Budget RCM Comparisons: KAB EV1, SqueakyClean, Record Doctor
- Thread starter mistermax
- Start date
mistermax
Super Member
OK, I'm sure all the options mentioned here are great RCM's. But this is the first RCM I've owned, and I have to say, I am AMAZED at what it does. I read all the accolades, but had to hear it for myself, I guess. I am loving this thing! I picked up a wet-dry vac from Sears for $29, which I stuffed under a cabinet in my bar/music room/home office. With a little work and a few extra hoses, it can serve as a quick vac to clean up the room etc, and in the meantime it easily functions as the vac for the canfab. I plan to rig an on-off switch for the top of the cabinet, but in the meantime, am using it constantly to clean records. It's a beautiful piece of simple but effective design. Very very pleased with this thing.
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Eminence1963
Active Member
OKKI NOKKI is what I got. Love the machine, cant say enough about it. As far as price from what I read on here there not 800.00. I got it for less than 400$ lot less than VPI and does not overheat in use. I took a chance as this is my first and last RCM I will ever have to purchase.
mistermax
Super Member
Well, just a couple of brushes from Home Depot that I had not used before, from my painting supplies. For really dirty LP's, we run them thru the Spin-Clean first, then put them on the canfab. Once that's done, we put them on the pile of micro-fiber cloths, and wipe them down with one, then on to the TT. I've been using a cleaning mix that I got from AK'er hi'ball, mixed per recipe, followed by water. The canfab also arrived with a brush from Nick that he says is experimental, I haven't tried it yet, will do so soon.
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Timothy Flath
Well-Known Member
I too bought the squeakyclean MK3 and have been using it daily for about a month now. I like it so much I thought I would do a review:
DustyOldPile
Vinyl Goddess
I recently purchased a Record Doctor V for about $199. Before that time, I used a very functional but fugly, improvised PVC wand hooked up to a shop vac. I secretly lusted after a VPI but 'settled' on the Record Doctor.
I am absolutely thrilled with the Record Doctor, and now wouldn't want a VPI. The RD-V takes up a very small footprint...I keep it on the edge of my desk. It works wonderfully...I ordered the aftermarket bearing like others had done, and it's still in my desk drawer...tried it, really had no issue with the original, so I put it in the desk. I use a home-made cleaning solution that's commonly used by many AK'ers. I've had no issues in it overheating or making too much noise or anything like that. I even use the stock brush, though next time I get to a Lowe's I'll probably get some paint pads. No complaints whatsoever, and I've had mine for several months now.
What I like about it over less expensive solutions is that it's always ready and waiting, on the edge of my desk. When I want to clean a record, or several, I pop into my office and clean them...there's no dragging out a broken turntable or several pieces that I have to assemble, and a big shop vac or upright to drag out as well. There's nothing to put away when I'm done. It can sit right out by your stereo, if you wish, it's not ugly. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's attractive, but it's not something that says, "Look at me! Look at me! Look at this big ugly thing next to that beautiful stereo!". It takes up a much smaller footprint than a VPI, and there's no plastic tube to break and replace. From what I can tell, it does every bit the quality of cleaning that every one of the wet-vac offerings that cost more do.
So I guess you know which one I'd recommend. You can pay more for a wet-vac RCM and get more features, but your records aren't going to get any cleaner. Or you can pay less, but then you have stuff to drag out and put away when you're done...which discourages cleaning them in the first place.
I am absolutely thrilled with the Record Doctor, and now wouldn't want a VPI. The RD-V takes up a very small footprint...I keep it on the edge of my desk. It works wonderfully...I ordered the aftermarket bearing like others had done, and it's still in my desk drawer...tried it, really had no issue with the original, so I put it in the desk. I use a home-made cleaning solution that's commonly used by many AK'ers. I've had no issues in it overheating or making too much noise or anything like that. I even use the stock brush, though next time I get to a Lowe's I'll probably get some paint pads. No complaints whatsoever, and I've had mine for several months now.
What I like about it over less expensive solutions is that it's always ready and waiting, on the edge of my desk. When I want to clean a record, or several, I pop into my office and clean them...there's no dragging out a broken turntable or several pieces that I have to assemble, and a big shop vac or upright to drag out as well. There's nothing to put away when I'm done. It can sit right out by your stereo, if you wish, it's not ugly. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's attractive, but it's not something that says, "Look at me! Look at me! Look at this big ugly thing next to that beautiful stereo!". It takes up a much smaller footprint than a VPI, and there's no plastic tube to break and replace. From what I can tell, it does every bit the quality of cleaning that every one of the wet-vac offerings that cost more do.
So I guess you know which one I'd recommend. You can pay more for a wet-vac RCM and get more features, but your records aren't going to get any cleaner. Or you can pay less, but then you have stuff to drag out and put away when you're done...which discourages cleaning them in the first place.
Timothy Flath
Well-Known Member
Looks like we all have good RCM's
I have the Kab and it is great, but if I were in the market now for a budget machine I think it would be the Canfab. I like the full size platter and the top vac feature. I use an Oreck compact canister vac with mine. It is powerful yet nice and quiet. Nothing sounds worse IMHO than a shop-vac motor.
Timothy Flath
Well-Known Member
Good call - That would be my only complaint with my current SqueakyClean MK3 through no fault of the MK3. I cheaped out and went with a noisy shopvac for its size. A few extra bucks spent on a quieter vacuum might be in the cards as an improvement down the road....
ripblade
Addicted Member
I use a Loriclone now, but before that I cleaned records with GEM Dandy clone, drying it with a DIY wand fashioned out of a modified upholstery attachment. Hydraulic cleaning is very effective, and cross-contamination is eliminated since the record is cleaned simultaneously on both sides.
As a ready made solution, the Squeaky Clean is tough to beat. The pocket version doesn't use a full size platter, so cross-contamination through it is a non issue.
As a ready made solution, the Squeaky Clean is tough to beat. The pocket version doesn't use a full size platter, so cross-contamination through it is a non issue.
Good vid , I gave you your first like 
. Anywho I have the same rig & pretty much do the process as yourself , I use the paint pad for cleaning solution but use a paint brush for rinse w distilled water. I'm gonna grab another paint pad brush & adopt your method. Thxs for posting.
. Anywho I have the same rig & pretty much do the process as yourself , I use the paint pad for cleaning solution but use a paint brush for rinse w distilled water. I'm gonna grab another paint pad brush & adopt your method. Thxs for posting.