Hi Ken, Agree with you - the HG is a great buy. I've had mine for 15 months now and it's still working great after close to 1.000 cleanings (presentation on my YT channel). You should add a few drops of surfactant (e.g. from a dish washer) to the water in the tank: You'll immediately see how the water "attaches" much easier to the record and the cleaning becomes more efficient. And it dries faster too. Also it's easy to see when the water need s to be changed: A layer of dirt is building up at the bottom of the tank - I think I see this in the tank in the video. Good luck with your HG 👍
Although I was seriously contemplating on buying the Humminguru, I decided to buy an even cheaper ultrasonic cleaner by Vevor. I figured I would practise on that first before spending almost $1000 (in Canada with tax) on the Humminguru. I'm happy to say it works great! Once the Vevor craps out, I will definitely upgrade. Thanks for this review Ken!
A great review. I picked one up after Mazzy did his initial review. Despite some detractors within the VC, I find it to be an excellent piece of kit both functionally and aesthetically. Perhaps more importantly, the customer service support by the guys at Humminguru is world class. I have had a couple of issues with my HG, but by contacting the guys via their website… I have had replies, both quick and providing solutions that put my Humminguru back to excellent working order. No quibble. Just excellent support. Btw, yes it is ultrasonic in the cleaning phase. My cat’s ears are a darn more sensitive and with a wider sonic range than my lugs and she does a runner in the cleaning phase every time… but stays cool and dignified in the cleaning phase!🐈⬛
Good review of a wonderful cleaner! I bought mine last November and love it!! Easy to use and light weight and doesn’t require a lot of room or maintenance!! I’ve cleaned close to a 1000 records and still going strong
I bought mine shortly after they were made available. I have been super happy with it, but always wondered how good it really was compared to those "higher end" ultrasonic cleaners. It's surprising to hear you say that it works as well as all those more expensive machines. Great video Ken! 👽✌️
I spin my records through a vinyl styl first which is like a spin clean with goat hair brushes. Then my trusty humminguru after. I really like the “small bottle” humminguru additive for the water. I struggled with static and the drying not being thorough before. Once I added a few drops of the “small bottle” all static was gone and the drying cycle worked better. Happy you are having a great experience too ❤
I have had the Humminguru since it was released. It’s so nice to just drop a record in and walk off and come back and find it ready to be played. I do use one drop of G-Sonic surfactant in the tank and the exposed part of the record seems to be very evenly coated with water as it spins. So maybe the G-Sonic is actually doing something. Like you all of my flea market finds get a good scrubbing and vacuum before I put them in the ultrasonic. Great machine and great price point. Thanks, Ken.
I recently acquired a used lp from the early seventies which I first cleaned manually with a Disc Doctor fluid, then followed with my new HumminGuru. The before and after difference was quite noticeable - it definitely lifted a lot of the veil.
My process is very similar: A mechanical clean with a spinclean, for which I recommend some form of surfactant, then a water cavitation in the Degritter. I also have a Humminguru, and it is a great machine - the Degritter is a little better as the higher frequency gets deeper into the groove.
I work in my local record store grading records and listing online. I use the same two machines that you have Ken. I will say that the only issue with the Humminguru is the drying function. It’s not great even with the ten minute setting. Otherwise, I have had some remarkable improvements in playback. I have been told that maybe a wetting agent may help. I use the Project vacuum cleaning machine for greasy deposits, fingerprints and so on. Great detailed video Ken, thanks.
Mine crapped out, but must say great customer service and the fix was not difficult. I made my own vacuum cleaning system (using the vinyl vac) and use the guru as a rinse/dry … so far so good.
Thanks Ken for the review! Since I am very happy with my audio system I have been thinking that a good record cleaner upgrade from my Spin Clean/Nitty Gritty combo would be in order. I think this would it be great all of my used Jazz titles.
Once a person hears what US cleaning can do, really hard to go back to vinyl without it. Its akin to getting a vinyl record copy that is 2 or 3 generations closer to the master tape. Not sure if its of interest or not but surface dirt is not what US cleaning is targeted at. US cleaning is trying to remove the tons and tons of particles sitting at the bottom of the grooves. If anyone is in doubt, take any record and look at it under a good microscope. What you'll see are lots of particles sitting at the bottom of the groove like gravel on gravel pathway.
I have the Moth II British vacuum machine, Ken. It's horribly noisy (earplugs essential) but it does a pretty good job. The only issue is the heat it generates. After 20 mins. use it needs a rest.
Thanks for the great review. I currently use a VPI 16.5 and it is a workhorse. I was looking for an ultrasonic machine to further clean my records. I think the HummingGuru is an affordable option in this sometime expensive hobby.
Did you say "sometimes expensive hobby"? 😉 FYI: if you're considering a purchase of this cleaner, I can highly recommend it. In addition to it working well and it's "insanely cheap" (relatively speaking) price, they sell maintenance packs of replacement parts so the parts that wear out are easily replaceable. 👽✌️
FWIW; I use a VPI first, followed by the Humminguru & 3 drops of small bottle. Then a second tank with just Distilled water for a rinse. I think the vacuum > US solution is the best and will best any one product, regardless of price. More inconvenient? Absolutely. But afterwards you have the sonic delight and no second guessing about what might have been left behind:)
I’m I am a perfectionist when it comes to my vinyl ultrasonic probably is the best of all solutions. I purchased the machine you’re demonstrating right now through Amazon and I think I got about the same price you did you paid for yours which is cheap was on sale. I returned it on Monday. I did 100 records albums in the weekend I would say 30% of them were brand new two were preowned and the rest have been played a few times clean them dry them put them back in their albums put them away since I played several of them three of them were still dirty. Prove the point they didn’t clean the manually with the proper brush got in them and then I put them in doctor, let it run for a moment or 23 minutes pull it out and now they worked perfect so I guess some credit to the vacuum over ultrasonic in this particular instance and I return the wasn’t and it took too long to dry enough fluids anyhow purchase refund. Thank you very much, it’s a hobby and I’m taking it too serious
As I said any really dirty, Record would first go on my vacuum machine before the ultrasonic. I couldn’t imagine having an ultrasonic only. Achieves a different result than a vacuum machine.
An ultrasonic machine is good at getting deep into the groove, it is not good at removing normal dirt and fingerprints. Think of it as a soft cloth you’d use to give your car a final shine. You wouldn’t use such cloth to remove mud off the fenders.
Just watched this vid as I'm looking into the Humminguru....Do the instructions have any suggestions on when to change the filter? And I also understand that a "maintenance tool" comes with the device: Any explanation of what this tool is used for? Appreciate your response. Cheers.
Ken, thanks for the review. The bits of vinyl in the water post cleaning gave me pause though:/. Do you mean to say it is dirt or actual vinyl from the grooves?
So, based on what you said, you use your Pro-Ject vacuum RCM to clean the record with some type of surfactant and then do a clean rinse with distilled water only with the HumminGuru? Thanks for an informative and concise video!
With the vacuum machine, a 95/2.5/2.5 mix of distilled water, alcohol, and photo flow. On USM, the Humminguru solution in distilled water. If absolute purity is the goal, then a final rinse with the vacuum machine and distilled water only, but I'm not that fastidious.
They now ship this with their own surfactant which makes a big difference to the cleaning and drying. Looking at your video, it looks like you aren't using any. Am I correct?
That looks effective, at a reasonable price point. I can’t justify 2 machines though. Can anyone think of a workaround for an occasional smudge or fingerprint or if I happen to buy a used record that’s dirty & dusty?
I do own a humunguru and still wonder if the level of cavitation/bubbles are small enough to get into the grooves of the record? Some say no and some say yes. Who is the real source of truth? What is the answer?
@@Ricky-cl5bu you need a vacuum machine like the project more than you need the humming guru. Ultrasonic cannot remove surface grit or thumbprints or dirt. It goes deeper into the grooves and removes level of grayness. You didn’t know existed. Ideal you have both but if only one I’d stick with some sort of a vacuum machine. That’s my two cents.
I thought the project was pretty useless and a real pain to use, so I traded up to the humminguru, use a surfactant, this combined with rega’s approach (if you want to clean your records, play them) don’t overuse the humminguru in one cleaning session (over heating) and you’ll be fine, it’s pretty simple and I’m very happy with it, also you never really see them on eBay so other people must keep them. Regards really dirty records a manual cleaning first.
@@kkjrees all used records require a vacuum cleaning before US. Project VPI whatever. Pain to use. Sorry. People have been cleaning records with vacuum methods since the 60s. US doesnt do it all
Get a gig writing monthly audio review features for an internationally recognized audio magazine or website. I'm not special. I began reviewing for Soundstage in 1995, following by 6 moons, stereo times, positive feedback, Darko audio and now Stereophile.
it's a great machine while it lasts... super unreliable in my experience, I've switched to a Project cleaning machine bc the Humminguru drove me crazy. When they improve the durability it will be a killer product though, it's really good!
@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 I used it for 4 or 5 months before it died the 1st time. But it was 2-3 years ago maybe they solved the reliability issues. I really hope so bc the machine is great!
I have had a couple of issues. But the support team at Humminguru provided fixes… including any necessary kit very quickly and works perfectly since. No subsequent problems.
This should not be a concern. There are many studies of the effect of ultrasonic cavitation on PVC - there are actually entire journals devoted to ultrasonic cavitation. It has been shown it is safe.
I imagine, those might be 'crumbs' from the edges of records that weren't cleanly trimmed. Higher end releases like Tone Poet discs are always buttery smooth, but the first few Verve By Requests discs were as rough and dirty as any discs I've ever bought.
