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Budget RCM Comparisons: KAB EV1, SqueakyClean, Record Doctor

mistermax

mistermax

Super Member
I normally kind of dislike these comparison threads. I tend to sympathize with the makers of the machines (I run a small business myself), and I think people largely defend what they bought. That said, I have learned a lot from such threads. I've read various threads here about specific machines, and some comparing is done, but not a direct compare that I found. So...

I am about to pick up a RCM. Never owned one before, have just hand-cleaned and Discwasher. A kind AK'er gave my son a Spin-Clean at FreezeFest, and he has let me use it some. But he keeps it in his room :( and I want my own!

The three mentioned are the likely candidates, all in the same price range. I tend to like the SqueakyClean, I guess mainly because you can apply the cleaning liquid on the machine and vac all in one "step" (no flipping). OTOH, when you flip it, I wonder how much you just dirty up the other side (I've read solutions to that, but that's more steps). Seems to me this one also may help with slightly warped records by compressing them down when clamped on. ?

The KAB seems a nice option, and somehow vacuuming down makes sense (gravity helps). But it strikes me as kind of "wobbly" looking, and I wonder if it isn't better to be continually apply water (distilled) after the initial clean, which would require removing the record and doing another "round".

I'm fine with using a separate shop vac (I have several, and could dedicate a small one and put it in a cabinet under the RCM). But the Record Doctor does seem nice in being a complete stand-alone setup.

I can't afford a VPI. :(

If anyone would be willing to share their honest comparisons/experiences etc., I would appreciate that.

mistermax
 
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If budget is a concern, the combination Spin Clean followed by Record doctor has been working great for me. If you could borrow your son's SC for a session you can find the Record Doctor for around $140-$150 used...
 
If you're wishing for a VPI, how is the canfab3d any different except for the vac and manual turning? I got the mkiii because I wanted a top vacuum and a full size platter. I love the thing. Very easy to use. It was $125 usd delivered.
 
Jeff K said:
If you're wishing for a VPI, how is the canfab3d any different except for the vac and manual turning? I got the mkiii because I wanted a top vacuum and a full size platter. I love the thing. Very easy to use. It was $125 usd delivered.
Click to expand...
I have the same one. I was using a Spin Clean but this thing is a champ for a fraction of the price!
Cheers, Doug
 
I use a VPI 16.5, but have used the Nitty Gritty in the past, which is the architecture the Record Doctor and KAB units are based on.

While I have not had the wand in hand from the Canfab, that would be the one I would gravitate to. I believe in the multi step cleaning solutions, and they are easiest to apply on a full platter. Makes brushing them in easier also. I really doubt that the uncleansed side of a record is going to leave enough debris behind to be an issue. But if I did, I would cut a cork mat to lay down when having the dirty side down, a buck or two solution. I also doubt gravity is enough of a contributing factor for removing solution, the vac unit is strong enough to get it.

If I was cleaning on the cheap, I would also look at the Tegritol cleaning recipie put forth by Vince1 I believe. Cleaning solutions can tie up a lot of money. If you need extra brushes, I find that the ones you get from the drug store for cleaning under your finger nails makes excellent brushes for applying the cleaning solution.


And the Squeaky Clean is remarkably affordable.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Iv never got the bottom side of my record wet on my sqeekyclean .
If your worried about the platter getting dirty,one quick spin with the vac on will. Clean it...I really l8ke my mrk 3
 
I'm sorry I can't really compare having only used spin clean and now a Nitty Gritty, but I wanted to add an additional option... Used. I picked up a Nitty Gritty 2.5 I think for $150 on eBay. It came with a large bag of new felt "lips" the part that touched the record, a 6 oz bottle of pure 2, two nice felt cleaning brushes and an old dis washer brush. Yes it was a good deal but they are out there with patience.

It works really well. Better than the spin clean actually. I can't tell you if it's the "best" one. I can say I think any of the similar products probably do a "good" job. I wouldn't quibble about which one. I'd just put them all on your radar and look for a good deal used.
 
I'm in the same boat as you, Mistermax. I just couldn't justify the expenditure for the VPI, for what it was. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's an excellent unit, but when everyone seemed to conclude that the job done by the VPI was absolutely equal to the job done by the Record Doctor V, $400 is a lot to spend for a motor to turn the record for your lazy self, and, being forgetful, it would be a certainty that I'd forget to swing the wand out of the way and break it off at some point.

I am 110% happy with my Record Doctor V. I did buy the KAB improvement kit, but I don't use it...I actually like it as delivered. I use my own record fluid and have had fantastic results. I don't find it to be extraordinarily noisy, and I think that for the price difference between it and the KAB unit, the Record Doctor is worth it. I have it set up in my office, where I can quickly carry a record and clean it whenever I want. The problem with any unit using an external vacuum is that although less expensive, it's also a temporary set up, meaning you have to drag out the vacuum and the unit and set it up somewhere, then put it all away when your done. With the Record Doctor V, it just sits there, all one unit...not taking up even half the space of a VPI.
 
I use the KAB EV-1 and get great results with it. I can't compare it to anything else as this is the only record cleaner I have every used. I really like how I'm in full control during the cleaning and vacuuming steps. It's like when I brew coffee I prefer the 1 cup pour over method because I'm in full control.
 
Just need to figure out how much you want to spend on an RCM ... what's your budget?

From canfab3d (less expensive) to VPI (more expensive)... it's as simple as that. Make the most of what you end up buying (make it so) ... you'll be fine.

Personally ... I started out w/ ... Record Doctor (2002) & then Nitty Gritty 1.0 (2012). ... never had the need for any other machine ... totally satisfied since 2002.
 
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The Record Doctor V works great, but you need to do the disc scrubbing on a towel for best results, not on the RD itself. It's also necessary to upgrade the scrubbing brush (I use a MOFI brush) because the one it comes with is really just a pad.
 
I own the KAB EV-1 and it turns used records into sounding like new. I was like a total upgrade to my system. Pickedup a small wet/dry vac on sale for $15.
 
The KAB EV-1 is not wobbly. It's the best option for cleaning large batches of records at a time, and works well with the Shop-Vac 2.5 gal (549704).
 
Gridslayer said:
If budget is a concern, the combination Spin Clean followed by Record doctor has been working great for me. If you could borrow your son's SC for a session you can find the Record Doctor for around $140-$150 used...
Click to expand...

This, +1 :thumbsup:
 
Thank you for all your responses. They are very helpful to me and hopefully to a few others as well.

I think what these replies do is basically to confirm my original thinking - which is that all three of these RCM's are fine pieces of gear and will do the job, perhaps equally well. I think it basically comes down to personal preferences. I continue to lean slightly toward the canfab machine. I'll be ordering probably in the next day or two, and will give some impressions once I've used whatever I order.

Thanks.
 
Very happy with the Squeaky Clean MKIII. It's similar to the $$$ RCMs in terms of functionality but at a fraction of the price.

If you're worried about clean/dirty side just flip the foam pad on the MKIII. That way you can dedicate one side to clean and one to dirty. As others have said though, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
My MK III just arrived. This version is much more elegant looking than the one shown on the website. A beautiful little piece of design and engineering. I'll give it a whirl tonight and maybe post some thoughts on how it works.

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