Question For VPI 16.5 RCM Owners

Question

Do any of you who use a VPI 16.5 RCM use an aftermarket power cord with it? I noticed the turntable runs a little more quiet with a better power cord. The high torque motor makes a sort of "grinding" sound when running. The vacuum sounds like...a loud vacuum cleaner. I measured, but did not hear, a difference in the sound of the vacuum with a better power cord.

A Radio Shack sound level meter was placed on the counter top 5" from the front of the 16.5 RCM. The meter was set to A weighting with fast response. I was curious to hear if the turntable and vacuum would run more quiet with a better power cord. They did.



Stock 6.5 Foot, 18 AWG Power Cord (Cost Unknown)

Motor: Fluctuated between 52 to 55 dB-A.
Vacuum: Fluctuated between 99 to 101 dB-A.

Signal Cable 6 Foot, 10 AWG Power Cord ($74)

Motor: Meter read 52 dB-A most of the time and would intermittently jump to 54 dB-A.
Vacuum: Meter read 98 dB-A most of the time and would intermittently jump to 98.5 dB-A.

PS Audio Statement SC 9.8 Foot, 7 AWG Power Cord ($759)

Motor: Meter read 50 dB-A most of the time and would intermittently jump to 51 dB-A.
Vacuum: Meter read 98 dB-A most of the time and would intermittently jump to 98.5 dB-A.

I sent these results to VPI and requested their comments. Specifically, I asked if they had any information or insight regarding whether there was any benefit to the longevity of the turntable motor and vacuum motor with a better quality power cord. I have not heard back from them yet.

I did not evaluate the cleaning effectiveness of the 16.5 with an aftermarket PC compared to the stock PC. I did compare a totally hand cleaned record with one cleaned on the 16.5 and there was no difference, except that my hands were not tired from hand vacuuming and having to go round and round hand scrubbing. Now, I let the machine do the grunt work. The 16.5's stock cord was permanently replaced by the Signal Cable PC primarily because it looks nicer.:)


I have multiple new copies of the "Madhouse 8" LP. They all had light surface noise when purchased.

The Madhouse LP's exhibited light surface noise (pops, ticks) primarily in the lead in grooves, dead grooves between tracks and lead out grooves. Deep cleaning removed almost all of this noise and improved the overall signal to noise ratio of the two records that were cleaned. One record was cleaned by hand and the other cleaned by the 16.5. I will elaborate further in my full report.


Such cool air. The hole saw blade cost 30% more than the fan.:eek:

If you clean large batches of records (15 or more per session), the addition of a cooling fan can prevent the vacuum's motor from overheating and shutting down. This is a VPI recommended tweak and does not void the warranty.

The fan is turned on and off by a toggle switch added between the toggle switches for the turntable and vacuum.

A full report will be published sometime after I complete my fiendish experiments and other research.

Addendum - Record Cleaning Notes

My record cleaning ritual consists of:

1. Visual Inspection.
2. Dry brushing with a Hunt EDA Mark 6 brush.
3. Auditioning the record at various locations on each side.
4. Steam cleaning with the Shark steam cleaner.
5. Wet Scrubbing with a Mobile Fidelity Brush.
6. Vacuuming.
7. Applying record cleaning fluid.
8. Wet Scrubbing with a different Mobile Fidelity Brush.
9. Vacuuming.
10. Visual Inspection
11. Auditioning the record at various locations on each side.
12. Placing in a Mobile Fidelity inner sleeve.
13. Placing a painter's tape sticker on the album cover indicating that it has been cleaned.

I use a homemade record cleaning fluid consisting of 75% distilled water (regular, not ultra pure), 25% isopropyl alcohol (99% pure) and 4 drops of Triton X-114 detergent.

I never buy heavily soiled or visibly scratched records. However, even many brand new records come with some surface noise that can be be totally removed or drastically reduced with intensive cleaning.

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Disclaimer
DK is not a vinylphile. He just plays one on the Internet.