Category: Sumiko

Posted on

Record cleaning!

Hi!

Many people have asked either personally or electronically what record cleaning fluid and machine I use to clean my LP collection since they sound pretty good even on not-so well cared used copies I’ve collected 2nd hand.

For more than 25 years my record cleaning machine or RCM has been VPI’s 16.5. Currently I’m on my second one since the first one I bought used (from a good old friend who passed away several months ago) gave up the ghost about 15 years ago.

For record cleaning fluid I use my own concoction of distilled water, 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, and a small squirt of Kodak’s Photo-Flo 200 fluid to ensure that the water film gets penetrates well into the LP grooves.

My formula for my record cleaning concoction is as follows:

FluidVolume
Distilled water183.4 ml
91% Isopropyl Alcohol51.6 ml
Kodak Photo-Flo 2001.2 ml
Record cleaning fluid ratios for a 235ml plastic bottle

It is perfectly fine to deviate from the above based upon the type of Isopropyl Alcohol available. The higher the Isopropyl Alcohol percentage, the less amount you need to use. It’s just a matter of remembering your High-School Chemistry class and do some math to adjust the volumes based on the capacity of your plastic bottle and Isopropyl Alcohol concentration.

If you need any help on the above don’t hesitate to contact me.

Enjoy!

Vic

Posted on

Sexy

Now that I’ve got you attention let me clarify, it’s not sex-related, Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

Last night I had the opportunity to setup and install a friend’s new turntable, a McIntosh MT5. From the looks I can tell you is sexy as hell, and McIntosh is known to produce very sexy and good looking audio gear since the beginning of time. The company has been in the audio industry for 70 years and its signature blue and green display colors are recognizable from a mile away. Setup was very straightforward and simple.

The McIntosh MT5 turntable:

Sexy isn’t it?

The McIntosh MT5 included a Sumiko Blue Point Mk 2 high output moving coil cartridge installed in a McIntosh branded tonearm. The turntable can run at 33.3, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute so there is not an LP speed that you cannot play. It is driven by a DC motor connected to an external wall power supply. The sound was very sexy and relaxed, too much for my personal taste.

Did a short demo against a Linn Majik LP12 with a Project 9CC tonearm and Linn Adikt moving magnet cartridge and, in my opinion, the Linn sounded more dynamic and involving, better keeping the rhythm ad tune.

If you prefer the looks and style of the McIntosh MT5 be ready to spend around $6,000 USD + taxes. On the other hand a Linn Majik LP12 is cheaper (around $4,300 USD + taxes) and, in my opinion, will provide more musical enjoyment.

But in the end, as the saying says, ‘About taste, there’s nothing written’, your preference is what matters.

Enjoy!

Vic