For those who have been collecting and listening to records for decades, this might sound like a broken record — but keeping your vinyl clean is a mandatory part of the experience. They sound better, last longer, and your phono cartridge will deliver many more hours of quality playback if you keep your records clean.
The vinyl revolution has been a huge shot in the arm for those who offer vinyl cleaning accessories, but some of those products come with a rather hefty price tag.
VPI’s iconic HW16.5 record cleaning machine has gone from $650 to $999 in recent years and for many vinyl collectors, that might be a bridge too far.
Keeping your vinyl collection clean is only one part of the equation. What else do you need to think about?
Record Storage: Records should be stored vertically in a cool, dry place – stacking records may result in warping over time.
Internal Record Sleeves: All vinyl records come inside a semi-rigid jacket which helps to protect them from external damage, but it is also important that another layer of protection via an internal sleeve is included. These sleeves are usually made of paper, polypropylene, or a combination of paper and poly.
Record Handling: When you remove the record from its jacket or internal sleeve to play on your turntable, hold the record via its edges. Don’t touch the record surface if at all possible.
Record Cleaning: As much as the above tips help, records can still collect dust, dirt, and oil from fingers. This means the final line of defense for preserving record playback quality is with a vinyl record cleaner. There are many on the market that may work for you, but in this article, we will focus on a new model from Pangea Audio.
Record Doctor X
Pangea Audio, a developer, manufacturer, and distributor of high-performance, high-value audio accessories, has announced a new top-of-the-line edition of its Record Doctor vacuum record cleaning products, the Record Doctor X. This new version cleans both sides of a record at the same time, which is very convenient.
Record Doctor X features the same vacuum motor and cleaning strip as other recent Record Doctor models, with the added benefit of a swing arm that vacuums the top surface while the bottom is vacuumed via a slot under the strip.
Record Doctor X also incorporates a bi-directional rotation motor. This eliminates the need to turn the record by hand. A screw-on 5-inch clamp safely secures and protects the record.
Just as with previous models, the Record Doctor X has a compact cabinet and storage tank for the removal of spent record cleaning fluids.
From Steve Niemi, Director of Global Sales, Pangea Audio, LLC: “The so-called vinyl resurgence blossomed into a full-blown, thriving category with more music lovers returning to the format every day…Record Doctor X gives this growing audience a super-efficient, cost-effective tool for cleaning and preserving records for years of listening pleasure.”
What’s Included
- One bottle of Record Doctor RxLP® cleaning fluid ($19.95)
- RDGH goat-hair record-cleaning brush. ($29.95)
- Easy-grip manual record clamp and fluid applicator brush.
- Detachable IEC power cord.
Availability and Pricing
The Record Doctor X record cleaning machine is available in both carbon-fiber vinyl and high-gloss black finishes, beginning December 15, 2023 for $599.99 at Crutchfield
Tip: For half the price, Record Doctor VI is another option for $299.95 at Crutchfield. Or consider other more affordable record cleaning solutions.
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Fred
November 27, 2023 at 1:09 pm
Has anyone done a comparison of this record cleaner to the hummingbird? Curious, since they are in the same ballpark in terms of price.
Ian White
November 27, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Fred,
It literally just came out so too early at this point.
Best,
Ian White
S.Jones
December 5, 2023 at 7:03 am
I’d call that expensive just to clean records. Most of the price of a decent turntable.