Being both an audiophile and a record collector not only makes for an expensive double-hobby, it brings additional challenges in the never-ending search for better sound. I’ve become increasingly aware of the differences between pressings of new records, especially in these days of multiple variants. The poor state that many leave the factory in is very disappointing.
I recently ventured down the record-cleaning rabbit hole with a HumminGuru I-Brush, which I really like – but surely there are better results to be had? I hated the hassle of the Flea Market washer (imitation Spin Clean) and bought a Vevor ultrasonic record cleaner out of curiosity, although don’t buy much second-hand so that was never going to be for everyday use.
(Image: Pro-Ject Audio Systems)
During my research I stumbled on the new Pro-Ject Audio VC-E Mini Ultra-Compact Record Cleaning Machine, a record vacuum designed for “occasional cleaning with a small record collection, making it ideal for casual collectors”.
The main difference with this model is the bottom-mounted vacuum, which according to the blurb “simplifies operation, reduces mechanical complexity, and ensures effective fluid removal from the record surface with less noise compared to VC-E2 and VC-S3.” In principle, I don’t see why this would be a problem, and there’s no brush or arm to deal with.
My first impressions were that it’s small, simple and solid. It weighs just 2kg, with a smaller footprint than a piece of A4. The magnets on the record clamp snap together with urgency, giving a sense of confidence that your record is in safe hands. There are two switches – one each for motor and vacuum – and that’s it, really. I was cleaning my first record within 15 minutes of unboxing.
Wash It 2 cleaning fluid is applied the record, then distributed using the included goat’s hair brush by spinning the record in each direction. Flip it over, activate the vacuum underneath, apply the fluid to side two, flip and repeat. Done. So in 3 steps you have a clean, dry record. It does make noise – it is a vacuum, after all – but nothing I would consider unreasonable.
(Image: Pro-Ject Audio Systems)
How much fluid, you ask? Good question. The manual says 3ml per side, but how many sprays is that? I’ve been doing three (inner, middle and outer) but the manual refers to removing it with a tissue if you get it on the unit. I don’t see how you could do that unless you start pouring it on…like in the picture above from the Pro-ject website. Hmm.
I’ll stick with sprays, and I’ve also decided to do a second cleaning process with distilled water. I’m not sure if it’s worth doing but the effort is low and I can’t see how it would hurt.
The two records I used for my main testing were a standard white variant of Olivia Rodrigo’s you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love and an excellent 1982 Australian pressing of Dire Straits Love Over Gold that I recently inherited from my father – it’s not in bad shape, but still over 40 years old. The noise on the Rodrigo pressing had really annoyed me, even after a hand-clean, and a run through the VC-E made a big difference. It did, however, need a subsequent run through the Vevor to become what I consider acceptable for a “new” record. What do they do to new pressings?
Dire Straits faired much the same, with the drop in noise being immediately noticeable. No such luck with my Maisie Peters Floresence daffodil pressing, however. My standard black variant – signed, so thankfully came unsealed – plays much better, thankfully.
I’m now cleaning everything I play with the VC-E and am impressed with the results. There’s a definite reduction in noise, an improvement in the general listening experience and importantly no debris on my stylus after playing. I live in a dry climate and have static problems, which seem to have been eliminated with my recently acquired Herbie’s Way Excellent II Turntable Mat and now-clean records.
As for the Vevor, it certainly makes a difference but I’ll keep it for when I buy something second hand, or have an issue the VC-E won’t fix. For the AU$130 (US$90) it cost, I’m happy to have it in my arsenal. And drying records after cleaning in the Vevor is now a simple task using the VC-E, no more air-drying in a dodgy rack.
Gripes? The springy drain cover looks like a cartoon tail and seems an unnecessary break to the unit’s clean lines. But I’m nitpicking. The vacuum “slot” collects dust (see below) although doesn’t seem a major bother at this stage. One spare self-adhesive cover strip is included and extras are AU$15 (US$10) each so it’s not a great concern. I’ve seen no marks on my records. Yet.
UPDATE: Pro-Ject contacted me after I published this review, and advised that the item described in my paragraph below is NOT a slot protector; it’s an alignment tool for the self-adhesive slot cover. I’ve left the original paragraph here, because it’s an easy mistake to make. Hopefully this helps other purchasers (and Pro-Ject mention it in future versions of the manual).
My biggest issue – and this is going to sound silly – is the clear piece of plastic that protects the vacuum slot (well I presume that’s what it is, it fits neatly but isn’t listed in the manual). It’s clear, and very hard to see from above. Twice I accidentally put a record on top of it, once even pushing it partly inside the machine. I’m not a careless person, and I swore I’d never do it again after the first time. Wrong. This needs to be a flat, red “T” shape or similar. If I had a 3D printer, I’d be making one ASAP.
Overall, I’m a happy customer and would be comfortable recommending the VC-E to an individual collector – for me, it’s ideal. Please note that this is my first experience with a record vacuum so I don’t have anything else to compare it to. Records cleaned with the VC-E and then the Vevor come out looking impressively clean, and I even made a rather beaten up copy of The Beatles Revolver listenable.
The VC-E is small enough to keep setup in my music room, and I can clean a new record in a few minutes without getting out of my chair. It’s even satisfied my audiophile tweaking urges…for now. Next on my agenda? A GrooveTracer subplatter for my Rega P6...
See the official Australian page for the VC-E Mini here. All views are my own, and this review was not subsidised or sponsored. I purchased the VC-E for AU$525 (US$366) from the excellent Urban Records in Leederville, WA.
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