Pro-Ject Debut Carbon

PolkieMan

I just ordered this Monday supposed to come Saturday. I have an old Disc-Washer for my light work.

http://www.amazon.com/Spin-Clean-SYSTEM-Record-Washer-MKII/dp/B002UKSZUU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341613638&sr=8-2&keywords=record+cleaner+machine

Did you order the turntable online or local?
Does it have a dustcover?

Dawgfish

Face wrote: »

Cambridge does make a nice phono pre for the money.

As for cleaning your vinyl:

http://www.amazon.com/Spin-Clean-SYSTEM-Record-Washer-MKII/dp/B002UKSZUU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341613617&sr=8-1&keywords=spin+clean
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-LP-record-clean-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341613641&sr=8-2&keywords=carbon+record+brush

And pick up some extra microfibre cloths as the ones supplied become saturated quickly.

Looks like Face beat me to the punch. I do highly recommend the shop-vac drying technique. It makes a big difference. Also a lot of the pops and hisses you are hearing may (and probably are) due to static. Here are a couple of items to help you out with that. Stay away from the cliff.............lol!

http://www.needledoctor.com/Milty-Zerostat-Gun
http://www.needledoctor.com/Record-Cloth-LKG-SA-2-Anti-Static-Record-Cloth

PolkieMan

Those dent pullers "to protect the label" are real cheap if you have a Harbor Freight around.:razz:

here's a long but good video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8QzwBfd9yg

wingnut4772

Thanks. Ordered the Spin Clean. I like the Wet Vac/ cloth idea! I'll try it.

hochpt21

I got a nitty gritty ($400 new) and what a difference it made!!!

Someone (not the salesman) described it to me this way. A vacuum cleaning machine can improve the quality of your current records by 10%-30%. (not very scientific, but you get the idea)

I thought if someone was selling me a pre or cart or something else that provided the same benefit, I would have no problem paying that price. Plus a good cleaning not only improves the quality of the sound, but helps preserve your needle, records etc.

wingnut4772

I trashed my house looking for all my old brushes. The only thing I found was a Zerostat which I never thought worked.

doctor r

Hang onto the Zerostat (worth about $70.00 on the used market). Vacuum cleaning/drying can cause static buildup, and after I do the final round of drying is when I use it. This is the first time (as long as I owned one) that I found a true use for the Zerostat that seemed to work. Point the zerostat at the record 7-10 inches away. Slowly pull and slowly release the squeeze trigger three or four times. After that I have no static noted when the album is placed on the TT. Without this treatment many times (most?) I hear a small static discharge when I place the album on the table or when I run the inexpensive antistatic dust brush over the surface if I just cleaned it. I would also reccomend that you find some inexpensive new inner sleeves for the cleaned records (you can save the old ones if they are special next to the new inner sleeve). I have used "Sleeve City" www.sleevetown.com Hope this is not getting too over the top, but if you are going to clean them, why put them back into the same dirty environment?
Have fun.
Rick

wingnut4772

I am refraining from playing anymore vinyl until my cleaning stuff comes in but I will say that I think the Debut with the Cambridge 640P sounds better than my old VPI Scout with the Dynavector P75.

SCompRacer

Glad you are enjoying your vinyl again. Turntables and their components (tonearms, cartridges, phono stages) can vary in their presentation. You can range from rich and warm to extremely detailed and dynamic. Like speakers and other gear, what turns one on may turn another off. Only way to find out what you like is to try different tables/combinations. Along that path, your listening tastes may also change.

Good call on waiting for your cleaning stuff. Along with improved sound, your stylus life will be greater.

SCompRacer

doctor r wrote: »

I would also reccomend that you find some inexpensive new inner sleeves for the cleaned records (you can save the old ones if they are special next to the new inner sleeve). I have used "Sleeve City" www.sleevetown.com Hope this is not getting too over the top, but if you are going to clean them, why put them back into the same dirty environment?
Have fun.
Rick

A big +1 to this. My fav are the MFSL inner sleeves. I also use good quality outer sleeves to protect the album covers.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7291-mobile-fidelity-mfsl-inner-sleeves-pkg-50.aspx

wingnut4772

I am thinking of getting the VPI 16.5 instead of the Spin Clean. Thoughts?

SCompRacer

wingnut4772 wrote: »

I am thinking of getting the VPI 16.5 instead of the Spin Clean. Thoughts?

No need to think about that. You are done.:cheesygrin:

heiney9

wingnut4772 wrote: »

I am thinking of getting the VPI 16.5 instead of the Spin Clean. Thoughts?

It really is the only way to go.

H9

SCompRacer

IIRC Mike has the uber VPI 17.5.

Since you are considering an excellent platform to scrub and vacuum your records with, time to think about what to clean the records with. Some folks will have a custom formula using safe and/or unsafe chemicals for vinyl, or they buy the pre-mixed stuff that can be pricey.

I use what some folks here and record archivists use, a mix of two lab detergents. Tergitol 15-S-3 and 15-S-9 mixed with distilled water. They are both surfactants that attack water soluble dirt and oil based non-soluble elements. After vacuuming the record cleaned with the Tergitol mix, you do a distilled water rinse and vacuum again. We did a group buy here and I ended up with a pint of each. Tergitol does an excellent job and doesn't break the bank. It is best to store Tergitol in a cool dark place.

When I run out of the S-3/S-9, I'll go with Tergitol 15-S-7 which has similar properties as the other two products mixed.

A CP thread from Ken about Tergitol and some internet reading.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?86847-Lower-cost-for-DIY-record-cleaner&highlight=tergitol

"Tergitol 15-S-3 is an oil soluble surfactant and 15-S-9 is a water soluble surfactant. Combined they remove a wide range of dirt and greases and can safely be used on sound recordings."

http://www.btinternet.com/~davemct/guide4.html

I use two MFSL brushes, one to scrub with and one to rinse with.

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7281-mobile-fidelity-record-brush-mfsl.aspx

The Tergitol has worked very well for me. Used records I buy in poor shape may also get a steam cleaning (with hand held steamer) to help dislodge the dried pizza roll sauce.:cheesygrin:

wingnut4772

SCompRacer wrote: »

No need to think about that. You are done.:cheesygrin:

Keiko wrote: »

10-4 out! Wet/Vac RCM is the way to go. Don't look back, Darla. :cool:

heiney9 wrote: »

It really is the only way to go.

H9

O.K. Well that was unanimous. VPI 16.5 it is. I was reading somewhere that I should get an extra vacuum nozzle to switch between dirty water and clean water? Is that right or am I confused?

Thanks for that post Scomp.

SCompRacer

wingnut4772 wrote: »

O.K. Well that was unanimous. VPI 16.5 it is. I was reading somewhere that I should get an extra vacuum nozzle to switch between dirty water and clean water? Is that right or am I confused?

Thanks for that post Scomp.

You are most welcome.

Yes on the second vacuum nozzle so you don't cross contaminate. Most get another cork or rubber mat for the first scrub (uncleaned side of record will rest against the second mat). Then remove that second mat when you flip the LP so the cleaned side of record touches a clean mat. I labeled one brush 'scrub' so I don't mix them up too.

Don't we vinyl folk complicate the cleaning process too?:cheesygrin:

wingnut4772

Yeah? That's not overkill? Would I really notice a difference just leaving nozzle and mat as is? This adds up!!

SCompRacer

I hear you. I wouldn't worry about it. The vacuum should clean off the wipers.

A spare mat can be as simple as one from an old turntable, piece of wax paper or from a cork cabinet liner. If a used record is that dirty it can always be pre-washed.

Buying a VPI new or used? Used usually don't last long.

wingnut4772

Thanks. New from Amazon.

doctor r

I love my VPI 16.5. The individual I bought mine from had gone over the edge and had three different brushes, three different vaccm tubes and three mats. He was doing enzyme, wash, and water rinse for every album before he played it. He was so consumed he reached a point where he just gave up and sold it all. I use one tube (now have spares) and cleaner with a distiller water rinse (more spares). This is a great machine and simple to use. You can make yourself crazy like the person who I referenced above, or clean some albums really well with just a few steps and be really happy with the results.

SCompRacer

I don't wash/vacuum LP's before every play. I clean once and strive to keep my fingers off the playing surface while handling. I do dry brush before and after play so I put the cleanest record possible back in the sleeve. I do dip the stylus into my Onzow Zerodust often to keep it clean. (The Zerodust is an ultra soft plastic blob). Some folks use a simple household item to clean the stylus, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

wingnut4772

Ahhhh. Yeah. Trigger was pulled.

doctor r

SCompRacer wrote: »

Some folks use a simple household item to clean the stylus, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

+1 for the Magic Eraser. I love a high end product you can buy for well under $10.00 for a lifetime supply at the local grocery store. (Original Magic Eraser only)

hochpt21

Hold up...Mr. Clean Magic Eraser??

How do you use it? Just dab the stylus, like touch it gently...or do you gently wipe it, and if so in what direction.

doctor r

Never rub or move the Magic Eraser (ME). I originally cut a small cube and used blue tac to attach it to a small weight (quarter worked). I placed this on my TT where it would be below the stylus when it was off the record and before the tone arm was in its rest. I could then use my cue to lower the stylus onto the ME and raise it off two or three times. This way I never risked moving the ME in any direction. It was always there and easy to make a quick down and up while moving the tone arm towards or away from its rest. Make sure ME never gets wet as its structure will collapse and it will no longer work for our purposes.

wingnut4772

Supercool trick! Thanks !

wingnut4772

VPI is coming Thursday but I couldn't resist using the Magic Eraser on the stylus and listening to some Norah. Very nice.

vcwatkins

doctor r wrote: »

Make sure ME never gets wet...

Doh!

doctor r

Just for fun this is what your stylus "sees" as it approaches the ME

Attachment not found.

and closer

Attachment not found.
compliments of an electron microscope :eek:

Melamine foam actually has a three dimensional form that will remove any residue from your stylus.

wingnut4772

Cool!