Big announcement time: Pro-Ject have released their very first vinyl cleaning machine! Seeing as they’ve been providing the world with glorious turntables and corresponding equipment (including the cleaning gear!) for years it was only really a matter of time before a full blown cleaning machine was to surface.
Well, that day has come! Introducing: the Pro-Ject VCS vinyl cleaning machine!
Not a bad looking bit of gear, I’m sure you’ll agree, just one of the things that make this particular cleaning machine stand out from the crowd. You don’t need us to tell you that correct cleaning and maintenance of your vinyl is essential. A build up of dust and grime is inevitable, no matter how squeaky clean the environment you keep them in. And a dirty record (even one that looks clean) will have a seriously compromised sound. Not only that, but dirt can damage the tip of the stylus on your cartridge!
There are lots of ways of keeping your vinyl clean (brushes, liquids, baths – the list goes on!), but to do so without the use of a machine can be time consuming, messy and the results aren’t usually very consistent. Machines of varying level will take away some to all of the mess – and that’s what makes this machine particularly fascinting: it works by vacuuming the records!
Watch how it’s done…
If you don’t have time to watch that little demo, here’s how it works: put the record in, put the clamp on, turn it on and pour cleaning fluid in as it turns. You then brush the liquid in with the goat hair brush (included), and then the cleaning arm vacuum sucks it away, with the liquid collecting for you to drain away at your leisure. It’s incredibly succinct, tidy and leaves no room for error.
Not only is this machine extremely easy and pleasant to use (quite therapeutic, we found!) but the price isn’t all that bad either, especially if you compare it to its closest direct competitor: the Moth MkIII. The VCS retails at £299, while the Moth sits at a whopping £599! Yeah, the Moth is great and extremely popular, bu we really like the look and functionality of the VCS. Plus, it’s half the price! Cleaning machines can cost thousands of pounds (the Audio Desk Vinyl Pro goes for £2,095 just to give you an idea!) so this is a fantastic value product that will see you right for years to come.
This is the perfect purchase for anyone who likes to buy used records that they want to bring up to spec, as it’s not something you want to get wrong! It’s incredibly effective and cleans records just as well as its direct (and indirect!) competitors. Pro-Ject do lots of lovely accessories for it too, so running out of liquid and the like won’t be a problem.
Best of all, this is a machine that looks good enough to leave on the shelf with your records. For something that can’t be easily tucked away, this is a very good thing.
Interested? Click here to read more!