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Vpi 16.5 rcm

charles64

charles64

reVox reGret
Finally Scored a lightly used VPI HW-16.5 Record Cleaning Machine a few weeks ago. I just had to post how impressed I am with it-I believe the vacuum makes all the difference vs. other methods I've tried. I'm no expert on the different models,but I like that you don't have to flip the lp to vacuum off the cleaning fluid like some other machines I've seen. If you're serious about your vinyl,I recommend keeping a look out-and when an inexpensive RCM comes along-Buy It!
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Welcome to the the club!
Adding a VPI 16.5 ranks as one of the best additions to my hobby.
Congratulations:thmbsp:

Al. Wise
 
VPI Ranks

awise1961 said:
Welcome to the the club!
Adding a VPI 16.5 ranks as one of the best additions to my hobby.
Congratulations:thmbsp:

Al. Wise
Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouraging reply. My 16.5 looks a little different from some pictured online. BTW,Nice gear you have there. I've always admired that Micro-Seiki DD-40 TT-I almost bought one right before I picked up the Sansui SR-717,which I've been very happy with. :music:
 
charles64 said:
Thanks for the encouraging reply. My 16.5 looks a little different from some pictured online. BTW,Nice gear you have there. I've always admired that Micro-Seiki DD-40 TT-I almost bought one right before I picked up the Sansui SR-717,which I've been very happy with. :music:
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You're quite welcome.
The DD-40 is actually on semi-permanent loan to my best friend.
I may rotate the Sony PS-X75 into his man cave and get the DD-40 back.

Al. Wise
 
I recently went with the Okki Nokki. I do agree that the vacuum makes all the difference in the world.
 
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I love that they pay for themselves in turning .50 cent and $1 Lp's into NM's at enough of an average ratio so that you don't always have to buy re-pressings or sealed OP's at $15, $20, $30 and more a pop.
 
Right?

meggy said:
I love that they pay for themselves in turning .50 cent and $1 Lp's into NM's at enough of an average ratio so that you don't always have to buy re-pressings or sealed OP's at $15, $20, $30 and more a pop.
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Yeah,I picked up an old copy of "Washington Square" The Best of Kenny Ball - Kapp Records (1963) Promo/Mono pressing for .31 cents at Savers. The LP was covered with dirt and greasy finger prints but looked pretty good otherwise-twice through on the VPI and it was sporting a rainbow,and sounded great as far as background noise. :thmbsp:
 
charles64 said:
Thanks for the encouraging reply. My 16.5 looks a little different from some pictured online. BTW,Nice gear you have there. I've always admired that Micro-Seiki DD-40 TT-I almost bought one right before I picked up the Sansui SR-717,which I've been very happy with. :music:
Click to expand...

Congatulations.

In what way does yours look different? Switches? If you have the rocker type,then it is the newest version.
 
Vpi 16.5

One of the best investments I have made. highly recommend this machine, I had others, good but not great.
 
Duane said:
Congatulations.

In what way does yours look different? Switches? If you have the rocker type,then it is the newest version.
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No not the switches,the owners manual I downloaded from VPI for the 16.5 says there's a drain hose,but mine doesn't have that. Just cosmetic things-it has a grey foam platter instead of cork.also the dust cover looks like tempered glass with no finger hole and the glass rest on top,not inside the unit. I thought it may have been a converted HW-16 but the plate on the back says 16.5-I mean it's no big deal-the RCM works great,and I know they've made these for years. I just wonder if I used it enough to fill that waste container what would be the best way to drain it?
 
charles64 said:
No not the switches,the owners manual I downloaded from VPI for the 16.5 says there's a drain hose,but mine doesn't have that. Just cosmetic things-it has a grey foam platter instead of cork.also the dust cover looks like tempered glass with no finger hole and the glass rest on top,not inside the unit. I thought it may have been a converted HW-16 but the plate on the back says 16.5-I mean it's no big deal-the RCM works great,and I know they've made these for years. I just wonder if I used it enough to fill that waste container what would be the best way to drain it?
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Is there a hole on the rear of the machine (on the lower left as viewed from the rear)?
 
A great investment, you can take one of your dusty neglected records of the 60's and 70's, give it a distilled water rinse, let it sit for 3 minutes, vacuum and it sounds 75% better. A 10-15 minute clean and rinse will restore most unscratched records to NM condition. I have about 200 examples that bear this out.
 
Disregarding the motor to spin the LP how would rate the 16.5 vs. the Audio Advisor $199 manual unit or the Nitty Gritty I manual unit. Both are manual turn units with a vacuum for removing the cleaning/rinsing agents. I think the other difference is that with the manual unit you need to turn the LP over to remove the liquid. Not needed on the 16.5. Curious as to opinions and or experience from folks that have owned both. Thanks.
 
MRL_Audio said:
Disregarding the motor to spin the LP how would rate the 16.5 vs. the Audio Advisor $199 manual unit or the Nitty Gritty I manual unit. Both are manual turn units with a vacuum for removing the cleaning/rinsing agents. I think the other difference is that with the manual unit you need to turn the LP over to remove the liquid. Not needed on the 16.5. Curious as to opinions and or experience from folks that have owned both. Thanks.
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Well,having used both,I have to say that the VPI is better.The fact that you can put the cleaning fluid on an LP and remove it without having to flip the record over,makes it more convenient.The vacuum power of the VPI is better. I personally use two suction wands and tubes.One for the cleaning solutions,the other for the water only step. I have also used steam as an added stage and having the platter move by the motor makes that easier as well.

If I had never owned or used the VPI,then the Record Doctor would be the choice.It does a very good job of removing fluids (just not as good as the VPI). I used a spare turntable when applying the fluid and then removed the record and placed it on the Record Doctor machine.
 
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MRL Audio I'v owned the Record Doctor (1st version), Nitty Gritty with fluid pump and motorized platter and the VPI 16.5. I'v found the 16.5 the most convenient to use but was able to get the same results with the Record Doctor and Nitty Gritty so bottom line to consider is cost and convenience. If you can stretch your budget to a VPI 16.5 it is well worth it, good condition preowned units show up now and then in the $350-$450 range.
 
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