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Do any inmates have any exoerience with any of the Loricraft record cleaning machines? Opinions on comparisons to VPI's? Any one in the VA, MD, or Washington D.C. have one I might see? Hope to here.
Follow Ups:
Since I was in a hurry, I now realize my earlier post was confusing. Although I owned and enjoyed my VPI 16.5 for 11 years, I now find my LORICRAFT superior in every way! Sorry for the confusion.
Frank P
obviously I agree.
The other day my Loricraft cleaned 31 LPs in a single (long!) session, with LPs playing in the background the whole time. I believe that would be impossible with a VPI. A 16.5 might not handle it from what I've read about its tendency to overheat. The Loricraft had no problems at all.Listening to any music while running a VPI is out of the question of course, except through headphones. In fact, ear protection is advisable. One VPI owner measured its noise level at 89db! The Loricraft is not silent, but it's no louder than a microwave oven.
tao's concern about the availability of spare parts seems out of proportion in this context:
1) the Loricraft has a reputation for reliable, trouble-free operation. The need for spares is a low probability concern.
2) cleaning records is rarely a life and death emergency. We're not buying an aircraft engine or a pacemaker here. In the unlikely event it goes down, will a few extra days really matter?
3) far more probable and significant IMO are ease of daily use (which encourages you to keep cleaning) and effectiveness. In both respects the Loricraft seemed like a clear winner to me.
__________
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
Absolutely no comparison. Everything Doug says is true and I can confirm the overheat/overflow problem. And you CAN listen to music and clean, it is barely noticable, not ideal but considering what you are doing it is practically a miracle.
I had a VPI for years (~13) and it did a very good job. I got a loricraft last year and I recleaned some records that had some surface noise after the VPI cleaning and they were dead quiet after the loricraft. It has been a good investment for me. Plus it adds to the record cleaning ritual in a pleasant way. I have yard sale LPs that look lousy to start and sound wonderful after cleaning. If you get it you won't be sorry. Not affiliated in any way , just a pleased user. Norm
The Loricraft has an advantage over the VPI in noise levels, however it's noise level is not completely quiet. They both do a very good job of cleaning records. On normal used or new records there isn't an appreciable difference to my hearing with records cleaned on a VPI 16.5, 17 or Loricraft. Perhaps on very very dirty records the Loricraft does a better job in one cleaning because of the concentrated way it suctions up the dirt/fluid. That doesn't mean that the VPI can't get a very very dirty record as clean. It just may take two cleanings on the VPI.If you are cleaning lots of records all the time a VPI 17 or Loricraft would each work well. For the normal cleaning of only a few records at a time the VPI 16.5 makes much more sense moneywise. For the price ($800 more than the 17, $1400 more than the 16.5) the Loricraft gives you a little better build quality, a little quieter operation and perhaps a quicker cleaning of very dirty records.
When I was thinking about buying a Loricraft I called Smart Devices and asked if they had a motor in stock to see how easy getting parts would be. They didn't and said it would have to come from England. The woman I talked to couldn't give me a timeline for getting it because of occasional problems with customs.. That problem may have changed for the better since then.
Unfortunately I am running out the door and do not have time to give my normal response (but you can look in the archives where I have posted on this very subject more than once). In a nutshell, although I find the VPI a great buy (had one for 11 years), it is superior in every way.
Frank P
I find them quieter (by a lot) than the VPIs and I find they clean better. In a VPI with fresh (sterile) brushes the difference is minimal. In VPIs that are not cleaned reqularly, the difference is notable.Build quality is excellent, though not to the standard of the Keith Monks , which is the gold standard of such devices.
Sadly, I cannot help you with DC locations, though if you email Keith Monk's company (Keith died recently and things are a bit in the air) they used to have LP cleaning centers in many places, including DC. The Loricraft and Monks work on the same principal and the visit would be instructive.
My thanks to all. I have owned a VPI 16 since it was first available and upgraded it with the parts when the improved to the 16.5. It seems that while I have a turntable that performs well ( CJ Sonograph), since my record collection is very large a better cleaning system is the way to go for me, at least for now. Record collecting is expensive and I treasure my collection. Better to preserve the records with a first rate cleaning system than to invest into another turntable right now. (I've got my eye on the Scoutmaster thought). For those who might be interested, I have had numerous comminications with Terry at Loricraft. They jump over the pond to attent the CES every year. I can attest that he seems to be one of the nicest persons in audio so I'm not too worried about not being able to get service or parts.
Thanks to all who have answered so far. I would still like to see one before I make the purchase. If anyone has one in my area (Washington D.C. metro or in the region) let me know.
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