Loricraft PRC4i Professional Record Cleaner
The Loricraft PRC4i Professional Record Cleaner is a high-end record cleaning machine for dedicated vinyl enthusiasts and archival collections, and we are proud to offer it in India.
Precision Engineering for Deep-Groove Cleaning
The PRC4i is a professional record cleaning machine that builds on the legacy of the original Loricraft PRC4 while bringing a higher level of refinement and consistency. Its precision engineering focuses not only on how clean your records become, but on how quietly and repeatably the process integrates into serious listening and archiving workflows.
At the core of the design is a powerful vortex vacuum system. Cleaning fluid is distributed across the rotating record, worked into the grooves with a dedicated brush, and then extracted by the travelling vacuum arm, which draws contaminated fluid away into a separate external waste jar. The groove is left dry and ready to play almost immediately, avoiding the downtime and mess associated with more basic machines.
Double-Ended Pump System
Where the Loricraft PRC4i sets itself apart from many audiophile record cleaning machines is its double-ended pump system. A laboratory-grade pump is mounted at either end of the vacuum motor, delivering an impressive suction capacity of around 28 litres per minute. This level of controlled airflow provides strong vacuum performance and a remarkably low noise level during use.
That combination of power and refinement is especially valuable if you are dealing with heavily contaminated, decades-old discs or pressings. The system is designed so that even challenging records can be thoroughly cleaned, making the machine particularly attractive as a professional record cleaning machine for archives, studios, and personal libraries where material cannot simply be replaced.
Quiet Operation & Natural Wood Cabinet
The chassis of the PRC4i is CNC machined and finished in a handcrafted natural wood veneer, with high-density internal noise absorption material carefully integrated into the cabinet structure. This not only gives the machine a refined furniture-grade presence in a listening room, but significantly lowers operating noise compared with many industrial-looking record cleaners.
An integrated waste-fluid bottle holder and refreshed fascia keep the working surface tidy, so the machine feels more like a permanent component in a high-end system than a utility box that must be hidden away. The version supplied is configured for 230V operation, making it an ideal record cleaning machine 230V India users can integrate without step-down transformers.
Vortex Vacuum Arm & Precision Bearing System
The vacuum arm is a key part of the Loricraft philosophy. On the Loricraft PRC4i, it uses high-grade horizontal and vertical yoke bearings and is driven by a custom-made gearing system that lets the arm traverse smoothly across the record. A fine nylon thread between nozzle and groove protects the vinyl surface while focusing suction exactly where it is needed, and the cleaning thread advances automatically after each cycle to present a fresh contact point.
Beneath the platter, a substantial precision spindle and main bearing, housed in robust phosphor bronze and charged with oil, are designed to withstand the side loads created during rigorous brushing. A high-torque motor provides generous drive force, so you can apply proper pressure with the brush without worrying about stalls or speed instability.
Forward & Reverse Rotation for Complete Groove Coverage
Unlike simpler cleaners, the Loricraft PRC4i offers both forward (clockwise) and reverse (anti-clockwise) platter rotation. This is not a gimmick: cleaning in both directions allows the brush and vortex vacuum to work against contamination that has been driven into the groove by years of stylus passes. Manufacturers and the original Loricraft inventor recommend using both directions as part of a thorough regime, especially for older or noisy records.
For Indian collectors building serious libraries of new reissues and rare original pressings alike, this dual-direction approach becomes an essential part of the routine—especially when preparing a record for needledrops, archiving or critical late-night listening.
Designed for Archives, Studios and Serious Audiophiles
The Loricraft PRC range has long been used by remastering studios, professional record dealers and major sound archives, and the PRC4i continues that lineage. It is designed to work all day if required, copes with 7, 10, 12 and even 16-inch records, and leaves discs immediately playable after cleaning.
If you are looking for an audiophile record cleaning machine to build and maintain a reference-level collection, the PRC4i offers a compelling blend of robustness and subtlety. In practical terms, cleaning a 12″ LP side takes roughly a minute, making it realistic to work through large batches of records without turning the process into a chore.
Setup, Placement and Day-to-Day Use
In use, the Loricraft PRC4i is straightforward but rewards a methodical approach. Place the unit on a solid, level surface with ventilation underneath, set up the waste jar and hoses as per the instruction guide, and ensure the vacuum arm can move freely with a gentle hose curve.
For each record, you simply mix the recommended quantity of L’Art du Son with deionised or reverse-osmosis water, apply a generous line of fluid to the rotating record, and work it into the grooves with the supplied brush. After brushing in forward rotation, many users repeat the process in reverse rotation before engaging the arm and pump, letting the vortex vacuum remove contaminated fluid in a single smooth pass. Because the record emerges effectively dry, you can move it straight onto a high-resolution turntable without fear of residue or stylus wear.
About Loricraft
Loricraft Audio has been synonymous with serious record care since the original Professional Record Cleaner (PRC) emerged in 1990. Designed from the outset for remastering studios, sound archives and specialist record dealers, Loricraft machines quickly became a reference choice wherever irreplaceable vinyl needed to be preserved, not merely cleaned.
Today the Loricraft PRC4i and PRC6i are built by SME in Steyning, West Sussex, England, bringing the company’s renowned precision engineering to every spindle, bearing and gear. The combination of British manufacturing, laboratory-grade pump technology and an obsessive focus on groove-safe cleaning has given Loricraft an enduring reputation amongst collectors worldwide. Explore more models and context in our dedicated Loricraft archive section to see how the PRC4i sits within this lineage.
Specifications
| Colour | Black Ash, Walnut |
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FAQs
How does the Loricraft PRC4i clean records?
The PRC4i applies mixed cleaning fluid to a rotating record, which you brush into the grooves before the travelling vacuum arm creates a focused vortex to extract the contaminated fluid into an external waste jar. The nylon thread protects the vinyl surface while ensuring suction is concentrated exactly in the groove.
Is the PRC4i suitable as a professional record cleaning machine for archives?
Yes, the Loricraft PRC4i is specifically designed for heavy-duty work in archives, remastering studios and professional record stores. Its laboratory-grade double-ended pump, precision bearing system and thread-separated vacuum arm allow continuous operation and safe cleaning of fragile, irreplaceable discs, including warped or heavily contaminated records.
What are the Loricraft PRC4 specifications for size, weight and power?
The PRC4i version offered is configured for 230V mains supplies. The chassis measures approximately 550mm wide by 410mm deep and 273mm high, with a unit weight of around 15kg, making it substantial enough for stability yet manageable for domestic listening rooms and dedicated archive spaces alike.
How long does it take to clean a record on the Loricraft PRC4i?
A full clean of one side of a 12″ LP typically takes around one minute once you are familiar with the process. The high-torque motor is designed to cope with firm brushing, while the vortex vacuum arm removes fluid efficiently so the record emerges effectively dry and ready to play straight away.
How quiet is the PRC4i in operation?
The Loricraft PRC4i uses a CNC-machined cabinet with high-density internal noise absorption and an updated double-ended pump system with reduced noise. In practice this means you can run cleaning cycles in the background without dominating the listening room, a key difference from many louder vacuum-based machines.
What accessories come with the Loricraft PRC4i?
Each PRC4i is supplied with a bottle of L’Art du Son concentrate and an application brush, enough cleaning fluid to treat roughly 1,000 LPs when diluted as recommended. You also receive the external waste jar, vacuum arm assembly with pre-threaded nylon cleaning line, and the required hoses and fittings described in the official manual.
Is the PRC4i a good audiophile record cleaning machine for India’s 230V power?
Yes, the Loricraft PRC4i is specified in a 230V version that integrates directly with Indian power without additional transformers. For listeners seeking a high end record cleaning machine India can support long term, the robust build, low noise and archive-grade cleaning make it a natural choice for both serious home collections and institutional libraries.
How does the Loricraft PRC4 vs Degritter comparison look?
The Loricraft PRC4 story continues in the PRC4i, which uses a thread-separated vacuum nozzle and manual brushing to create a focused vortex over the groove. Degritter machines, by contrast, are fully automatic ultrasonic cleaners with a water bath and transducers. Many collectors favour the Loricraft approach when they want hands-on control and minimal fluid contact beyond the groove itself.
How does the Loricraft PRC4 vs Nessie comparison look?
The Loricraft PRC4i uses a single-point vacuum arm with automatic thread advance and a powerful pump, whereas Nessie record cleaners typically combine twin brushes, automatic fluid dosing and a more conventional vacuum slot. Nessie aims for semi-automatic convenience; Loricraft emphasises highly targeted suction and a proven design used in archives and studios worldwide.
