Analog Gear News

Rekkord’s RCM Record Cleaning Machine Is Slated for Late-February Availability

Mike Mettler  |  Feb 7, 2023

The more we listen to our vinyl, the more we notice how much our LPs need regular cleaning, regardless of whether they’re new or used copies. Record cleaning devices range in terms of performance and options, of course, and we will be reviewing a number of them in the coming months here on AP. In the meantime, one such device that caught our eye recently is the one now being offered by noted German manufacturer Rekkord, who are set to serve up the appropriately named RCM recording cleaning machine later in February.

The Rekkord RCM, which sports a vacuum motor, is said to “completely” clean records in two rotations, and it utilizes eco-friendly, non-alcoholic cleaning fluid. The aluminium surface is said to be able to withstand excessive fluid spill without compromising the chassis. Rekkord further notes the best cleaning results are achieved with one rotation forward, followed by one rotation backwards.

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The RCM’s heavy puck stabilizes the record during cleaning, so the vacuum arm and motor can work evenly across the entire record’s surface. It also seals the record label from cleaning fluid to avoid any potential label damage.

A water-resistant microporous rubber layer protects the platter from absorbing water, intending for the record‘s bottom side to stay clean after every cleaning run. The solid, chip-lathed vacuum arm is mechanically stable, and focuses all suction power directly onto the record surface without damaging it. Records are paired with the included self-adhesive arm strips.

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The RCM’s 2 liter (2l) internal container collects used fluid, and it’s relatively easy to empty. Most of the included cleaning-solution fluid will evaporate in the container, so the frequency of emptying said container is projected to be minimal at best.

The Rekkord RCM record cleaning machine has a Euro SRP of €699, which translates to about $760 U.S., given the current exchange rate. Availability is expected in mid-to-late February 2023. Though we are awaiting confirmation of who might be handling the RCM’s U.S. distribution, you can still follow the links below if you want to see about pre-ordering one, either way.

For more about Rekkord go here.
To find an authorized Rekkord dealer, go here.

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REKKORD RCM RECORD CLEANING MACHINE
€699 (in Euros; $760 U.S.)

Features & Specs
Cleaning speed: 30rpm
Power connection: 110/120V or 230/240V, 50 or 60Hz
Power consumption: 230V/800W, 120V/650W
Dimensions (w/h/d): 418 x 269 x 328mm
LP dries within 1-2 rotations
Aluminum puck
Chip-lathed vacuum arm
Replaceable self-adhesive arm strips
Water-resistant platter with microporous rubber layer
4mm aluminium composite panels
2l (liter) tank for vacuumed cleaning liquid
Removes static load
Removes cleaning fluid, residue-free
Eco-friendly, non-alcoholic cleaning fluid (100ml)
Brush
Power cable
Made in Europe

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COMMENTS
mcrushing's picture
Submitted by mcrushing on Tue, 2023-02-07 13:47

Hey, Mike. Appreciate the news of forthcoming record cleaning machine reviews, and if that is only just now in the works, might I suggest a shootout format?

This unit looks to be functionally identical and similar enough in form-factor to others that that one could be forgiven for supposing it's a product of the same basic design, if not the same factory. A shootout could address these similarities and compare to high-end solutions (or manual methods).

I'm also puzzled about why hifi media seems to pay little attention to the Humminguru ultrasonic machine, which is less expensive than this machine and promised to be the end-all ultrasonic for the common man/woman. Anyone here actually used one? Why no tests or mentions here or in Stereophile?

Mike Mettler's picture
Submitted by Mike Mettler on Tue, 2023-02-07 14:10
...and I appreciate the immediate feedback! An RCM shootout is a indeed good idea, I must admit -- though our reviews, plural, are already in motion, so I don't think we can manage doing it that way this time around.

What I can say is that we'll be reviewing RCMs of varying, differing price points and feature sets, which should at least give a wide swath of comparison areas for all ends of the AP faithful spectrum.

Though I can't speak for other sites, I can note that the Humminguru ultrasonic machine you mention was recommended in AP's 2021 Holiday Guide (as posted on 12.21.21), though we have not tested it as of yet. If demand warrants, maybe we'll get it into the reviewing mix.

mtglass's picture
Submitted by mtglass on Wed, 2023-02-08 04:59

I have a Humminguru and also wonder why none of the major sites/publications have reviewed it. I am pleased with the Humminguru,especially for the price. I’ve cleaned records for friends that were hoping to remove noise that their vacuum machines wouldn’t remove, both heard great improvements. Both have bought a Humminguru. I think it’s a great alternative without spending 6x + as much for a Degritter.

Anton D's picture
Submitted by Anton D on Wed, 2023-02-08 11:09

I use a Nitty Gritty Mini-Pro 1, an Audio desk, and, because it looked like fun when it was on Kickstarter (they had a great deal for two and I got one for my son, as well,) the HumminGuru.

I am happy to be chided, but I really like starting with the Nitty gritty, then the Audiodesk. Once cleaned, I put a little sticker on the LP cover and that's the last of the wet cleanings, other than using an Ursa Major brush right before play.

The HumminGuru alone does just fine: it's so easy to change fluid, etc. that it's great for a quick clean and play and does a great job for the price.

It will be interesting to see the comparisons between pre-existing cleaners and this new Rekkord Cleaner.

(I have a buddy who is a dedicated Keith Monks cleaner aficionado, it does OK, but I think I prefer the newer devices.)

Great topic, thank you!

{I also have a record 'clamp/weight' fetish....oh, and headshells. This is one great hobby!}

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on Wed, 2023-02-08 13:27

Made even more enjoyable by folks like you and others and Mike's posts. I've been fascinated by turntable power supplies and tonearms for the longest. However, I have concluded that the former is more important than the latter and now think bearings are just as important. I will never retire.
This is a great post; as someone who has been into vinyl since 1982, I didn't get my first record-cleaning machine until 2013, a VPI 16.5, which I use regularly and love. The choice was made easier because of their great support and service and being within driving distance should I need something. The interesting thing I discovered while using the 16.5 was how not all cleaners were alike. I remember Fremer trying a few, but I've chosen the Audio Intelligent Formula No. 6, which works very well. It's great that more companies are entering the market.
I have hesitated on an ultrasound machine or cavitation cleaner because of room constraints and fear of placing records to clean in a bath of water that recently cleaned another dirty record. However, I know they work, and I believe not all machines are created equally. Many years ago, I worked in the jewelry industry repairing rings and watches, placing the recently polished rings and movements in these ultrasonic machines. If you kept your hand in there long enough, it would hurt, so I am glad that companies like Degritter and Humminguru carefully chose frequencies over 110khz, as it appears this is a safe way to clean the grooves of the record.
I want one, but I am not sure which one. If I can find extra space, I might consider it.

JACK L's picture
Submitted by JACK L on Thu, 2023-02-09 17:41

Hi

"as it appears this is a safe way to clean the grooves of the record."

I just checked some reviews of it, stating 55KHzx2 instead of 110Khz.
Some experts quoted 37KHz is the best cleaning frequency !!??

Yes, higher the cleaning frequency will effectively break down the cleaning water into much finer bubbles going into the record grooves with more powerful punches. Said to be cleaning better than lower frequencies.

Anyway..

Jack L

Wymax's picture
Submitted by Wymax on Fri, 2023-02-10 01:36

I read somewhere that the higher the frequency the smaller the bubbles, enabling them to better get into the groove. With lower frequency the bubbles are larger but also more "explosive" upon contact, so perhaps more effective (but perhaps not cleaning as deep).

I would prefer to get the Degritter, but at its price, around 6 times higher, I am tempted to try the HumminGuru. Currently I am using my own ultrasound solution with a generic ultrasonic 6L cleaner and using my old Moth RCM for drying, it is a bit cumbersome to use.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on Wed, 2023-02-08 13:30

Does the HumminGuru clean as effectively as the Audiodesk for two minutes or 5 minutes?

mtglass's picture
Submitted by mtglass on Wed, 2023-02-08 18:18

I’ve never used an Audiodesk so can’t say. On new records I do a 2 minute and used 5, I’ve only ever used the 5 minute dry and it has worked fine. Again, I’m pleased for the price.

JACK L's picture
Submitted by JACK L on Thu, 2023-02-09 17:31

Hi

Yes. "record clamp" or stabilizer is a MUST to play any vinyl for better sound. It is an integral part of a turntable, IMO.

I would never spin any record without such a stabilizer weight as I always feel something is missing affecting the music !!

The stabilizer I got now is also a damper with some cord liner forming the bottom of it touching the record surface.

Jack L

Mike Mettler's picture
Submitted by Mike Mettler on Mon, 2023-02-13 12:30
Agreed re the clamp /stabilizer option -- same here. A clamp is used on every spin.

BTW, you can always tell how long someone has been a vinyl fan(atic) if you mention having used quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies, et al on LPs back in the day, and you either get blank stares or knowing nods and shared stories in return...

Wymax's picture
Submitted by Wymax on Mon, 2023-02-13 12:52

How about the turntables designed for not having a clamp? I feel the comments on clamps are way to generalized. Not every turntable is of mass design. Take some of the, also, older Thorens, the Linn LP12, and Roksan Xerxes. I have the latter one, a 20plus, where the spindle is even meant to be removed during playback.

Mike Mettler's picture
Submitted by Mike Mettler on Mon, 2023-02-13 14:15
Also true. Not everything goes with everything, so to speak, so it's good to have that vintage turntable/spindle context, as you wisely note. Perhaps we need to do an full-on accessories primer...?
volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on Tue, 2023-02-14 10:22

Indeed Wymax, I have a Xerxes 20+ and two LP12s, and a clamp is not recommended for either of those tables, especially the Xerxes with its thin bearing, even though it is very durable and robust. A little different for the LP12, with the springs you should not put a weighted clamp on it, but if you remove the springs and place TD124 Audiosilente rubber bushings or Analog Innovations elastometers then the LP12 can accommodate a record weight. I plan to do it on both of mine as soon as I find a quiet moment.

JACK L's picture
Submitted by JACK L on Sat, 2023-02-18 16:09

My 1970 vintage Thorens 125II, still installed with its original captured ball bearing, is working fine day in day out without any issue since day one decades back.

The factory rubber belt turning the heavy plater still does its job properly as tested with my stroboscope plate placed at the TT spindle !!
I don't trust 100% the TT's built-in speed checker !

No issue at all after I started to put on a record stabilizer/damper some 6 years back for each & every LP play.

So what Thorens models you said could not handle record stabilizer ???

Jack L

mcrushing's picture
Submitted by mcrushing on Wed, 2023-02-08 13:08

Yeah, I think I regret not buying a Humminguru in the kickstarter phase. Like most things, they're more expensive now...but a LOT less than a Degritter, which is as much as I paid for my table. So I'm *definitely* interested in a review.

The ratio of "old crate digs" to "audiophile label pre-orders" is probably 20:1 in my collection, so I wet-clean records a lot (method: rubber Mofi brush and "One" solution, designated clean and dirty microfiber towels, new antistatic sleeve when dry). I've also bought quite a few records sellers claimed were "VPI cleaned!" and I'm not convinced any of those showed up sounding "cleaner" than the ones I cleaned manually. The majority of records never need more than regular hits with the anti-static brush after either method.

But I won't chide you a bit, Anton. If your method works, then it works. For my part, I've seen Audiodesk/KL/etc machines make totally unplayable records downright enjoyable again. So whenever I get something extraordinarily dirty, rare and/or valuable, I use my manual method and then take it to one of the hifi or record shop owners I know who have those machines. I just don't want to wear out my welcome... Hence my interest in the Guru.

For the purposes I'm describing, does anyone think it hangs with the "serious" machines?

JACK L's picture
Submitted by JACK L on Thu, 2023-02-09 14:25

Hi

Me too.

I always "wet-clean" my 1,000+ LPs (98% pre-owned classical music LPs picked up dirt dirt cheap from my neighbourhood thrift stores) MANUALLY using a lint-free micro-fiber hand tower & then hang them dry before playing them first time. It works like a chime ! They all sound like brandnew vinyl ! NO whatsoever cleaning machines ever used !!!

The trick is to use the right cleaning liquid ! The cleaning liquid got to be 100% pure - no solid contamination in it to be trapped inside the record grooves after cleaning !

I did spent some time to locate the right cleaning liquid - 100% pure with zero solid contamination in it- ozonated DISTILLED water.

That said, "All that glitters is not gold" as per W. Shakespeare. Not all distilled waters are 100% pure !

With my 3-digit water tester (similar ones used by water control professionals), I tested only one brandname distilled water shows 0 ppm
(parts per million) with all other available to me read 5-10 ppm which is not acceptable to clean my LPs. Am I too picky or what ?

I would bet the whatever cleaning liquids used in your record cleaning machines may not read 0 ppm !!!!

FYI, my city tape water: 150 ppm, so called 'pure' bottled waters: 145 ppm. my $1,000 under-sink reverse-osmosis waster filter system: 10ppm.

You can see water of 100% purity is not easy to find ! I've found it & have been using the same make ozonated distilled water in bulk since day one 5 years ago when I started spinning vinyl from scrape !

Is it expensive ? NOPE !

Am a lucky duck or what ? Such 100% pure distilled water comes in 4-litre bulk plastic bottle only available in one nation-wide franchised grocery store chain which I tested it 0ppm vs other makes 5-10 ppm !

Believe it or not, one such 4-litre bottle costs me 75 cents US !!!!!!

Needless to say, I also use the same distilled water to moist up my vinyl before playing it - by brushing up the record with a clean nylon paint brush sprayed wet with the distilled water.

Static discharges caused by the cartridge stylus contacting the record groove walls cause a record to crackle. It makes thing worse with tiny microscopic solid dirts trapped inside the grooves as well at the same time!

Moisture inside the record grooves eliminates any static crackles 100%.
This is physics !!!

The free bonus of such moist-up tracking is that the music sounds so much more FLUID & relaxed than dry tracking on comparison, IMO. I'd never return back to dry tracking any more for mere sonic reason !

Thanks goodness. I never need to use any record washing machines & detergents to clean up my LPs & still get decent crackle-free music even though they are pre-owned !

Be vinyl smart !

Jack L

Mike Mettler's picture
Submitted by Mike Mettler on Mon, 2023-02-13 12:34
...best slogan not yet used in any PSA and/or vinyl-related promo/marketing campaign (er, right? somebody check me on the latter), though it certainly should be...
Skip84's picture
Submitted by Skip84 on Fri, 2023-03-03 08:48

Do you not care to share the brand of water that you are touting?

mtglass's picture
Submitted by mtglass on Thu, 2023-02-09 14:28

I haven’t used other ultrasonic cleaners, I have been using a VPI vacuum for years. I’ve had the Humminguru for a couple of months and haven’t seen the need to use the vacuum since. I may one day step up to a Degritter but right now I’m enjoying the Humminguru. I’m sure with the more expensive unit there will be better performance and fit and finish.

JACK L's picture
Submitted by JACK L on Sun, 2023-02-19 12:56

Hi

Both vacuum & ultrasonic cleaning uses liquid detergents to clean out the dirts from the vinyl grooves.

Vacuum uses vacuum force to pull out the microscopic dirts from the grooves but ultrasonic uses ultrasonic energy to break down the detergent into superfine particles so that they can go deep deep into the grooves forcefully to wash out the dirts there.

So technically, ultrasonic cleaning is more efficient than vacuum.
This is physics.

Jack L

RG's picture
Submitted by RG on Fri, 2023-02-10 13:45

As of 2/10/23, there are no Rekkord audio dealers in the United States. Your opportunities to walk in to see this unit demonstrated or to see the others products manufactured by Rekkord remain at zero. Glad to hear they’re available somewhere, just not here.

RG's picture
Submitted by RG on Fri, 2023-02-10 13:45

As of 2/10/23, there are no Rekkord audio dealers in the United States. Your opportunities to walk in to see this unit demonstrated or to see the others products manufactured by Rekkord remain at zero. Glad to hear they’re available somewhere, just not here.

Catcher10's picture
Submitted by Catcher10 on Fri, 2023-02-10 15:08

It looks just like the Project VC-S, which I have one. I do like it and cleans records very well but the vacuum unit goes bad and starts to sound like a squealing jet engine, gets very very loud!! Based on the size on the box I might assume they are using the same compact sized vacuum unit.....?

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