The Gruvy Awards

The Gruvy Awards Record Cleaning Machines

Record Cleaning Machines Under $500
Spin Clean Record Washer System This circa $80 manually operated vat-type cleaning machine is the least expensive absolute necessity for any vinyl spinner. A record cleaning machine is 100% mandatory even if you only buy new records, but if you are a crate digger, you cannot live without one. The Spin Clean requires hand rotation but it gets the dirt off the records and suspends it in a ball that drops to the bottom of the vat. It works as advertised. Let your records dry in a dish drainer and you'll know what clean means.
Record Cleaning Machines $500-$1000
VPI 16.5 The latest version of one of the original vacuum operated cleaning machines, the $650 VPI has been around for decades. It uses velvet lips to suck the fluid from records upon which you've manually brushed your favorite record cleaning fluid.
Record Doctor V A manually operated vacuum machine in the "Nitty Gritty" style. It takes up less room than the platter-type machines and for $199 cannot be beat. Read Full Review
Nitty Gritty 2.0 Similar conceptually to the Record Doctor V but automatically turns the record and is sufficiently attractive in Oak to sit on the same shelf as your expensive audio rig.
Record Cleaning Machines $1000+
Audio Deske The original cavitation-based cleaning machine combines soft rollers to spread the heavily diluted cleaning solution and a totally automatic drying cycle. Put a record in the slot hit the red button and in about five minutes you have the cleanest record you've ever handled. Early versions had mechanical issues but the problems have been fixed and this remains the standard against which the others are measured. Expensive but worth it. Read Full Review
KLAudio KD-CLN-LP200 This Korean made machine is similar to the Audio Deske but built to a far more rugged standard and includes a few unique features including a stainless steel fluid tank to which you have easy access for complete cleaning as well as adjustable washing and drying cycle times. The drainage system is also steps ahead of the Audio Deske's. No applicator roller system is preferred by some and dismissed by others. The warranty is void if you use any kind of detergent cleaning fluid. Read Full Review
Ultra Sonic V8 This open vat based cavitation cleaner is the least expensive of which I am aware. It cleans 8 records at a time. Records can be dried in a dish drainer, or with the addition of a new $795 Dryer Cube, fan dried via filtered air—as many as 40+ hourly. Owners with whom I've spoken love it, claiming it works as well as the far more expensive one-at-a-time cavitation based machines, but it's not for those in need of instant gratification. Seen in action at audio shows but not reviewed on analogplanet.com