I have been enjoying my Record Doctor X for a few months now and love the results. Not as messy or time consuming as an ultrasonic cleaner and cleaning both sides at one time is a game changer. Keep up the great videos!
I still use the Spin Clean, but looking to invest in a new cleaner. Ill be sure to buy this from the link you shared so you get credit! Thanks for making this video Rick!
Nice video. I’ve had the Pro-ject VC-E for about three years and love it. I use a goat’s hair brush and the only diffference is I slightly scrub the record instead of just spreading the soluton.
Hi Robert! I typically agitate the solution as well to get the emulsifier working. I didn't here for the demo however (not sure why I didn't actually).
Record Doctor X looks impressive and I trust your opinion but I'm not sure how much better it is than the manual procedure that I currently use. It took a bit of research and experimentation for me to decide which products to use. 1) GrooveWasher G3 or TergiKleen (GW G3 is better, IMO but TergiKleen is far less expensive in the long run) 2) Use GrooveWasher's Black Magic cleaning pad to work the G3 or TergiKleen into the record's grooves 3) Spray the record with distilled water (I'm not concerned with getting the label a little wet) 4) A few rotations in the Spin Clean 5) Hand dry with a soft microfiber or cotton towel 6) Apply Gruv Glide record treatment (a product that works well) Total time to clean and treat one record is about 3 - 3 1/2 minutes. The cost of the RDX isn't an issue but I'd like to see a comparison. Thanks again for another great video!
I too like the Tergikleen - that's my usual "go to". I should use a stopwatch to check the time it takes to clean. If I do I'll post it on the channel's community board. Its probably around the 3 minutes you mention.
I think the biggest selling point for me is that record doctor X will quickly do 1 record at a time, without having to commit to at least 10 records at a time because you need X ml of distilled water, etc. this is kinda big deal for me since every time I buy a record I don’t have to wait for 9 more (because there’s no more records left to clean from my library). I guess I should buy vinyl vac after all.
The best purchase I ever made was a 400 Hummiguru ultrasonic machine I’ve cleaned thousands of records and it’s so easy to use Just distilled water because a lot of times the cleaners leave a film on the vinyl!!
Thank you so much for this review. I am a RD 6 owner and love it, I too combine it with the Spin Clean step on super dirty albums. Very interested in the X. Is the X louder or about the same as the 6? And did they leave the spindle (screw) black - I ask because sometimes I can’t find it when I’m trying to place the album onto the spindle cause it blends with the lower pad. Looks like the screw in spindle may be a silver color? And lastly, how do you clean the top vacuum brush? So now what do I do with my good doctor 6 if I buy the 10???? Thank you very much.
Hi Sandy! It's about the same as the VI as far as loudness goes. I definitely didn't find myself thinking it sounded any louder. Funny you mention the spindle - I found the same thing with the black spindle - found it hard to sometimes hit the spindle just right. This is silver being that it's an actual screw for the clamp. The top vacuum arm comes right off easily to clean it (if that's what you were asking).
Thanks for posting this demonstration video. The Record Doctor X? I want one! I'm still using the Record Doctor V. It's hard to believe how fast time flies. In November of this year, I will have had my Record Doctor V for ten years already. It still works great. But like I said, "The Record Doctor X? I want one!"
It may be possible to use 2 wet Record Doctor brushes, 1 at the bottom & 1 on top, while the record is spinning just before you engage the suction. This way you wouldn't need to remove the record and turn it over.
Good video and looks a great machine. I also just bought the latest Project RCM and love it, I also have the humminguru so my records go on the Project then straight into the hummi nguru which gives them a pure distilled water second clean and rinse, so zero left on the record, seems to clean them extremely well and ready to play.
Wow, this is much more my speed. Just saw a video yesterday of someone using foaming upholstery cleaner to clean their stuff yesterday. I thought I was going crazy!
I’ve been curious about one of those vacuum jobs, but was unsure how well they actually clean. I’ve been using an ultrasonic cleaner for years now, and honestly it’s the best record cleaning method I’ve ever seen, hands down. It’s pretty low tech though. They spin a few minutes in the ultrasonic, then I rinse them with distilled water. I set them on top of solo cups with a small desk fan blowing on them. Takes about 30 minutes to clean two records. The vacuum thing sure looks attractive.
I do swear by the method - and this iteration of the Record Doctor is a game changer as far as time to clean goes. I've always had luck with the vacuum method and post-rinse.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords thanks. Perhaps I’ll look into continuing the ultrasonic for the REALLY dirty records (I’ve gotten a few from the $0.50 crate that looked like they’d been through a war, and managed to get them pretty good again), and use the vacuum for the routine cleaning. I mean, I’m not into vinyl for the convenience, but the time cleaning does get old.
Hi Rick, it seemed very quiet when compared to the Project. I liked the method of cleaning both sides together. I paid £250 for my Project 18 months ago, the Record Dr X is €599 which is more than double the price. I think that would kill it for me. If I was cleaning a 1,000 records then the time saved would be important but only cleaning what I buy then the small amount of time saved each month wouldn’t justify the price. I am not even sure the Record Dr is available in the UK. I loved your new record room. Best Pat
Cool unit. Like the dual vacuum. However, I prefer my VPI MW Cyclone. I like the larger size and "lip" around the unit so you can really drench the record with no distilled water getting on the floor. My Cleaning Process: First. I use no sufactants only distilled water and you may see why. Two Spin Cleans: One as a wash. One as a rinse. Then through HumminGuru ultrasonic. Lastly, last few drops usually two or three, I vacuum up through the VPI MW Cyclone.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords I really like it. Some records need to go through twice but that is less than 5% of the time. Probably cleaned over 500 records by now and still going strong!
Thanks Rick for bringing this up to our attention. I didn’t know they made a 10 (X) and I was wondering if the vacuum is still as loud as the previous models ? I have owned the the five (V) since it was first release and that’s the only downside was how loud the vacuum was on that model.. Well besides all the manual steps you have to do with it.. lol
I will be looking into getting one of these eventually. Thanks for the tip! --- Bill Question: Have you considered giving away the previous model to a randomly selected subscriber? You can make it a contest too. Just a suggestion. How about a "Record Doctor vs Ultrasonic" video? Just a suggestion (The Sequel).
I have a 40 year old Oracle carbon fiber record brush. It came with 40,000 (or 4,000, I can't remember which) carbon fiber bristles. I've cleaned thousands of sides, can't tell that any fibers are gone. I can't remember ever seeing a fiber on a record. Also have placed one in my 'Cart' on Audio Advisor. Will call 'em tomorrow to discuss shipping.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Received the Doctor Doctor X a few days ago. Got it from Crutchfield in two days. It makes a very positive difference (less noise and more open sound) on 3 out of 5 records I clean. I consider that a win! But it doesn't seem to have enough torque to keep rotating during vacuum cleaning. I have to help it along by hand, otherwise it stops quite often. Have you had that problem with yours?
@@TheTomryan123 Hi Tom! It did happen when I first started using it. I found that it does need to be tight (I do this by placing the heel of my left hand against the outer edge of the record and turning the clamp tight with my left). That seems to have solved it for me. I believe that was one thing the engineers had to focus on - the power of the dual vacuums and allowing the drive to turn the record slow enough to be effective. I hope that helps!
I used the Record Doctor for years until I bought a Humminguru....sold my Record Doctor. How is it a "one and done" when YOU have to do the cleaning? The Guru is a GREAT machine for the money. It cleans BOTH sides at once and dries. 10 (or 5) minutes and it's done.
I'll have to check the HumminGuru out one of these days. I've heard mixed things about it from others. Good to hear you're having great results, Harry.
The problem with the Humminguru is it is a 40 MHz ultrasonic, which is not going to get out the finer particles and release agents from the deepest part of the groove. Sadly, the too-expensive Degritter is currently the only viable alternative. If cost was no object, I would use the Record Doctor X for first step, followed by the Degritter for final cleaning. If anyone knows of a 120 MHz ultrasonic that is affordable, please do tell!
Today I finally got my new Record Doctor X in the mail and got it from Amazon and it was on sale for $499.95 Instead of $599.95 so I waited to it went on sale and can't wait to try it and it would be more easier than doing it by hand.
I use for more than 30 years the Knosti Disco Antistat.Did cost me then 30 bucks (it's nowadays 65 Euro). It's manual and it still cleans very good. All those new record-cleaners do look impressive (and very expensive!) but the added value is at least discutabel.
Are the pads on the vacuum arm & underside replaceable like on the Pro-Ject unit? Ultimately if they get debris trapped in over time they'll damage records... Thanks.
Grateful for this video…I had the Pro-Ject in my cart for about a month, and was gonna pull the trigger until I saw this. I wasn’t aware the “X,” had come out. It arrived today, and I’m excited to put it to work. Thanks, Rick.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Update. Like you, I don’t particularly care for the goat hair brush. The vacuum successfully retrieves the errant brush hairs deposited on the disc, but I ordered one of the older model brushes as a replacement. Otherwise, I’m loving this machine! Thanks again.
Thanks for this review, Rick. I was looking for input on RDX and I'm glad it came from another person whose opinion I respect. Do you think you'd ever scrap the Spin Clean step, in favor of a squirt bottle of distilled water and a second, water-only record brush and simply use the RDX for rinse as well?
Hi! I don't think I'd skip the spin clean with distilled water step - mainly because I'm a creature of habit. I'm sure the squirt bottle would achieve the same effect with a water-only brush as you mentioned
I recently bought the VCE2 also. The reason I think the new Record Doctor 10 might not outright beat the Pro-ject is bc even though it cleans both sides at once, you still have to manually flip each record and apply the solution twice. The rest is all automatic anyway, and it looks like the RD10 motor spins quite a bit slower than the Pro-ject. THAT SAID… I wouldn't mind if the VCE2 spun a little slower. From the video it does look like the record doctor does a more complete vacuuming of the liquid. Even with several rotations, I usually can still see a few stripes of solution after vacuuming with the Project. But they do evaporate pretty quickly. Would you say there's a significant difference between the two machines when it comes to the vacuuming itself?
Absolutely. That's what impressed me the most. I also noticed that the Pro-Ject never quite vacuums all the solution off and had to give it a couple rotations on the RD VI to fully dry it. The RD X does just as well as the RD VI but better (plus there's no need to flip the record since it doesn't both sides equally well at the same time).
RecordDoctorTenRecordDoctorTenRecordDoctorTen 😂… I can definitely picture myself scratching the label of a record with the sharp edge of the screw spindle. They should’ve made the tip slightly narrower so that it could be half-spherical as a regular turntable spindle and make the hole in the clamp a little deeper to accommodate for the slightly longer spindle, but as you said, that might bring other problems. Overall a great record cleaning equipment, who knows what improvements version 11 Pro Max Ultra will have though 😅
Hey Douglas! I use Discogs. I have my collection cataloged there (it's exportable to excel as well) and Discogs provides the ability to create folders. I have folders for "Clean", "Replace", "Last Chance", and "Spin". The "Last Chance" folder is for records that were in the "Clean" folder but have been cleaned. If they still don't sound great they go into the "Replace" folder. "Spin" means all systems go.
@0:32 -- Do you have a cassette deck? I have a Nakamichi CR-7A, from the early or mid 1980s (if I am not mistaken). At the time, I had it connected to my Sony receiver. That entire stereo is gone, except for my tape deck. I could not part with it. I have no idea how good it sounds on a revealing stereo. Back then, with my Sony receiver and my Radian Research speakers, all I did was blast the volume, with the bass and treble turned up. I knew zero about soundstaging, or anything else. I would love to hear that tape deck, now. Alas, I have nowhere to physically place it, and no quality interconnects to connect it. My stereo's interconnects are balanced. So I cannot swap them, because the tape deck has only RCA inputs / outputs. Anyway... How loud is the Record Doctor's vacuum? Also, can it clean 7" 45s? I have a couple of dozen very dirty 7" 45s, from my childhood, that I dare not let my stylus touch. My VPI 16.5 record cleaner has no clamp for 7" records (at least one was not included). Will your Record Doctor clamps work with 7" records?
I still have my old 4-Track Tascam from my recording days - but that's it. The vacuum doesn't seem loud to me - maybe because I'm so used to record vacuums. It may be a bit quieter than the Pro-Ject. I'll have to check that. The 7" was an excellent question. never thought of it because I never play the 45s I have. I just checked and it does not accommodate the 7". It doesn't come with an adapter and the vacuum slot would extend well beyond the 45's diameter.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords My VPI 16.5 record cleaner's vacuum is LOUD. It is powerful. But it is LOUD. Keep the porch light on. I might have to stop by to clean my 7" 45's. ;-) EDIT: Oops! Never mind. I just re-read your reply, that it "does not" accommodate the 7" records.
Great video, but unless I missed it, you didn't talk much about the results. If you could let us know how effective the X is at removing noise from a record. I'm not concerned with rescuing old worn out records, I'm interested in what it can do for minty records that have ticks and pops. Last night Iwas listening to Arvo Part's "Passio" and the surface noise on what looks to be a new record was distracting and that's after my 2 part cleaning (spin type pre clean and 5 min ultrasonic bath). Thanks!
If the ticks and pops are the result of debris or particles in the grooves, this takes care of that. I don't have any exceptionally dirty records to prove the point, but the used records I've bought since the RD X landed here, have all been cleaned to perfection (or as close to perfection as a used record can be). I know I must sound like a salesman, but I get passionate when I believe in a product (and this is not a sponsored video by any means!).
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords great thanks for the additional info. I have a fairly large carefully assembled collection and most of my records are either new or mint, anything below VG or VG+ I get rid off. I think my biggest is problem is dust particles that get blown around by our forced air gas furnace. And even though my 2 step cleaning process does an excellent job, the records still manage to pickup dust. So a clean and play approach is what I think is needed.
I looked at the record doctor years ago, and what I couldn’t figure out was where the water goes That’s vacuumed! It Has to go into the machine which I always thought to myself That’s not a good thing to be near electronics and have no receptacle for the water! Plus it was made of particleboard, which, over a short amount of time would absorb the water from the interior and rot! I use an ultrasonic cleaner, and you can see that whole process that I go through on my channel and it is my most popular video! I think it has 17,000 views now! But I do eight records at a time in the ultrasonic, and it works amazingly, and I air dry it because the solution that I have on it has what was made for film by Kodak called Photo flow! Everything ends up, spotless!
I actually have checked out that video. Ultrasonics are something I want to test out at some point when I can afford it. The RDX's fluid goes into a reservoir that's emptied on the bottom (much like a mini-shop vac) so the liquid doesn't come into contact with anything - straight from the vacuum nozzle(s) to the reservoir. Both the RD VI and the RDX are great machines. I don't recall - do you also do a rinse cycle with the ultrasonic?
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords I don’t rinse since the Kodak Photo-Flo is a super slippery substance (two capfuls in the whole tank since super-concentrated)so basically self cleaning! It’s main purpose is to eliminate residue on photographic film! I’ve never seen residue or anything on my records after I’m done and or after playing or on the stylus! They’re just super super clean
Looks like a great machine and makes it simple and quick to clean your records. The only drawback I see is the price. Do you feel like the Record Doctor 6 is just as good other than the fact it is manual instead of automatic? Thanks again!
Hey Neil! I still highly recommend the RD VI. The only reason I went for the Pro-Ject was the fact that I didn't want to stand in one spot and turn the clamp manually to clean anymore. I've done hundreds that way and it is a great solution. I will say the RD VI vacuum is more powerful than the Pro-Ject. All that being said - back to your ask about if the RD VI is just as good. It's great but I prefer the RD X because of the automatic and the dual vacuum feature. It really does make cleaning a breeze.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords By the way, thought I would share that I saw Pat Metheny live a couple weeks ago. All I can say is WOW! Unbelievable guitar player.
Why batch clean multiple at a time (and allow them to gather dust) when you can clean one record and immediately place it on the turntable for playback?
I suppose it's a timing thing for me. But you do raise a good point. If my cleaner was right next to my turntable I suppose I would do just as you suggest. As it is, it's two floors away. I know... I'm lazy though. But yeah - you're right.
You're not the only one who complained about the sharp edges on the spindle. Why not just sand it smooth? Also not trying to push an alternative cover product but I find that R D cover pretty gaudy so may I suggest Digital Deck Covers. Custom-made with the choice of materials colors, backing, at about the same price. I have had them make a half dozen different covers for my equipment, and they can do things you never see elsewhere. I own a manual Record Doctor with KAB's roller bearing, and large fluted handle upgrades, but I don't use it anymore. I wanted simpler and faster plus hassle free. The Degritter. And about the best video on how well it works is from Suncoast Audio a really nice place nice people dealer in Sarasota, FL comparing it to the best automated two-sided vacuum system, the "ClearAudio Double Matrix"(talk about easy) $6000.00 plus a separate anti- static device built in, no Milty required (I mean how much more one step can you get ?). Plus, in this demonstration, he cleans the LP, plays it then cleans the same LP in the Degritter on a fabulous audio system. And the Degritter is half the price. I have to say the ClearAudio Double Matrix is really cool.
Nice review very exciting. That said, I returned my Pro-ject as it got increasing louder and louder. You didn't mention how loud this one is if you don't mind sharing. Quieter than a jet engine? Thanks
I'd say it's a "bit" quieter than the Pro-Ject but not by leaps and bounds. I'm probably just sued to the sound of record vacuum machines. With your Pro-ject - did you notice the vacuum rattling when it powered down? That's seems to be something new with my VC-E2.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords 😄 that's great! But I felt so bad for that good faithful cassette... 😄 they don't deserve it. In fact I am glad they are coming back. 🙂 I don't feel anything for the CDs on the contrary. They deprived us from the joy of vinyl during the 90s and 2000s 🙂
I have a US cleaner I got off of Amazon. I really like it, but it’s at least a 15 minute cycle, and then air drying cycle. Would be nice to shorten that up.
Ok, Rick, first thing I don't like is why you have to turn upside-down a wet vinyl to put the fluid on the other side. That defeat the purpose. With your previous model you have to flip it anyway, and the other side will not be wet dripping water everywhere. Second... where are the "loopers"? 😅
Cheers! And that's the thing - it doesn't drip upside down. The cleaning solution stays in place - which I love. With the RD VI it was the same thing - the solution is on the bottom. Pretty wild how it works.
So of COURSE that puppy pops up at the end of the clean.......it has a SPRING! BOING!!!! Now, if only I could send my wife to vinyl medical school..........
Are you at all concerned about the location of the Record Doctor X exhaust fan? I would think that the machine blowing out that much air so close to your dirty-now-clean record, would be an issue.
Hey Marty. I think the best way to put it is my wife hasn’t said it bothered her. I actually did a comparison video a couple weeks ago between the RDX, the RD VI, and the Pro-Ject VC-E2 specifically around noise levels. They are all in the same ball park with the RDX maybe being a decibal or two lower. Not a scientific test by any means.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Thanks for the response. I just watched the vid a second time.... Is the SpinClean distilled-water-only rinse that you do *really* necessary? Are you concerned that some residue from the RDX cleaning will still be left on the record?
@@MartyHalpern I can't say with 100% certainty that it's necessary. It's a habit I picked up years ago and now it's part of the routine. The RDX really appears to do a thorough job of cleaning removing all residue. I feel better doing the rinse after.
Thanks for the post now that make me mad i have the record doctor VI that i gotten 2 yrs and i wish it would been the record doctor 10 instead of 6 i wish i can buy one now but can't afford it now i'm on Social Security and section 8 unless it goes down in price.
James Tang! So James has one of the best record stores(supposedly) in Hong Kong, selling many of the rarest records out there. My point? You have to watch James Tang's video; How to remove crackles from a badly used vinyl with WD-40. It also includes his washing method. I can't tell if he's kidding or not, but I'm still laughing his video
Those thinking hand washing lps really gets the job done; sorry but no it doesn't! If they would know some physics pertaining to lps, they'd realize what a ridiculous notion that is. For one thing, lp grooves vary in width. The smallest grooves are too narrow for water to even penetrate its depth. Just because it looks like the lp is completely wet, does not mean that every groove is wet inside.Thinking you are getting into the narrowest grooves by hand washing is like thinking that thick bull rope can clean between your teeth as well as dental floss. Just because the lp looks wet, doen't mean the liquid has penetrated all the grooves Metal looks like it has a smooth surface, but look at metal under a microscope, and it has more craters than the Moon times a hundred. Also when a stylus is playing a groove, the stylus temperature from friction, can get many times more than a few hundred degrees. At that temperature the stylus can literally spot weld dust particles and micro debris into the record groove. Anyone who thinks hand washing can unweld doesn't know a thing about the reality and physics of what happens during vinyl playback. Hand washing is better than nothing, however. There were consumer cassette machines that could rival vinyl for sound quality. Ever hear a cassette played on something like a top Tandberg model, like the 3014 or tcd440? Then you haven't heard what cassettes can do. They don't have dynamic range like vinyl, because cassette tape is narrow and doesn't move at a fast speed, so too much dynamic would overload the tape and there would be distortion. But if you can forgive it for dynamics limitations, your average cassette sounds arguably better than someone playing an average quality lp with say a $200 phono cartridge. And factory prerecorded cassettes had pretty good quality control and consistency of sound. You might beat an above average cassettes sound quality with a good enough moving coil. But a cassette played on something really good will equal or beat most moving magnet cartridges. Not in dynamics, maybe not in incisiveness, but in other ways. First of all they're very smooth sounding. That has always been a hallmark with tape. Of course no ticks and pops also gets you thinking while listening that cassettes might have a more perfect sound than lps. Soundstaging is what really surprises me, and cassette's midrange reproduction. Played on top Tandberg machines (and Nakamich is no Tandberg), cassetes have such a smooth liquid sound, that comes closer to perfect reproduction. Lps beat cassettes basically on dynamics and high end detail and apparent snap. Played on a good machine, your average cassette is more open sounding than your average lp, with what most people play lps on. Lps might have a slight edge in transparency also, as a very slight remnant of tape hiss limits ultimate transparency on cassettes. For amazing transparency requires a very low noise floor. I would say factory prerecorded cassettes played on something super good, has a sound you might like better than lps in many major ways. Unless you really have a truly great phono cartridge/arm and turntable. Revox/Studer, famous for their unparallelled studio reel to reel decks, mentioned cassettes as the underrated medium. That almost no one got to experience the true sound quality potential of.
Confused about the dual-sidedness here...looks like the vacuum cleaner itself only actually touches one side, and it looks like you only coated one side with the cleaner, unless I fell asleep or something....??
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Cool, I might steal your idea of rinsing in the spin clean with distilled water That's a good idea I've been kind of struggling with how to rinse because distilled water just falls off the record if you try to spread it with the brush
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Yeah, with label discs between them. I think I can clean about 32 per hour. Usually 2 hours is a comfortable enjoyable bit of cleaning for me and it's nice to look at 64 newly cleaned records.
It's not that I'm poor (cheap? maybe) but for the time being I'm sticking to my 100% clean by hand technique. 🫠 Special request @Rick for a video with your recommendations and maybe detailing your secret recipe for homemade clean solution. 😎
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
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I have been enjoying my Record Doctor X for a few months now and love the results. Not as messy or time consuming as an ultrasonic cleaner and cleaning both sides at one time is a game changer. Keep up the great videos!
I'll try - and thank you!
Well this just went into my Amazon Wish list!!! Thanks for the demo & link info.
Welcome, Jim! If you do end up getting it, let me know how it goes 🍺
I still use the Spin Clean, but looking to invest in a new cleaner. Ill be sure to buy this from the link you shared so you get credit! Thanks for making this video Rick!
Thanks, John. I appreciate that!
Nice video. I’ve had the Pro-ject VC-E for about three years and love it. I use a goat’s hair brush and the only diffference is I slightly scrub the record instead of just spreading the soluton.
Hi Robert! I typically agitate the solution as well to get the emulsifier working. I didn't here for the demo however (not sure why I didn't actually).
Thank you for sharing man, I’ve been curious as to how well this works.
Cheers! 🍺
Thanks for making this video, I hadn't seen that an updated version had been released. I think I too am going to take the plunge and get one.
It's a truly great machine
Record Doctor X looks impressive and I trust your opinion but I'm not sure how much better it is than the manual procedure that I currently use. It took a bit of research and experimentation for me to decide which products to use.
1) GrooveWasher G3 or TergiKleen (GW G3 is better, IMO but TergiKleen is far less expensive in the long run)
2) Use GrooveWasher's Black Magic cleaning pad to work the G3 or TergiKleen into the record's grooves
3) Spray the record with distilled water (I'm not concerned with getting the label a little wet)
4) A few rotations in the Spin Clean
5) Hand dry with a soft microfiber or cotton towel
6) Apply Gruv Glide record treatment (a product that works well)
Total time to clean and treat one record is about 3 - 3 1/2 minutes. The cost of the RDX isn't an issue but I'd like to see a comparison. Thanks again for another great video!
I too like the Tergikleen - that's my usual "go to". I should use a stopwatch to check the time it takes to clean. If I do I'll post it on the channel's community board. Its probably around the 3 minutes you mention.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Have you tried Gruv Glide?
@@mypalfootfoot9591 I haven't. I've heard of it but never tried it
This looks great! There needs to be a Record Doctor trade in program!
😂😂. There really does
I think the biggest selling point for me is that record doctor X will quickly do 1 record at a time, without having to commit to at least 10 records at a time because you need X ml of distilled water, etc. this is kinda big deal for me since every time I buy a record I don’t have to wait for 9 more (because there’s no more records left to clean from my library). I guess I should buy vinyl vac after all.
If you do, let me know what you think
The best purchase I ever made was a 400 Hummiguru ultrasonic machine I’ve cleaned thousands of records and it’s so easy to use Just distilled water because a lot of times the cleaners leave a film on the vinyl!!
I am definitely checking out an ultrasonic one of these days.
Thank you so much for this review. I am a RD 6 owner and love it, I too combine it with the Spin Clean step on super dirty albums. Very interested in the X. Is the X louder or about the same as the 6? And did they leave the spindle (screw) black - I ask because sometimes I can’t find it when I’m trying to place the album onto the spindle cause it blends with the lower pad. Looks like the screw in spindle may be a silver color? And lastly, how do you clean the top vacuum brush? So now what do I do with my good doctor 6 if I buy the 10???? Thank you very much.
Hi Sandy! It's about the same as the VI as far as loudness goes. I definitely didn't find myself thinking it sounded any louder.
Funny you mention the spindle - I found the same thing with the black spindle - found it hard to sometimes hit the spindle just right. This is silver being that it's an actual screw for the clamp.
The top vacuum arm comes right off easily to clean it (if that's what you were asking).
Thanks for posting this demonstration video. The Record Doctor X? I want one! I'm still using the Record Doctor V. It's hard to believe how fast time flies. In November of this year, I will have had my Record Doctor V for ten years already. It still works great. But like I said, "The Record Doctor X? I want one!"
It’s crazy isn’t it. I’ve had the RDVI a few years now and it still feels like I only bought it a year or two ago.
It may be possible to use 2 wet Record Doctor brushes, 1 at the bottom & 1 on top, while the record is spinning just before you engage the suction. This way you wouldn't need to remove the record and turn it over.
Good video and looks a great machine.
I also just bought the latest Project RCM and love it, I also have the humminguru so my records go on the Project then straight into the hummi nguru which gives them a pure distilled water second clean and rinse, so zero left on the record, seems to clean them extremely well and ready to play.
The HumminGuru us getting alot of great mentions. Maybe someday I'll have a chance to test one out.
Wow, this is much more my speed. Just saw a video yesterday of someone using foaming upholstery cleaner to clean their stuff yesterday. I thought I was going crazy!
LMAO - I need to see that video 😂😂😂
Ha, me too! Probably why this popped up in my recommendations
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords How can I deny the entertainment th-cam.com/video/YnxmjzljlcE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3INjZ7nkMUt49KLC
I’ve been curious about one of those vacuum jobs, but was unsure how well they actually clean. I’ve been using an ultrasonic cleaner for years now, and honestly it’s the best record cleaning method I’ve ever seen, hands down. It’s pretty low tech though. They spin a few minutes in the ultrasonic, then I rinse them with distilled water. I set them on top of solo cups with a small desk fan blowing on them. Takes about 30 minutes to clean two records. The vacuum thing sure looks attractive.
I do swear by the method - and this iteration of the Record Doctor is a game changer as far as time to clean goes. I've always had luck with the vacuum method and post-rinse.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords thanks. Perhaps I’ll look into continuing the ultrasonic for the REALLY dirty records (I’ve gotten a few from the $0.50 crate that looked like they’d been through a war, and managed to get them pretty good again), and use the vacuum for the routine cleaning. I mean, I’m not into vinyl for the convenience, but the time cleaning does get old.
@@mph7282 I second that. They pile up because of the time it takes to clean
Hi Rick, it seemed very quiet when compared to the Project. I liked the method of cleaning both sides together. I paid £250 for my Project 18 months ago, the Record Dr X is €599 which is more than double the price. I think that would kill it for me. If I was cleaning a 1,000 records then the time saved would be important but only cleaning what I buy then the small amount of time saved each month wouldn’t justify the price. I am not even sure the Record Dr is available in the UK. I loved your new record room. Best Pat
Thanks Pat! It's a joy to listen to music with Mandie in that room. She's very proud of it 😀
Cool unit. Like the dual vacuum. However, I prefer my VPI MW Cyclone. I like the larger size and "lip" around the unit so you can really drench the record with no distilled water getting on the floor.
My Cleaning Process:
First. I use no sufactants only distilled water and you may see why.
Two Spin Cleans:
One as a wash.
One as a rinse.
Then through HumminGuru ultrasonic.
Lastly, last few drops usually two or three, I vacuum up through the VPI MW Cyclone.
Very cool, Robert. What do you think of the HumminGuru?
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords I really like it. Some records need to go through twice but that is less than 5% of the time. Probably cleaned over 500 records by now and still going strong!
I've been scouring flea markets and thrift stores for those Maxell XL ii's... that hurt.
Oh oh - I might have a few left from my old 90s 4-track recording stash...
😱😱😱😱
Thanks Rick for bringing this up to our attention. I didn’t know they made a 10 (X) and I was wondering if the vacuum is still as loud as the previous models ? I have owned the the five (V) since it was first release and that’s the only downside was how loud the vacuum was on that model.. Well besides all the manual steps you have to do with it.. lol
Hi John! I think it's about the same - at least compared to the RD VI (I never owned the RDV).
I will be looking into getting one of these eventually. Thanks for the tip! --- Bill
Question: Have you considered giving away the previous model to a randomly selected subscriber? You can make it a contest too. Just a suggestion.
How about a "Record Doctor vs Ultrasonic" video? Just a suggestion (The Sequel).
One of these days I'll look into an ultrasonic - that would be a great comparison.
I have a 40 year old Oracle carbon fiber record brush. It came with 40,000 (or 4,000, I can't remember which) carbon fiber bristles. I've cleaned thousands of sides, can't tell that any fibers are gone. I can't remember ever seeing a fiber on a record.
Also have placed one in my 'Cart' on Audio Advisor. Will call 'em tomorrow to discuss shipping.
Would love to hear your experience when you use it
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Received the Doctor Doctor X a few days ago. Got it from Crutchfield in two days. It makes a very positive difference (less noise and more open sound) on 3 out of 5 records I clean. I consider that a win! But it doesn't seem to have enough torque to keep rotating during vacuum cleaning. I have to help it along by hand, otherwise it stops quite often. Have you had that problem with yours?
@@TheTomryan123 Hi Tom! It did happen when I first started using it. I found that it does need to be tight (I do this by placing the heel of my left hand against the outer edge of the record and turning the clamp tight with my left). That seems to have solved it for me. I believe that was one thing the engineers had to focus on - the power of the dual vacuums and allowing the drive to turn the record slow enough to be effective. I hope that helps!
I used the Record Doctor for years until I bought a Humminguru....sold my Record Doctor. How is it a "one and done" when YOU have to do the cleaning? The Guru is a GREAT machine for the money. It cleans BOTH sides at once and dries. 10 (or 5) minutes and it's done.
I'll have to check the HumminGuru out one of these days. I've heard mixed things about it from others. Good to hear you're having great results, Harry.
The problem with the Humminguru is it is a 40 MHz ultrasonic, which is not going to get out the finer particles and release agents from the deepest part of the groove. Sadly, the too-expensive Degritter is currently the only viable alternative. If cost was no object, I would use the Record Doctor X for first step, followed by the Degritter for final cleaning. If anyone knows of a 120 MHz ultrasonic that is affordable, please do tell!
Nice video, still have the Pro-Ject VCS-3, especially for the magnetic clamp!
The magnetic clamp is a great feature.
Today I finally got my new Record Doctor X in the mail and got it from Amazon and it was on sale for $499.95 Instead of $599.95 so I waited to it went on sale and can't wait to try it and it would be more easier than doing it by hand.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it!
I use for more than 30 years the Knosti Disco Antistat.Did cost me then 30 bucks (it's nowadays 65 Euro). It's manual and it still cleans very good. All those new record-cleaners do look impressive (and very expensive!) but the added value is at least discutabel.
That's a lot like the spin-clean, right Paul?
It is and the cleaning is after all those years still very good.
Are the pads on the vacuum arm & underside replaceable like on the Pro-Ject unit? Ultimately if they get debris trapped in over time they'll damage records... Thanks.
Yes - they sure are. Thankfully.
Where is it made?
Hi Barry - it's not explicitly stated. It's a US based company but I do not know where it is manufactured.
Grateful for this video…I had the Pro-Ject in my cart for about a month, and was gonna pull the trigger until I saw this. I wasn’t aware the “X,” had come out. It arrived today, and I’m excited to put it to work. Thanks, Rick.
You're welcome! 🍺🍺
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Update. Like you, I don’t particularly care for the goat hair brush. The vacuum successfully retrieves the errant brush hairs deposited on the disc, but I ordered one of the older model brushes as a replacement. Otherwise, I’m loving this machine! Thanks again.
@@christopherklinck Welcome and thrilled to hear it!
Thanks for this review, Rick. I was looking for input on RDX and I'm glad it came from another person whose opinion I respect. Do you think you'd ever scrap the Spin Clean step, in favor of a squirt bottle of distilled water and a second, water-only record brush and simply use the RDX for rinse as well?
Hi! I don't think I'd skip the spin clean with distilled water step - mainly because I'm a creature of habit. I'm sure the squirt bottle would achieve the same effect with a water-only brush as you mentioned
I recently bought the VCE2 also. The reason I think the new Record Doctor 10 might not outright beat the Pro-ject is bc even though it cleans both sides at once, you still have to manually flip each record and apply the solution twice. The rest is all automatic anyway, and it looks like the RD10 motor spins quite a bit slower than the Pro-ject. THAT SAID… I wouldn't mind if the VCE2 spun a little slower. From the video it does look like the record doctor does a more complete vacuuming of the liquid. Even with several rotations, I usually can still see a few stripes of solution after vacuuming with the Project. But they do evaporate pretty quickly. Would you say there's a significant difference between the two machines when it comes to the vacuuming itself?
Absolutely. That's what impressed me the most. I also noticed that the Pro-Ject never quite vacuums all the solution off and had to give it a couple rotations on the RD VI to fully dry it. The RD X does just as well as the RD VI but better (plus there's no need to flip the record since it doesn't both sides equally well at the same time).
RecordDoctorTenRecordDoctorTenRecordDoctorTen 😂… I can definitely picture myself scratching the label of a record with the sharp edge of the screw spindle. They should’ve made the tip slightly narrower so that it could be half-spherical as a regular turntable spindle and make the hole in the clamp a little deeper to accommodate for the slightly longer spindle, but as you said, that might bring other problems. Overall a great record cleaning equipment, who knows what improvements version 11 Pro Max Ultra will have though 😅
Cheers, Joe!
I’m a new collector looking for a good record cleaner, then I saw it was more than my setup and entire collection combined 😮
True - record cleaning machines aren't cheap.
Another very informative video. Nice job. Thanks so much.
Cheers! 🍺
Hello
I write to you from Germany. My question would be the Record Doctor as loud as the Pro Ject machine? Greetings
Greetings Germany!
It’s definitely not louder. If anything maybe a bit quieter but not really by much.
Hey. Nice video. What is the software you are using for your cleaning list? Thats looked great. I’m just keeping my list on my Notes on my phone.
Hey Douglas! I use Discogs. I have my collection cataloged there (it's exportable to excel as well) and Discogs provides the ability to create folders. I have folders for "Clean", "Replace", "Last Chance", and "Spin". The "Last Chance" folder is for records that were in the "Clean" folder but have been cleaned. If they still don't sound great they go into the "Replace" folder. "Spin" means all systems go.
@0:32 -- Do you have a cassette deck?
I have a Nakamichi CR-7A, from the early or mid 1980s (if I am not mistaken).
At the time, I had it connected to my Sony receiver. That entire stereo is gone, except for my tape deck. I could not part with it.
I have no idea how good it sounds on a revealing stereo. Back then, with my Sony receiver and my Radian Research speakers, all I did was blast the volume, with the bass and treble turned up. I knew zero about soundstaging, or anything else.
I would love to hear that tape deck, now. Alas, I have nowhere to physically place it, and no quality interconnects to connect it. My stereo's interconnects are balanced. So I cannot swap them, because the tape deck has only RCA inputs / outputs.
Anyway...
How loud is the Record Doctor's vacuum?
Also, can it clean 7" 45s?
I have a couple of dozen very dirty 7" 45s, from my childhood, that I dare not let my stylus touch. My VPI 16.5 record cleaner has no clamp for 7" records (at least one was not included).
Will your Record Doctor clamps work with 7" records?
I still have my old 4-Track Tascam from my recording days - but that's it.
The vacuum doesn't seem loud to me - maybe because I'm so used to record vacuums. It may be a bit quieter than the Pro-Ject. I'll have to check that.
The 7" was an excellent question. never thought of it because I never play the 45s I have. I just checked and it does not accommodate the 7". It doesn't come with an adapter and the vacuum slot would extend well beyond the 45's diameter.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords My VPI 16.5 record cleaner's vacuum is LOUD.
It is powerful. But it is LOUD.
Keep the porch light on. I might have to stop by to clean my 7" 45's.
;-)
EDIT:
Oops!
Never mind.
I just re-read your reply, that it "does not" accommodate the 7" records.
@@NoEgg4u Sadly - it doesn't appear so...
Nicely done 👍. I'll take two 😊
😂😂😂 🍺🍺
Great video, but unless I missed it, you didn't talk much about the results. If you could let us know how effective the X is at removing noise from a record. I'm not concerned with rescuing old worn out records, I'm interested in what it can do for minty records that have ticks and pops. Last night Iwas listening to Arvo Part's "Passio" and the surface noise on what looks to be a new record was distracting and that's after my 2 part cleaning (spin type pre clean and 5 min ultrasonic bath). Thanks!
If the ticks and pops are the result of debris or particles in the grooves, this takes care of that. I don't have any exceptionally dirty records to prove the point, but the used records I've bought since the RD X landed here, have all been cleaned to perfection (or as close to perfection as a used record can be).
I know I must sound like a salesman, but I get passionate when I believe in a product (and this is not a sponsored video by any means!).
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords great thanks for the additional info. I have a fairly large carefully assembled collection and most of my records are either new or mint, anything below VG or VG+ I get rid off. I think my biggest is problem is dust particles that get blown around by our forced air gas furnace. And even though my 2 step cleaning process does an excellent job, the records still manage to pickup dust. So a clean and play approach is what I think is needed.
@@tubelab194 Dust sometimes feels like a losing battle - especially static (which attracts the dust)
How do you empty the wasteliquid from the machine? Regards from sweden
Greetings Sweden.
I should have mentioned that. There's a plug on the bottom to empty the liquid after a few cleans.
Is it worth it to have the machine when you have a small vinyl record collection ( less than 100)? A penny for everyone’s thoughts?
I looked at the record doctor years ago, and what I couldn’t figure out was where the water goes That’s vacuumed! It Has to go into the machine which I always thought to myself That’s not a good thing to be near electronics and have no receptacle for the water! Plus it was made of particleboard, which, over a short amount of time would absorb the water from the interior and rot! I use an ultrasonic cleaner, and you can see that whole process that I go through on my channel and it is my most popular video! I think it has 17,000 views now! But I do eight records at a time in the ultrasonic, and it works amazingly, and I air dry it because the solution that I have on it has what was made for film by Kodak called Photo flow! Everything ends up, spotless!
I actually have checked out that video. Ultrasonics are something I want to test out at some point when I can afford it.
The RDX's fluid goes into a reservoir that's emptied on the bottom (much like a mini-shop vac) so the liquid doesn't come into contact with anything - straight from the vacuum nozzle(s) to the reservoir. Both the RD VI and the RDX are great machines.
I don't recall - do you also do a rinse cycle with the ultrasonic?
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords I don’t rinse since the Kodak Photo-Flo is a super slippery substance (two capfuls in the whole tank since super-concentrated)so basically self cleaning! It’s main purpose is to eliminate residue on photographic film! I’ve never seen residue or anything on my records after I’m done and or after playing or on the stylus! They’re just super super clean
@@primeanalogrecords I’ll need to look into that. I’ve heard of it but never used it.
Do you have any feedback on ultrasonic verses the record doctor? I’m fed up with
trying to remove surface noise on new and used vinyl.
Not yet, Stan. But it's something I want to correct. I haven't had a chance (or the funds) to pick up an ultrasonic yet.
Looks like a great machine and makes it simple and quick to clean your records. The only drawback I see is the price. Do you feel like the Record Doctor 6 is just as good other than the fact it is manual instead of automatic? Thanks again!
Hey Neil!
I still highly recommend the RD VI. The only reason I went for the Pro-Ject was the fact that I didn't want to stand in one spot and turn the clamp manually to clean anymore. I've done hundreds that way and it is a great solution. I will say the RD VI vacuum is more powerful than the Pro-Ject.
All that being said - back to your ask about if the RD VI is just as good. It's great but I prefer the RD X because of the automatic and the dual vacuum feature. It really does make cleaning a breeze.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
Thanks Rick! $300 sounds better than $600 for my small collection. Keep doing what you're doing!
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
By the way, thought I would share that I saw Pat Metheny live a couple weeks ago. All I can say is WOW! Unbelievable guitar player.
@@neilfisher7999 I've never seen him live but yes - amazing describes him
Why batch clean multiple at a time (and allow them to gather dust) when you can clean one record and immediately place it on the turntable for playback?
I suppose it's a timing thing for me. But you do raise a good point. If my cleaner was right next to my turntable I suppose I would do just as you suggest. As it is, it's two floors away. I know... I'm lazy though. But yeah - you're right.
You're not the only one who complained about the sharp edges on the spindle. Why not just sand it smooth? Also not trying to push an alternative cover product but I find that R D cover pretty gaudy so may I suggest Digital Deck Covers. Custom-made with the choice of materials colors, backing, at about the same price. I have had them make a half dozen different covers for my equipment, and they can do things you never see elsewhere. I own a manual Record Doctor with KAB's roller bearing, and large fluted handle upgrades, but I don't use it anymore. I wanted simpler and faster plus hassle free. The Degritter. And about the best video on how well it works is from Suncoast Audio a really nice place nice people dealer in Sarasota, FL comparing it to the best automated two-sided vacuum system, the "ClearAudio Double Matrix"(talk about easy) $6000.00 plus a separate anti- static device built in, no Milty required (I mean how much more one step can you get ?). Plus, in this demonstration, he cleans the LP, plays it then cleans the same LP in the Degritter on a fabulous audio system. And the Degritter is half the price. I have to say the ClearAudio Double Matrix is really cool.
I've heard there's a new Degritter product coming out soon. I've always wanted to give the Degritter a try. Maybe one of these days!
Nice review very exciting. That said, I returned my Pro-ject as it got increasing louder and louder. You didn't mention how loud this one is if you don't mind sharing. Quieter than a jet engine? Thanks
I'd say it's a "bit" quieter than the Pro-Ject but not by leaps and bounds. I'm probably just sued to the sound of record vacuum machines.
With your Pro-ject - did you notice the vacuum rattling when it powered down? That's seems to be something new with my VC-E2.
Sigh, I could not resist, after watching your review, my RDR X will be here Tuesday. Thanks Rick!
@@tscott655 If you have a chance - let me know what you think!
Ouch, $600.
Oh, nooo! You should have smashed a CD, not a cassette 😢
I don’t have any CDs in the house 😳
especially not a type II tape!
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords 😄 that's great! But I felt so bad for that good faithful cassette... 😄 they don't deserve it. In fact I am glad they are coming back. 🙂 I don't feel anything for the CDs on the contrary. They deprived us from the joy of vinyl during the 90s and 2000s 🙂
@@secretflowersinfinite9475 exactly! 😳
I dropped a record recently on the spindle of my record doctor 6 and that was enough to leave a nasty mark
Ugh. I did that on the corner once. Broke my heart
I have a US cleaner I got off of Amazon. I really like it, but it’s at least a 15 minute cycle, and then air drying cycle. Would be nice to shorten that up.
This is very fast (at least compared to my previously slow method).
What about 7” singles?
I'm not sure it works well with 45s. I'll have to try, there is no adapter for them (at least not included)
Ouch! Thanks for the answer!
Ok, Rick, first thing I don't like is why you have to turn upside-down a wet vinyl to put the fluid on the other side. That defeat the purpose. With your previous model you have to flip it anyway, and the other side will not be wet dripping water everywhere.
Second... where are the "loopers"? 😅
Cheers! And that's the thing - it doesn't drip upside down. The cleaning solution stays in place - which I love. With the RD VI it was the same thing - the solution is on the bottom. Pretty wild how it works.
So of COURSE that puppy pops up at the end of the clean.......it has a SPRING! BOING!!!! Now, if only I could send my wife to vinyl medical school..........
The tuition for that school is outrageous 😂😂😂
Are you at all concerned about the location of the Record Doctor X exhaust fan? I would think that the machine blowing out that much air so close to your dirty-now-clean record, would be an issue.
Hi Jim! It actually blows out on the bottom. The RD VI did the same thing. I felt for it as well when it was running - concerns I had were alleviated.
What do you (or any other individuals in your household) think about the noise level of the Record Doctor X?
Hey Marty. I think the best way to put it is my wife hasn’t said it bothered her. I actually did a comparison video a couple weeks ago between the RDX, the RD VI, and the Pro-Ject VC-E2 specifically around noise levels. They are all in the same ball park with the RDX maybe being a decibal or two lower. Not a scientific test by any means.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Thanks for the response. I just watched the vid a second time.... Is the SpinClean distilled-water-only rinse that you do *really* necessary? Are you concerned that some residue from the RDX cleaning will still be left on the record?
@@MartyHalpern I can't say with 100% certainty that it's necessary. It's a habit I picked up years ago and now it's part of the routine. The RDX really appears to do a thorough job of cleaning removing all residue. I feel better doing the rinse after.
They should have used a "record clamp" on top instead of a screw on clamp.
I actually tried their record clamp on it to see if it would work.
Now this is your opportunity to be a good lad and give away that Dr. Pepper VI
😂😂😂
Thanks for the post now that make me mad i have the record doctor VI that i gotten 2 yrs and i wish it would been the record doctor 10 instead of 6 i wish i can buy one now but can't afford it now i'm on Social Security and section 8 unless it goes down in price.
I hear that! I've had to slow down my spending habits tremendously (recent job eliminations).
5:28 - 5:40 Quick break to sniff Mandie's freshly baked muffins?
😂😂😂.
James Tang! So James has one of the best record stores(supposedly) in Hong Kong, selling many of the rarest records out there. My point? You have to watch James Tang's video; How to remove crackles from a badly used vinyl with WD-40. It also includes his washing method. I can't tell if he's kidding or not, but I'm still laughing his video
😂😂😂 I'll check it out!
Nice, but at $599.95 I'll have to pass and continue using my Nitty Gritty cleaner. It does one side at a time and does work great. Great demo though!
Cheers! 🍺. Saw the Helix video. Completely forgot about that band 🍺🍺
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords to me that was pretty much their last good album as they fizzled after this one.
That machine cleans but not very deep, for me the best cleaner is the Audiodesk vinyl cleaner pro
Those thinking hand washing lps really gets the job done; sorry but no it doesn't! If they would know some physics pertaining to lps, they'd realize what a ridiculous notion that is. For one thing, lp grooves vary in width. The smallest grooves are too narrow for water to even penetrate its depth. Just because it looks like the lp is completely wet, does not mean that every groove is wet inside.Thinking you are getting into the narrowest grooves by hand washing is like thinking that thick bull rope can clean between your teeth as well as dental floss. Just because the lp looks wet, doen't mean the liquid has penetrated all the grooves Metal looks like it has a smooth surface, but look at metal under a microscope, and it has more craters than the Moon times a hundred. Also when a stylus is playing a groove, the stylus temperature from friction, can get many times more than a few hundred degrees. At that temperature the stylus can literally spot weld dust particles and micro debris into the record groove. Anyone who thinks hand washing can unweld doesn't know a thing about the reality and physics of what happens during vinyl playback. Hand washing is better than nothing, however.
There were consumer cassette machines that could rival vinyl for sound quality. Ever hear a cassette played on something like a top Tandberg model, like the 3014 or tcd440? Then you haven't heard what cassettes can do. They don't have dynamic range like vinyl, because cassette tape is narrow and doesn't move at a fast speed, so too much dynamic would overload the tape and there would be distortion. But if you can forgive it for dynamics limitations, your average cassette sounds arguably better than someone playing an average quality lp with say a $200 phono cartridge. And factory prerecorded cassettes had pretty good quality control and consistency of sound. You might beat an above average cassettes sound quality with a good enough moving coil. But a cassette played on something really good will equal or beat most moving magnet cartridges. Not in dynamics, maybe not in incisiveness, but in other ways. First of all they're very smooth sounding. That has always been a hallmark with tape. Of course no ticks and pops also gets you thinking while listening that cassettes might have a more perfect sound than lps. Soundstaging is what really surprises me, and cassette's midrange reproduction. Played on top Tandberg machines (and Nakamich is no Tandberg), cassetes have such a smooth liquid sound, that comes closer to perfect reproduction. Lps beat cassettes basically on dynamics and high end detail and apparent snap. Played on a good machine, your average cassette is more open sounding than your average lp, with what most people play lps on. Lps might have a slight edge in transparency also, as a very slight remnant of tape hiss limits ultimate transparency on cassettes. For amazing transparency requires a very low noise floor. I would say factory prerecorded cassettes played on something super good, has a sound you might like better than lps in many major ways. Unless you really have a truly great phono cartridge/arm and turntable. Revox/Studer, famous for their unparallelled studio reel to reel decks, mentioned cassettes as the underrated medium. That almost no one got to experience the true sound quality potential of.
Confused about the dual-sidedness here...looks like the vacuum cleaner itself only actually touches one side, and it looks like you only coated one side with the cleaner, unless I fell asleep or something....??
There is a vacuum on the bottom and the top. I coated both sides but I sped through it so it wouldn’t take long on video.
I got an ultra sonic cleaner, under $300, and I can do 4 records at a time.
That's an amazing price! Especially for an ultrasonic. Which one is it?
The big question is, is it as freaking loud as the record doctor 6?
It's not louder. Maybe around the same.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Cool, I might steal your idea of rinsing in the spin clean with distilled water That's a good idea I've been kind of struggling with how to rinse because distilled water just falls off the record if you try to spread it with the brush
Couldn't you have smashed a Wayne Newton record instead of triggering me? Danke Schoen!
😂😂😂 Poor Wayne - I hope to doesn't read this 😂😂😂😂
Goodbye dirty records, hello clean CDs 😆👍
😂😂😂
$599.95
An ultrasonic cleaner is “time-consuming”? You can clean easily a half dozen records at a time with one of those.
Did someone say it’s time consuming?
That's a slow roll for tons of records. Not my jam. I clean 8 at a time with my vevor.
😳 8???
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Yeah, with label discs between them. I think I can clean about 32 per hour. Usually 2 hours is a comfortable enjoyable bit of cleaning for me and it's nice to look at 64 newly cleaned records.
@@mondoenterprises6710 that’s incredible!
Oh no!!! Never destroy any type of music format! Sacrilege!! 🫣
Fortunately it was an old blank cassette from the 90s that I used to use with my 4-track when recording 😂
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords ok...just this once! 😋
It's not that I'm poor (cheap? maybe) but for the time being I'm sticking to my 100% clean by hand technique. 🫠 Special request @Rick for a video with your recommendations and maybe detailing your secret recipe for homemade clean solution. 😎
That's a good idea. I should do that. Thanks, Mathieu!
There is a hifi shop near me that offers ultrasonic cleaning for $2 each record….but I’m looking forward to purchasing my own ultrasonic cleaner.
@@TheJoyofVinylRecordsAwesome 😎