Some evenings call for a single favorite album, others for a stack of finds from a weekend of crate digging.
The Nitty Gritty Model 2.5Fi is a fluid-injection vacuum record cleaning machine with automatic rotation, in solid oak or classic cherry. It is built by Nitty Gritty Record Care Products, founded in California in 1981 and now based in Kennesaw, Georgia.
A reference since 1985
In 1985 the Model 2.5Fi won the CES Award for Design and Engineering. Nitty Gritty says very little has changed in the basic design concept since then, though improvements continue to evolve. Press the pump and fluid is applied across the record, the VAC-SWEEP fibers scrub while it turns, and the vacuum draws the fluid and debris away.
Nitty Gritty says it remains devoted to hand-built record cleaners, and the catalog in which the 2.5Fi appears notes that the range is made in the USA.
Design and build
Nitty Gritty notes that the 2.5Fi has real oak wood sides, and a Classic Cherry version is offered alongside the Solid Oak. The cabinet is the 17.5-inch size used for the Fi models, with a slide-out tray for spent fluid.
Living with it
In Nitty Gritty's instructions the 2.5Fi's reservoir is filled with PURE 2, with PURE 1 recommended for 78s and PUREnzyme+ for heavily soiled records.
After cleaning, the manual recommends storing each record in a high-grade inner sleeve to keep away dust, grease, abrasion and static, and Nitty Gritty makes poly-lined, anti-static sleeves for the purpose.
Choosing your Fi model
The 2.5Fi is the wood-cabinet Fi model, alongside the black vinyl 1.5Fi. The 2.5Fi-XP adds a second pump for two fluids, and the Mini-Pro 2 cleans both sides at once. We're happy to talk it through, and the Nitty Gritty collection brings every model together.
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 |
Solid Oak, Classic Cherry |
| 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 award did the Nitty Gritty Model 2.5Fi win?
Nitty Gritty's Model 2.5Fi won the CES Award for Design and Engineering in 1985, and the company says the basic design concept has changed very little since.
How does the 2.5Fi differ from the 2.5Fi-XP?
The 2.5Fi has a single fluid pump. The 2.5Fi-XP has a dual-pump system that dispenses two separate fluids interchangeably, and it takes its own XP-specific dust covers.
What does the 2.5Fi add over the Model 2.5?
The Model 2.5 relies on fluid applied by hand to the VAC-SWEEP, while the 2.5Fi applies fluid from an onboard reservoir with a press of its pump. Both use the Capstan Record Drive.
Can the 2.5Fi clean 45s and 10-inch records?
Yes, with an accessory. Nitty Gritty's 45RPM Disc Adapter positions 7-inch records against the 2.5Fi's capstan drive, and the 3-Way Adapter Kit permanently adds spindle positions for 7-, 10- and 12-inch records.
What does the 2.5Fi cost at HiFi Boutique?
HiFi Boutique offers the Nitty Gritty Model 2.5Fi at $1,208.99 in Solid Oak or Classic Cherry, sales tax included, with free delivery in the USA.
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.
