Jonathan Monks, the son of the founder Keith Monks, announced two new additions to the Prodigy series as well as updates to the original machine at the High End 2022 in Munich.
Prodigy series brings the world’s first Threadless point suction cleaners to market. Previous KM machines have used a thread between the suction nozzle and the record, whereas the new system is simpler, easier and more effective. Prodigy is fitted with a multi-colour lighting system to enhance its in-home appeal further and add another fun element to the cleaning process.
The Prodigy series is Keith Monks most silent machine yet, but all KM RCMs are quiet enough to play a record and enjoy it while cleaning another. Until you have experienced cleaning a pile of records, you will not realise how much difference this makes to the experience. Record cleaning with a noisy machine is hard work and tedious; record cleaning while playing and enjoying records is fun and rewarding.
Prodigy Plus
- Enhanced mini natural bamboo Record & Digital Disc Cleaner
- Adds quieter SmoothFlow pump, ZeroTune as well as Eco|Roller microfibre washing wand
- Washes and vacuums dry an LP side in around 2 1/2 minutes
- Ideal customer DIY cleaning service in small-medium hi-fi or record store
- Retail Price approximately $1695 – €1595 – £1295
Prodigy Blue Deluxe
- Deluxe mini bamboo Record & Digital Disc Cleaner
- Adds SuperSilent pump, ZeroTune, pro discOvery brush as well as auto shut off
- Washes and vacuums dry an LP side in around 2 minutes
- High-end satin blue finish with natural bamboo accents
- Retail Price approximately $1995 – €1895 – £1595
Prodigy Galileo Deluxe
- Deluxe mini bamboo Record & Digital Disc Cleaner
- Adds SuperSilent pump, ZeroTune, pro discOvery brush, auto shut off
- Washes and vacuums dry an LP side in around 2 minutes
- High-end satin white finish with natural bamboo accents
- Retail Price approximately $1995 – €1895 – £1595
The Keith Monks method is a liquid on and liquid off solution guaranteeing no recontamination from previously used fluids. Clean both sides of a vinyl LP in roughly five minutes. Prodigy can also clean CDs, Blu-Ray Discs, and even computer CDs and Laserdiscs.
There has never been a better time to buy a record cleaning machine. A few years ago, a good RCM would cost two or three thousand pounds, and records were in short supply. Now for £795, it’s possible to buy the Keith Monks Prodigy, which takes all its design cues from the original machines – which are still in use in the British Library and the United States Library of Congress.
New records are everywhere but cost around £20-£30. The key, though, especially for those with old record collections or those rebuilding collections having discarded them when CD came along, is the previously owned market for records. Charity shops, record fairs, and record stores are full of exciting and classic recordings on vinyl, most available at reasonable prices. After an excellent clean most records sound remarkably good. Remember, top surface scratches and marks rarely affect deep in the groove, where the stylus tracks. A little bit of searching can reveal some classic value gold.