also noticed that after the second cleaning, using the modified solution, that there was even more crud in the bottom of the tank. This leads me to believe that the supplied detergent is a bit weak. Your results may differ from mine. Overall, the Spin Clean does a hell of a job for what it costs. Regards, Sam [H] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebrof Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I bought one last week after reading this thread (thanks Richard Guba) I've cleaned about 75 records so far over the course of 2 nights, about 20 records / hour rough guess. Before the Spin Clean I really didn't have a good way to clean them, and buying a full blown RCM was not in my plans. It's simple to do and seems to work very well. Some of the records I got from who knows where that were borderline playable are now perfectly fine and pretty darn quiet. I highly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runninshine Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Yeah, I really like it for what it is.[Y] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesV Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 So I'm finally going to order the Spin Clean next week and was looking for some advice. The people that own one already, is it worth it to get more of the solution from Spin Clean or making a home brew would be fine. If a home brew is fine what should it consist of beside distilled water. Thanks, James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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