Keepin' it Groovy!  

While my recent Analog Updates have focused on some of the fantastic vinyl re-issues that are dropping, I wanted to turn my attention to another avenue for building (or re-building) a good collection of LPs: second-hand records. 

While a great deal, sometimes they need a little love. Enter record cleaning.

One of the great things about having a turntable is that friends and family send unused records your way. I've benefited from this scenario to the tune of approximately 400 albums, with some key titles in the mix.

You can also get a truly great "find," often for peanuts, in the "used" bin at record shops (yes, these still exist), thrift stores, and even flea markets.  

There is a downside to second-hand vinyl, however. You never know where a record has been or how poorly it has been treated. Investment in a high-performance turntable and cartridge merits discretion, and slapping down just any piece of plastic for playback may prove disastrous.

Regardless of storage or age, any used LP will certainly need cleaning before playing, and will likely require a new inner sleeve for storage, and possibly a new jacket too.  

When it comes to record cleaning machines, there are two adequate options. The first is the manual approach, which of course is relatively inexpensive. The other is the semi-automatic approach.

Since record cleaning is ultimately a chore, I would only consider a semi-automatic machine since it makes the process relatively painless.  

Most cleaning approaches involve the application of some type of enzyme-based cleaner, which gets worked into the grooves to loosen the dirt, dust and grime that has deposited over time. 

Even brand new records benefit from a good cleaning to remove residual vinyl dust lying in the grooves. Because the key to the cleaning is the removal of the spent fluid and dislodged particulate matter, many experts insist on machines that feature a vacuum system.

VPI Industries makes a range of record cleaning machines, with speed, build-quality and convenience added (along with price) as that range is scaled.

I often hear friends swear by their VPI record cleaners, but the decidedly industrial/utilitarian look of VPI machines doesn't fit my bill. Instead, over the past several months, I've opted to clean my records with the Clearaudio Double Smart Matrix record cleaning machine ($2,400.00).  

Part of Clearaudio's consumer line (they also have an industrial line to the extent heavy-duty use is anticipated), the two "Smart" models come in a silver finish that is domestically oriented.
 
Several other features stand out. First and foremost, the Double Smart Matrix cleans both sides of a record at once. Not only does it cut cleaning time in half, you never need to worry that the "just cleaned" side of a record will pick up new contaminants when the record is flipped and placed face down on the "mat" of a single-sided cleaning machine. Another great feature is the flip-down brushes which discharge static electricity as a final step. For the more budget conscious, Clearaudio also offers the Smart Matrix (sans Double), which offers single-sided cleaning for a more economical $999.

A semi-automatic machine, the Double Smart Matrix combines manual fluid application via built-in applicators with both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation for full application and deep cleaning.

The low-noise vacuum motor includes a high and low setting that certainly does the trick, although nobody would listen to music while running the vacuum.  The Double Smart Matrix collects spent cleaning fluid in a built-in tank (a sensor that shuts off the machine if it reaches capacity). During operation, a clamp covers the label at the center of each LP to create a solid connection and protect the label from the cleaning fluid.  Clearaudio's Double Smart Matrix represents quality German engineering in an attractive (for an appliance), easy-to-use package.  

All in all, I highly recommend it.

Since I never want to return a freshly cleaned record to a soiled inner sleeve, I keep a stock of replacement sleeves handy.  I've tested out close to a dozen different inner jacket alternatives (taking advantage of the "get a sample for a penny" offer available at Sleeve City, and have settled on the Original Master Sleeves by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (about $20 for a pack of 50).

These are imported, three-ply, anti-static, premium sleeves that are similar to rice paper. Their construction consists of a paper layer sandwiched between two sheets of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a translucent HDPE front.  They cost is a few cents more, but are well worth it. I typically replace new records' stock sleeve with MOFI ones.

I also keep a handful of white, die-cut record jackets–Sleeve City has these too–just in case the original album jacket has deteriorated to the point of retirement.

In my next installment I will return to some of the great LP reissues now available.  Cheers.