Insights on vinyl

So is there any way to clean up old vinyls?

Indeed,there's no way to repair a damaged groove.
There are a LOT of products, solutions, machines on the market to clean. Here are some advices:



MAIN TIPS FOR KEEPING AND CLEANING VYNILS

First, a tool to use each time you play your record, is the felt brush, like the one pictured below. It's much better than the cloth cause it doesn't loose it hairs. This kind of brush removes both dust and static electricity.
There's no specific brand, but the one provided with the "Metanac" (see further, and picture below) is good.


TO CLEAN THE VYNILS:

There are many products. The "Metanac" is a good and efficient product that you simply apply directly on the record with the felt brush.

Another way is to do his own cleaning liquid, proceeding as follow:

-1/3 90°c alcohol
-2/3 distilled water
-A few drops of neutral soap (without detergent, very important).

You have to wash your records with that liquid, using a soft matter to softly rub, or throwing the liquid on the vynil using a kind of water gun. Then there's the drying issue, which is to find a way to remove water without adding hairs by rubbing with a cloth.


Then, for the cartridge keeping, there are two things:

-Cartridge demagnetizer (any brand, make a search on the net). You have to do it from times to times.

-Cartidge stylus cleaner liquid (any brand, make a search on the net). You have to do it from times to times.


Here are the main products to start, considering that there are many products, solutions for it.
There are even sophisticated and expensive record cleaner machines.


Metanac record cleaning product with its felt brush:


    
    

Edited by oliverstoned - October 27 2006 at 10:06

    



Top level turntable brand: VPI


VPI HRX





To reviewers and manufacturers around the world the HR-X is known for it's natural reproduction of scale and sweep. two of the things that make us feel like we are listening to live music. With world class detail, low noise, pace, and timing, the HR-X will bring the concert hall into your home. Best of all it does this with no fiddling, tweaking, or constant resetting.

The HR-X features a triple laminated chassis (Acrylic-Aluminum-Acrylic), integral air suspension (which rejects up to 98% of acoustic feedback) and an inverted main bearing incorporating a hardened steel ball running on a Teflon/Delrin composite.
HRX Turntable
Shown with optional 30 pound super platter

An outer periphery record clamp centers on the platter, not the record, to provide vacuum-like hold down without the problems inherent in a vacuum system. The drive system uses two low-powered 24-pole motors driving a 12-pound flywheel, the flywheel spins at 300 RPM and has 62 times the inertia of a 25 pound platter. The drive system and the periphery clamp result in wow, flutter, and rumble that are all below measurability providing the most stable sound ever heard from a turntable.

The included JMW 12.6 is bolted to the aluminum portion of the chassis with a double base mounting, providing the ultimate in rigidity and adjustability. The SDS power supply (included) rounds out the package and provides a pure AC signal to the drive system.

The HR-X, including the JMW 12.6 tonearm and SDS power supply, has an MSRP of US$10,000.

NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR HR-X:

30 pound super platter (+$2000.00)

Nordost Valhalla wiring for the arm and junction box (+$300.00)

Balanced output junction box (+$150.00)

The problem with non-distilled water is that it may let some chalky depositing and cloth may let some hairs.

So, better use distilled water and a powerful fan to dry.

    

That should be better for your budget:

Rega planar 3