cleaning vinyl records??

[9zero1790]

so i have had a stack of vinyl since i was a kid and still enjoy it now and then. being home more than i was to look after mom ive been spinning more albums. of course i have the little velvet brush with wood handle and a stylus brush and bottle of some sort of "cleaner". however, this method just is not cutting it anymore. looked around on line and im not paying 100 bucks or anywhere close to it for one of those spin wash plastic things. surely someone has a solid cleaning method to stop the dust and static that does not cost a silly amount or damage the vinyl ?
I am about due for a new stylus but thinking i may as well get a new cartridge instead. used audio technica for years thinking of going to a grado 3 black or blue. anyone use either ?

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[Joeiconic]

If the vinyl is old, it’s probably just scratched and other than a good cleaning to remove accumulated dirt and dust, which it sounds like you’ve done, that’s all you can do. I tried to get back into vinyl and in the end I went back to CD and lossless streaming. Like a lot of hobbies, vinyl is a money pit if you chase perfection.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

so i have had a stack of vinyl since i was a kid and still enjoy it now and then. being home more than i was to look after mom ive been spinning more albums. of course i have the little velvet brush with wood handle and a stylus brush and bottle of some sort of "cleaner". however, this method just is not cutting it anymore. looked around on line and im not paying 100 bucks or anywhere close to it for one of those spin wash plastic things. surely someone has a solid cleaning method to stop the dust and static that does not cost a silly amount or damage the vinyl ?
I am about due for a new stylus but thinking i may as well get a new cartridge instead. used audio technica for years thinking of going to a grado 3 black or blue. anyone use either ?

I have many vinyl records myself and enjoy playing them every now & then. I don’t use anything to clean them. I just wipe them off with a soft cloth.

 

[9zero1790]

If the vinyl is old, it’s probably just scratched and other than a good cleaning to remove accumulated dirt and dust, which it sounds like you’ve done, that’s all you can do. I tried to get back into vinyl and in the end I went back to CD and lossless streaming. Like a lot of hobbies, vinyl is a money pit if you chase perfection.

its a battle for sure! when i have a dust free clean waxy record with a decent stylus and cartridge it sounds great. but that lasts like ten minutes and then the dust starts collecting on the vinyl lol. in general cd is easier and sounds cleaner. i havent been sold on lossless streaming yet. ill go as far as toslink digital / optical from cd to pre amp and thats it for now.

 

[9zero1790]

I have many vinyl records myself and enjoy playing them every now & then. I don’t use anything to clean them. I just wipe them off with a soft cloth.

thats what i did years back and i was happy with it. now my ears are too picky and i seem to hear every lil crackle of dust embedded into the grooves

 

[Tracy Bowman]

thats what i did years back and i was happy with it. now my ears are too picky and i seem to hear every lil crackle of dust embedded into the grooves

I know, but there’s a charm to that crackle.

 

[9zero1790]

I know, but there’s a charm to that crackle.

that is true! its almost like that pop of a fire or warmth of a hot cup of coffee. something relaxing about it in a way. ive talked about music and audio stuff with folks of several ages and a few of the younger ones shocked me. yall know that swirly airy sound in the back ground of mp3 music files and other compressed music files?? folks 25 and under seem to feel like those are a charming feature or comfort of sorts similar to us and the lil snap crackle pop of old vinyl. blew my mind. i remember mp3 being a new thing and the first time i played one on a decent system i swore them off lol.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

that is true! its almost like that pop of a fire or warmth of a hot cup of coffee. something relaxing about it in a way. ive talked about music and audio stuff with folks of several ages and a few of the younger ones shocked me. yall know that swirly airy sound in the back ground of mp3 music files and other compressed music files?? folks 25 and under seem to feel like those are a charming feature or comfort of sorts similar to us and the lil snap crackle pop of old vinyl. blew my mind. i remember mp3 being a new thing and the first time i played one on a decent system i swore them off lol.

Exactly!

 

[WhyNot21]

I bought one of these, but you seem to want something different. LINK

I also have the old handheld Discwasher and a carbon brush. Some of my older vinyl, the ones that are between 45 and 50 years old and were played to death by an immature kid, are beyond listenable. I've had to replace several. Hobby's are expensive!

 

[9zero1790]

I bought one of these, but you seem to want something different. LINK

I also have the old handheld Discwasher and a carbon brush. Some of my older vinyl, the ones that are between 45 and 50 years old and were played to death by an immature kid, are beyond listenable. I've had to replace several. Hobby's are expensive!

thank you! do you get good results with this? i keep thinking it is not worth the price they are asking.

 

[WhyNot21]

thank you! do you get good results with this? i keep thinking it is not worth the price they are asking.

I get better results than not using it. Really, it's hit or miss on some of my old albums. With the cost of replacements, which are between $25 and $45, it's worth giving it a try. It all depends on how deep into the rabbit hole you want to go.

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