A clean record asks very little of the listener, just a moment of preparation and then the music.
The Nitty Gritty Model 1.5Fi is a fluid-injection vacuum record cleaning machine with automatic rotation, in a black vinyl finish. Its maker, Nitty Gritty Record Care Products, has made record cleaners since 1981 and today works from Kennesaw, Georgia.
“What's nice about the Nitty Gritty 1.5Fi is that it is built well, appears to have a minimal number of wearable parts, and works like a charm.”
— Doug Schneider, SoundStage!, reviewing an earlier version of the 1.5Fi (1999)
What Fi means
Fi stands for fluid injection. Press the pump and the machine applies cleaning fluid across the record surface from its own reservoir, the VAC-SWEEP fibers scrub as the Capstan Record Drive turns the disc, and the vacuum then draws the fluid away.
Design and build
The 1.5Fi uses the 17.5-inch cabinet of Nitty Gritty's fluid-injection models. Spent fluid collects in a slide-out tray underneath, and the motor is an industrial-grade, flow-through type coupled directly to the vacuum slot.
The 1.5Fi comes from a company that, in its own words, is dedicated to hand-built record cleaning machines, and Nitty Gritty's catalog states that they are made in the USA.
Living with it
Nitty Gritty describes its Fi machines as rotating the record, wetting it, scrubbing it and finally vacuuming away dust, dirt, grease and grime. The one rule the manual stresses above all is never to pump fluid while the vacuum is running.
Choosing your Fi model
The 1.5Fi is the black vinyl Fi model, and the 2.5Fi is its solid oak or classic cherry counterpart. Without the pump, the Model 1.5 offers the same automatic rotation with fluid applied by hand. We're happy to talk it through, and the whole Nitty Gritty line is in one collection.
Specifications
| Type |
Fluid-injection automatic vacuum record cleaning machine |
| Cleaning |
Pump-injected fluid, wet scrub by the VAC-SWEEP fibers while the record turns, then vacuum extraction |
| Sides per pass |
One side per pass, vacuumed from underneath |
| Rotation |
Automatic (Capstan Record Drive, spring-loaded) |
| Fluid application |
Fluid injection: hand pump feeds PURE 2 from an onboard reservoir to the VAC-SWEEP |
| Vacuum |
Industrial-grade flow-through vacuum motor coupled directly to a venturi-shaped vacuum slot lined with VAC-SWEEP fibers |
| Record sizes |
12-inch LPs; 7-inch records with the optional 45RPM Disc Adapter; 7-, 10- and 12-inch with the optional 3-Way Adapter Kit (permanent modification) |
| Waste fluid |
Slide-out waste fluid tray on the underside |
| Finish |
Black Vinyl |
| Construction |
Wood and plastic cabinet; Lexan suction head |
| Cabinet |
17.5-inch cabinet (fits DC-1L vinyl and DC-2L acrylic covers) |
| Recommended fluids |
PURE 2 (all-purpose, for vinyl LPs and 45s); PURE 1 (alcohol-free, for 78s and lacquers); PUREnzyme+ (enzyme cleaner for heavily soiled records) |
| Session use |
Up to 10 records per session, then 15–20 minutes to cool |
| Warranty |
1-year Nitty Gritty limited warranty (VAC-SWEEP liners and capstan 90 days; commercial use 90 days) |
Questions
What does the 1.5Fi add over the Nitty Gritty Model 1.5?
The 1.5Fi adds fluid injection to the Model 1.5's automatic rotation. Instead of wetting the VAC-SWEEP by hand, you press a pump that feeds fluid from the 1.5Fi's reservoir across the record surface.
What is the difference between the 1.5Fi and the 2.5Fi?
They share the same Fi design in different cabinets. The 1.5Fi has a black vinyl finish, while the 2.5Fi comes in solid oak or classic cherry.
What fluid goes in the 1.5Fi's reservoir?
Nitty Gritty's instructions for its Fi models call for filling the reservoir with PURE 2. The company makes alcohol-free PURE 1 for 78s and warns that fluids other than PURE 1, PURE 2 or PUREnzyme+ may invalidate the warranty.
Which dust cover fits the 1.5Fi?
The 1.5Fi has a 17.5-inch cabinet, larger than the 15-inch Model 1.5, so it takes Nitty Gritty's DC-1L soft vinyl cover or DC-2L acrylic cover, sold separately.
What does the 1.5Fi cost at HiFi Boutique?
HiFi Boutique sells the Nitty Gritty Model 1.5Fi for $1,115.99 with sales tax included and free delivery within the USA. Nitty Gritty's one-year limited warranty applies, with 90 days on the VAC-SWEEP and capstan.
From our boutique to your listening room
HiFi Boutique is an authorized Nitty Gritty dealer. Delivery is free anywhere in the USA, and sales tax is included in the price.
