Thanks for the link @Suedkiez
I have read through this thread with interest and thanks, as it’s very informative.
Now you’ve had your HG for several months, how have you found it? The Degritter looks like it could withstand heavy usage and I wonder if the HG is as robust? I’d imagine I would burn through a few filters in trying to clean my vinyl collection (which seems relatively small in comparison to many on here).
HG optionally comes with spares kit. It’s well made, and IIRC there are a few users who’ve run 000s LPs through theirs now. I’m sure it’ll sort your collection of 300 out. That’s about the size of my collection and I’m working through as I listen. A DG seems excessive for that number, though I appreciate not all collections are equal, and if I owned priceless first pressings I might change my tune 
I suspect everyone will recommend what they have, as will I. I have the Degritter. Came from an audiodesk and it is so much easier to use. This means more records get cleaned. I also think it does a better job but that is subjective.
Still happy. I didn’t do any mass cleaning though, just any new purchases or individual albums, so far maybe 30, so I can’t say how it holds up after a thousand. (I had previously cleaned my whole collection in bulk with one of the ultrasonic Chinese cleaners on eBay that use a regular commercial US bath with a motor assembly attached on top).
I don’t think there is a need to worry about filters unless your records are really dirty. I change the water every 5 records and can’t see any residue in the washable filter yet. I don’t even think the filter is really necessary in my case
Is the largest number I can find.
I have the HG too , since 2 months now. It really does a great work. If the lp is very dirty or uncleaned since a big time, I clean it manually first with a fluid.
I have around 400 lps, so I don’t fear that the HG will break for that modest collection. If I had 5k or more of lps, maybe I would invest in a more robust machine as the Degritter.
I do a 3 times cleaning with records I have not listened to since a long time, specially those in not a MINT condition. Some are like resurrected, like MINT .
Just as some data points, c. 170 cleaned to date.
7l of distilled water used
Had to remove the plastic filter maybe 10 times for funny shaped LPs.
Reverse washed filters a handful of times.
No issues with machine, little visible wear to rollers, no clogging of air filter.
Worst offending LP was not fully cleaned by the machine, The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta, has jam or something on it from a previous owner, it’s better after running through the HG, but honestly, I should throw the thing away, it is in a revolting state. No other issues even with some fairly scabby second hand buys.
These are all very helpful responses - thank you to everyone who has kindly taken the trouble to reply so far. All replies appear to be positive for each RCM.
I think I’m leaning towards the HG (purely for financial reasons) as this seems to be up to the job from the responses thus far. Has anyone been disappointed / dissatisfied with either RCM?
Yep, that plastic strainer thing has limited use. It should be there to protect the pump impellor from biggish lumps. Apart from that i can see no use for it. Mine spends most of the time out, to allow lps to sit on the rollers properly.
That’s an interesting point tgr. I’d noticed it can be difficult to seat the record securely in the side roller slots on occasion. I might try removing the bottom plug. Thanks for the tip
Another " tip" which is obvious is…
Always change the water in the HG. I did a mamouth session where i reused the water for about 5 records. Whilst they looked clean, and played clean, the needle did show fluff. Then i noted that these were the lps that shared the water.
So, whilst the white fibre filter does catch stuff, it must let fluff etc through.
A rewash with clean water ( plus a splash of Wilko rince aid) fixed the fluff issue.
Maybe it depends how dirty were your records. Mine were already cleaned with Art du son cleaning fluid. I generally charge the water every 4,5 records and has nothing on the stylus. The water seems clean too. I wash the filter with white vinegar every 20 lps too.
It was these records first clean ever. The reuse of the water was the only explanation i could find for the fluff. Once rewashed they were fine. So no more water reuse for me. And its only softened tap water anyway.
Some useful tips here - thanks.
I see many say the HG really needs a surfactant to get records properly clean. Is there a particular one that is recommended? Or does this not matter so much?
I’ve used only distilled water so far, it has been fine. I am going to trial degritter fluid, but not because I’m unhappy with the performance so far.
but because I’m like everyone else here, constantly dissatisfied and thinking I might improve things by small iotas by meddling with stuff
Here is what Discogs writes about the Degritter fluid , based on the advices of the Degritter founder:
“ The additional cleaning fluid has multiple beneficial properties:
First , it reduces the surface-tension of the water. This is needed because some of the dust may start to float on top of the water in stead of sinking (similiar to the water striders .With reduced surface-tension the dust sinks and will be removed faster. In addition to this the reduced surface-tension allows ultrasonic energy to break the water more easily, meaning that the cleaning effect improves and cleaning time is reduced.
Second , greasy substances (finger grease) on the record are hard to remove without solvent. Ultrasonic cleaning can remove it mechanically, but it is as if you are trying to scrub grease of a plate with no dishwashing liquid. Depending on how greasy the record is, a thin layer of grease may still be left and getting rid of it can take multiple cleaning cycles. With cleaning fluid acting as a solvent, the cleaning effect for greasy substances improves significantly.
Third , cleaning fluid developed by us also has anti-static properties. This means that the small amount of cleaning fluid added to the water will leave a micro film (so thin it won’t affect the play back) of the substance on the records. This micro film will conduct electricity and will reduce static electricity that the record will accumulate later on. So the records will not attract static electircity after the cleaning process.
Thanks @frenchrooster - looks like this will do the job nicely.
The whole static thing has surprised me and it’s good to know this can be remedied with the Degritter fluid. Attempting to remove new records from their sleeves or taking the record off the (sticking) felt dust platter is often tricky. I have no memory of this ever being a problem when I last had a turntable 25+ years ago!