USING THE PHK RECORD CLEANING MACHINE

[rbwinterlink]

Good morning all,

This will be an abbreviated review of the PHK machine because I am working very hard on updating and re-working my business website. That's taking much more time than I had imagined it would.

I ordered the PHK record cleaning machine and within 4 days I was picking it up at the UPS store. Mind you, this machine comes all the way from Brazil. I was somewhat taken aback with the size and weight of the machine. I would guess the machine weighs 10 to 15 pounds is is almost a 7 inche square. It's a little over 4 inches tall. However, it appears to be made in a substantial manner and should hold up with regular use.

Sent along with the PHK was a bottle of concentrated cleaner that will make one liter of cleaning solution. I used this for cleaning 3 records and my own mixture (based on feedback from Letitroll98 and a few others) for the 4 remaining records. Both mixtures did equally well.

The PHK has a platter that is about the size of the record lable, maybe a tad larger. It holds the record to be cleaned firmly once the holding clamp is screwed on snug but not too tight. The machine also coes with a standard nozzle hold for the vacuum cleaner tube. By the way, I am using a "Husky" shop vac purchased from Home Depot that seems to work well. The vac has a 1,7 peak HP, 4.0 amp motor. The cost of the vac was $29 dollars. This think is a little loud but sitting on the floor under the table the PHK sits on rendered it less loud. By the way, there are several other shop vacs in this power and price range but I chose Home Depot because it's close to me and for their easy return policy.

One of the more amazing things about this very inespensive record cleaning machine is the fact that it can go in the reverse direction when the switch is cut off and then back on. This permits cleaning a record in both directions if one wanted to do that.

Before I go any further, let me share my music system with you. It consists of the following:

> DIY belt drive turntable (photos in the Vinylengine gallery)
> Jelco 750D tonearm
> Riggles VTA Adjuster
> Sumiko Peral & Benz Micro Silver Cartridges
> Threshold 3/300 (updated by the man)
> Classe DR-5 (one of the best pre-amps per HP of the Absolute Sound)
> Mirage OM-9 floor standing speakers

I have a fairly large stash of records purchased from Germany and other places overseas and in the USA back in the 1960 and 1970's. I have recently been buying used records from the Salvation Army store and Ebay. Needless to say these records were not in the best shape. However, I did my best to pick records that were obviously not well cared for. In other words, I stayed away from those with deep scratches and other marks. Here are the records purchased recently I used for this review:

1. Sertio Mendes & Brazil 66 (Fool On the Hill)
2. Pablo Casals-Cello Plays (Mendelssohn/Couperin/Schumann)
3. Cat Stevens (Tea For The Tillerman)
4. Joan Baez (Vol 2)
5. Van C;iburn (Beethoven Emperor Concerto)
6. Billy Joel (The Stranger)
7. Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie (Night In Tunisia/The Champ)

I used the mixture sent along with the PHK (requires litre of distilled water and 150mil or Isoproplyl and my mixture which consisted of: gallon of distilled water, a few drops of Jet Dri, and 2 parts 91% Isopropyl. I probally forgot to put something important in my mixture but.............

Using the Sumiko Pearl cartridge, I played each record after only a good dry cleaning. They were all playable but had a closed in sound and no real depth and clarity. I used the mixture that came with the PHK on four of the records and must say that the sound of each was superior to what I heard before. These recordings sounded more open with clear depth of field and transparancy. The other three records were cleaned using my own mixture. There was certainly a definite improvement in the sound but not to the extend I would have been able to live with. By the way, I gave each record 2 cleaning and 2 drying cycles per side.

Before I close, I must say that I really enjoyed using the Riggle VTA adjuster. This is a most useful piece of equipment. I played a few of my very best classical and jazz records. What I noticed is that when I used was able to set the VTA while the record was playing, I was able to set an accurate condition for the stylus in the record groove. As I was able to slightly adjust the VTA the sound of my records opened up as never before. Mind you, I don't intend to use the Riggles piece to make adjustements for every record. My primary concerned is to make sure each new cartridge I purchase is being played at it's maximum and most useful position in the record groove. This was exciting to me and I want to thank those who recommended the Riggles VTA adjuster. It's dy-no-mite

The PHK, I feel was well worth the money I paid for it. It did a fine job of cleaning records and helping them sound as new. The machine worked well and was very easy to use. Right now I am perfectly satisfied with the job it does to help me listen better to my records. Without a doubt I would purchase the PHK again. When I looked at the quick delivery, fit of the machine, cleaning ability, dollar cost, great communication with the builder, and overall quality, I would have had to spend much more to get this kind of service. If you can't afford a Keith Monk or mid level costing VPI, get this machine and start cleaning your records and laugh all the way to the bank. The PHK is certainly worth what I paid and perhaps more.

Please forgive me if if rambled abit. And double forgive me if I left out anything important. This is my first ever attempt to write a review. I wanted to share with you who have been so helpful to me in my quest to understand this awesome field of Audio. Each of you has provied what I need to move forward. I have got to get back to working on my website now. Thanks everyone for your kindness and patience.

Bob
_________________
African American
I love modern Jazz, Christian and Classical Music. I listen to lots of Miles, Parker, Evans Coltrane, Berlioz, Byrd, Tallis, Bach and others. I listen to music on reel to reel tape recorder, DIY turntable & Parasound CD Transport.

[Superbarands]

Thanks for the great review. Been looking at one of these systems...

[rbwinterlink]

Hello Superbarands and anyone who reads my review,

Remeber I am a neophyte and this is my very first record cleaning machine. While I admit it did a wonderful job of cleaning my records, I am sure there are record cleaning machines that can match and even surpass the efforts of the PHK. However, for the paultry price I paid and the great cleaning job the machine performed I can't complain.

The gentleman who makes these record cleaning machines appears to be a really nice fellow. And while I thought long and hard about getting this product all the way from Brazl I thought I would take the chance and see what happens. The real question is the longevity of the PHK. It does appear to be fairly substantial and should hold up well. When your money is as funny (short) as mine is, you can't afford the Keith Monks and VPI machines right off. I original thought if the PHK holds up until I can save enough $$$$ to buy a Keith or VIP I would dump the PHK. But wait a moment, the way it cleans my records now I may not want to get anything else for a long while. That's my hope anyway. I am satisfied with the PHK as I write this note. Short of making my own (DIY) record cleaning machine, the PHK is the best for me right now. And by the way, it does not cost that much more than a DIY project. And if I count my time and effort you do the math. Everyone have a blessed day and weekend.

Bob
_________________
African American
I love modern Jazz, Christian and Classical Music. I listen to lots of Miles, Parker, Evans Coltrane, Berlioz, Byrd, Tallis, Bach and others. I listen to music on reel to reel tape recorder, DIY turntable & Parasound CD Transport.

[yimmerworks]

hey rbwinterlink I saw the original post about this RCM on audiogon and like you took the plunge. I have a KAB EV1 that I had been using for the past year and while the unit was great and I cleaned a ton of records I got tired of the manual turning of the record....The PHK unit came last week and I have cleaned a couple of records and so far it's been great. I don't miss spinning that dial anymore....

[rbwinterlink]

Good evening Yimmerworks,

I am more than happy that you are happy with this machine. The wonderful thing about it, is how inexpensive it is and as you say it does clean records well. I also love the fact that when you flip the machine off then back on it will turn in the opposite direction. I have used this when deep cleaning records.

The primary reason I purchased the PHK was the cost and it turns the records to be cleaned. Once I got it I discovered it I began to discover other areas where this machine does a great job. I don't trust it to clean a lot or records at one time because I don't think the motor can take that. However, I usually clean 7 or 8 records at a time and that fits my schedule. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Bob
_________________
African American
I love modern Jazz, Christian and Classical Music. I listen to lots of Miles, Parker, Evans Coltrane, Berlioz, Byrd, Tallis, Bach and others. I listen to music on reel to reel tape recorder, DIY turntable & Parasound CD Transport.

[yimmerworks]

Good Morning Bob,

yes i would have to agree that the price was right on this. I did ask Paulo about the motor and he assured me that regardless of how often or how many records I clean at one time it should hold up. I know that he stated that the unit should not be opened but I figure if the motor dies I have no choice but to open it and try and replace.....Hopefully it won't come to that.

I also saw that your in Baltimore I grew up in Columbia MD. from first grade through college.

I bet it's starting to get cold there now.
_________________
Never sweat the little stuff and just enjoy the music

[rbwinterlink]

Hello Again Yimmerworks,

I am glad you were able to contact Paulo. He does seem to be a great guy who wants to do the right thing by his PHK. Actually, from what I've read and many communications with those owning the Nitty Gritty auto machine, cleaning too many records at one sitting causes the motor to run hot. And that makes perfect sense to me.

To be frank, I am a little on the lazy side and really don't want to spend all day cleaning records. My listening sessions usually consists of playing 8 to 10 recordings and then moving on to reel to reel tapes. The stark quiet background of the reel tapes are uncanny. On the other hand I don't clean my records each time a play them. I figure one good cleaning should hold up for at least 2 or more playings. I could be mistaken about this or just too lazy to clean them after each play. Back to the point, you're happy with the PHK and that's great.

I've been located in Baltimore since returning from Germany as a program manager for the Dept Of Defense. I have enjoyed it thus far and Columbia Md is only a stones throw up route 70. Have a great day my friend.

Bob
_________________
African American
I love modern Jazz, Christian and Classical Music. I listen to lots of Miles, Parker, Evans Coltrane, Berlioz, Byrd, Tallis, Bach and others. I listen to music on reel to reel tape recorder, DIY turntable & Parasound CD Transport.

[LousyTourist]

Bob, any good RCM should be sufficient for most peoples' purposes. I have the bottom of the line Nitty Gritty and am perfectly happy with it. I doubt that a more 'advanced' (expensive) machine could clean substantially better.

The typical record should, like most people, only need one good bath in their life. Really poor records I clean twice and the ones that don't get better by then get marked "NFG" and I start looking for a new copy.

My advice to you would be to rinse TWICE with distilled water, that seems to be the trick (for me) to get truly NM results, for most records. Other than that, your procedure is perfect.

[rbwinterlink]

A very good evening Tourist,

This is good and wise information. Although I've never given much thought to record cleaning until just recently, I have taken pretty good care of my records for the most part. Most recently, I began to read and become interested in the fine points of record cleaning. I then sought to get a record cleaning machine that I could afford as well as do the job. I think I have it in the PHK. It is automatic in so far as turning the record as it's cleaned, but it only cleans one side at a time. That's perfectly OK with me because I don't mind flipping the record over.

I will certainly take your advice and rinse each record twice in order to get all of the residue off. I am more than enchanted with this area of audio and am happy there are people like you and others on this forum to share their experiences. Thanks so much.

Bob
_________________
African American
I love modern Jazz, Christian and Classical Music. I listen to lots of Miles, Parker, Evans Coltrane, Berlioz, Byrd, Tallis, Bach and others. I listen to music on reel to reel tape recorder, DIY turntable & Parasound CD Transport.