Reviewing the HumminGuru Record Cleaner FINALLY!
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- After a lengthy wait and additional video-making setbacks, I dive headlong into the HumminGuru to see if it's really an ultrasonic cleaner, and just how well it works. If that's your thing, you've found your place. Welcome to the Vinyl Attack!
0:00 - Intro
0:44 - Is This an Ultrasonic Cleaner?
2:32 - First Cleaning Impressions
3:41 - Chalk Test Revised
4:32 - Transducer Heat Testing
6:05 - The Real Dust Test
6:50 - Some Words of Caution
7:45 - What's In The Box?
8:30 - Product Operation
9:16 - Take Heed...
10:55 - How Loud Is This?
12:14 - Overall Impressions
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Excellent review (the only one on UA-cam for the Humminguru worth watching thus far). I received my HG about a week ago (Melbourne Australia). So far, I have cleaned five 12" records, 4 were purchased new (ranging from 40 -10 years old but reasonably well looked after) and one was a used 70's record in reasonable condition. I ran a couple using only distilled water (DW) and 3 with 1:200 dilution of Kodak PhotoFlo wetting agent I use for film development (I know that contravenes the warranty!). I used a 5 min US & 10 min dry. For the DW only runs I had to run an extra 5 min of drying time to completely remove all water drops but the wetting agent improved drying times so 10 min was enough. My preliminary observations are that all the records came out pretty clean (by visual inspection) and with eliminated static. They all seemed to sound better after the wash. Quieter and improved detail (both upper and lower frequencies). Most noticeably, the sound was more "relaxed" and the 3D soundstage definitely improved. If I had to, I would say the Photoflo treatment gave slightly improved effects over the DW only-but wasn't a huge difference sonically. Overall, I'm pleased with the performance of the HG for its cost. Any really dirty records I would likely do a pre-clean, but if you have a reasonably maintained collection I think it's fine and very convenient (my spin clean sits in the cupboard unused for ages!). I have ordered some GrooveWasher G-sonic and Tergikleen and look forward to testing these specialist record cleaning agents when they arrive. In the meantime, the PhotoFlo is my go to wash for the HG. I'm happy with the purchase so far-but time may tell.
Check the review from Techmoan, it’s really worth it.
A quality tergitol is really all you need for a surfactant. I don't like adding other detergents as you really don't know what's in there, and if it will leave a residue. I also do a rinse cycle after washing with a surfactant and I get excellent results. I'd imagine the HG could do the same.
@@thevinylattack I’m looking forward to trying the Record cleaners with the Humminguru when they arrive. According to the manufacturer Tergikleen is tergitol-based and is completely safe for records. Used and recommended by US Library of Congress and Canadian Inst. of Archives for their record archives. I did check the MSDS for Photoflo and the ingredients are Triton X100 (a non Ionic detergent widely discussed as a US cleaning agent) and polyethylene glycol. These ingredients seem fine to me for record cleaning. I do think using a cleaning additive is the way to go with the HG which as you describe being a lower powered US cleaner probably benefits with this bit of help. 😀
@@thevinylattack I have a humming Guru too and couldn't care less about the warranty void. I believe it will need a small amount of surfactant or wetting agent. I use a similar product to Photo-flow. Ilford ilfotol has less additional chemicals and is generally accepted as a better product than Photo-flow, it also says its safe on plastics, vinyls etc. Early use indications are positive. My only worry for the Humming guru is draining the record whilst it sits in the small amount of water may allow the particles released and suspended in the relatively small amount of water to settle on the record surface as the water is drained. I am going to try spritzing with pure water before drying as well some other experiments by adding a small quantity of 99.9% Isopropyl to the pure water and Ilfotol. It may overall prove to be a bit less convenient than lets say a Degritter but I will put up with this because over $3000 is for me unreasonable, making the Guru a cost effective cleaning method. At this price I might even get another one to separate and/or combine the processes but I will think it through first. I am generally happy that the kick-starter brief has been fulfilled and with integrity which is more than can be said for some I've seen in recent times.
@@Gez492 I’m pretty sure that Tergikleen does not recommend using any alcohol with its product. It negates the tergikleen so effectiveness. I believe I saw this in there instructions on how to use.
Thanks for the video. Great job. I received mine yesterday and have cleaned 3 reasonably noisy records. I compared the results to my former system with a SpinClean. The HG did a markedly better job, for me. The records were quieter though, as you noted, they came out needing a another spin and light micro cloth wipe for a couple of drops still on the record. But they played fine with almost no pops or groove grunge I’m happy with the purchase so far.
I'm glad to hear it's working well for you.
Super glad that you did this review as I was very tempted to get one. That said, I would love to see you do an end-to-end budget record cleaning video that covers the basics.
I'd have to think about how to do such a video. I don't have any of the more budget cleaners in my house so it'd probably have to be more about manual cleaning.
@@thevinylattack Yep...manual cleaning is exactly what I was thinking about 🙂
@@theqrm I'll put it on my list.
Thanks for a great review of the machine. I did go for the DeGritter and I'm very happy with it. Cheers for this!
I think you'll find that you made the right choice.
$3300.00 USD???
Was looking forward to this one and you didn’t disappoint.
Thanks Ron, I have to say it was the first time that I actually felt pressure to make an episode.
@@thevinylattack I get it man and I know exactly how you feel. Good job telling it like it is. We need more reviewers like you.
I made the same experiences. Given the price I'm okay with the performance of the HG. Thanks for this great test. I would recommend it (the video and the Hummin Guru).
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this very comprehensive review!!
My pleasure.
Amazing work as always!
Thank you.
@The Vinyl Attack! .... Totally spot on review ... Thank You!
I'm glad you liked it.
I just purchase one and received it rather quickly. Big plus. I’ve also just finished cleaning all of my LPs with a Okki Nokki machine. At this point I’m hoping that the Huminguru gets what I may have missed on the smallest of particulates. It is a bit of work but I think well worth it in the long run of musical bliss. Thank you for a wonderfully detailed review.
I hope it works out for you.
Great review! I’m very happy with mine. I know it voids the warranty, but I use a tiny amount of Spin Clean fluid which helps an incredible amount! I’ll likely get iSonic fluid.
I’ve taken to removing the record and giving it a quick wipe dry with a microfiber cloth before it air dries and it always comes out perfectly dry in 5 min. Just a time saving thing. Overall it’s everything I’d hoped for.
I'm glad to hear it's working out for you.
Liquinox my bud. You will never go back
Very much appreciate your input I’m holding off buying
Happy to help.
I think I’m glad I bought my Degritter, and didn’t wait for this. Great review!
I don't regret spending the money one bit on my Degritter.
I don't believe that anyone who can afford a Degritter is the target audience of the Humming Guru cleaner.
It's like comparing a Mazda and a Ferrari.
@@AnotherAnonymousMan , I see your point, but should you waste $800 on this or save your sheckels for a Degritter?
Trust me on this one. Although I haven’t used the HG, I have used other US machines, Okki Nokki, Nitty Gritty, Disc Washer, hand washing, even steam cleaning. NOTHING works as well as a Degritter..
@@michaeltuohy1249 Oh sure. Same way NOTHING drives as well as a Ferrari. My point is that there's no target audience overlap. Nobody who can afford a Ferrari is also going to buy a Mazda and nobody buying a Mazda can afford a Ferrari.
Completely different products for completely different audiences.
I'm using a HG and put two cycles through it and it really does clean records well. Very happy. I like to clean record physically with spin clean (or similar) prior to HG so no issues with debris in the tank.
Ah- the timing of that shirt is most interesting! And so is this video! I’ve been waiting for your review of this for close to a year now. I just received my Humminguru today and cleaned 5 albums with it. I only wish I had a Degritter to compare it to. My plan is to do an initial clean using my Project VCE Cleaning machine followed by this device. I do think cleaning solutions make a difference and those formulas will be used on the Project with a follow up with distilled water in the Humminguru. Your test with dust was valid although I would always do a manual clean before ultrasonic in a real-world situation. Results for me varied because not all of mine had my precleaning routine. It comes down to my expectations: I don’t expect perfection from any cleaning machine- only improvement.
A difference I noted was that my records were completely dry after the default “double” cycle.
Your environment might be drier than mine. I couldn't get that fan to dry much.
Look forward your comparison to the Project VCE as I have a Project as well. Jury is out for me on switching to ultrasonic...
@@JR-xk1ky I had one, but I traded it in for my Degritter.
Amazing review!! Thanks
Glad it was helpful.
THANK YOU very much for this! So glad there finally is an in depth review of this machine. I almost took the bait when they were in the kickstarter process but I had just purchased an unltrasonic machine and a Record Doctor VI (for drying) so I decided to pass on it. You commented that it is not fair to compare a $450 (+/-) machine to a 3 thousand dollars one but I say it is fair because essentially, Humminguru claims to do just as good as the others. I think, based on your review and some others, that the Humminguru is good for brand new records or slightly dirty ones - but for records that you get from a thrift store, or ebay, this will not be good enough and you'd need to put the good old elbow grease into it.
I'd say that sounds about right.
Very interesting! And thanks for adding centigrades!
Well I feel bad for those of you who have to use that new-fangled system ;-)
@@thevinylattack :-D
Good review, definitely making me think twice about this device. Looks to me, like they need a ver2, to fix these issues.
We can hope.
I knew I was in a good spot when I seen the Block M. Great video Go Blue!
Welcome aboard!
Really informative. I have been using a DIY ultrasonic setup for about 4 years so I will compare results when I get my Humminguru (Christmas is coming…). If it does a half decent job then it looks like good value.
I'd be interested in how it works out for you.
@@thevinylattack I have spent some time now with the HG. I also have a “DIY” ultrasonic and a “DIY” RCM. I am impressed by how slick the unit operates. It is also way quieter than my other ultrasonic which uses one of the Chinese 5L tanks and a rotisserie. Using just distilled water, it definitely cleans but tough records will require some elbow grease. A 10 minute drying cycle gets everything except for a couple of drops, which are easy to wipe off.I plan on using it just before playing a record. Since I can’t hear it in my equipment room, I can clean a record while listening, unlike with my other machine, which was noisy even from an adjacent room. Overall, better than expected based on the reading I had done.
Best review yet on the Humminguru. I have the Humminguru. I also have a wet/vacuum cleaner. I have new and others records bought from charity shops and ebay. All my records were already cleaned using a wet cleaning option. I used the Humminguru with a surfactant initially and later with the degritter cleaning fluid (0.7ml for a Humminguru tank). I found audio test results were that bass instruments were better resolved and there was more information retrieved as well. I only used the 5 minute clean/dry cycle. Yes the records were not fully dry. I think for the UK price of about £360 including shipping this is good addition to my record cleaning options. My T/T is a LP12 with Keel, Ekos SE, Karousel, Kystal MC and Avid Pulses phone pre-amp.
I'm glad to hear you're getting good results.
You're very good at making videos, I bought the Kirmuss ultrasonic cleaner.
Infotaining as usual. Would be interesting to see a head to head comparison of the HumminGuru and a similarly priced vacuum style.
If I'm able to get my hands on a vacuum cleaner, I'll certainly do that.
How about same style, comparable price?
Hey Chris! I decided and pulled the trigger for the DEGRITTER. I placed the order last week. Cheers bud! JC/Miami
You won't regret it.
Excellent review. GO BLUE
Thank you for the excellent review, and I really appreciate the USB microscope shots because that's something I was really curious about. I actually received one of the first HumminGuru units and I've cleaned about 30 records with it so far. My results are 100% consistent with yours - a record with hair, dust, bits of paper from the sleeve comes out with the detritus more evenly distributed across the surface. Hair is especially difficult for the Humminguru and you're pretty much stuck having to manually remove it otherwise it will survive many wash cycles. I also noticed that in some cases, the record doesn't emerge from the water wet - it looks dry as a bone. Other times there is clearly water in the grooves; I have no idea what's going on. I thought that it was because I had used the same water several times and perhaps it had less oxygen in it from being agitated by the transducers, but this happens even with fresh water. The drying cycle is extremely frustrating because it leaves HUGE water droplets on the record surface and as you pointed out, you could run the drying cycle as long as you want and they will never dry. And no matter how lint-free your cloth is, you will always leave some fibers behind when you dab those droplets - super frustrating. I decided to try using it in conjunction with my spin clean by first cleaning with the spin clean and then rinsing/drying with the HumminGuru. That works well, but, I can't help but feel that I could achieve the same results with a second spin clean (which I typically do) and air drying. The only thing the HumminGuru does is automate the clean cycle and "sort of" dry the record, and is that worth nearly $400? I don't think so. I'll still use it because it does work and I've already paid for it, but if I had it all to do over again I'd put that $400 in the Degritter fund.
I think the HG will still do a much better job at deep cleaning than something like a spin clean, but as you've seen, you need a pre-wash to really make it effective.
@@thevinylattack Yep, agree. The spin clean is a huge hassle to use, I will most likely use the brush + surfactant method you recommended. Thanks again!
@@petertaylor8372 Those brushes are much cheaper too ;-)
Another great video! I’m kinda glad I fought the urge to buy one. For now I’ll stick with my Record Doctor.
Same boat.
That seems to be a recurring comment. I'm glad you liked the vid.
Great review. Might wait for v 2.0 👍
I'll be interested to see if they make another version.
Thanks for the video, Chris! This video is very timely, as I received my HumminGuru today. I’ve only cleaned 3 or four records, but I came away with many of the same conclusions. On a newer record, I did notice an improvement in sonics. But on an OG copy of Pink Floyd Relics, which was well loved in its day according to my neighbor who gave it to me. It was pretty crunchy. The HG made some modest improvements in crunchiness, but never as clean as I have seen with the Degritter that I’ve been fortunate to use at a local audio shop. I guess, for the money, it was worth it, but I am slightly disappointed, as I hoped it would be a giant killer.
Those have been my results as well.
What I’ve done is if the record is insanely mucky, I’ll give it a really good hand wash (spray on vinyl cleaner, scrub, then rinse) then after that I put it in the HG and it comes out flawless. Even just a quick rinse with distilled water before you put it in the cleaner makes a big difference. But yes, it’s disappointing the HG isn’t as efficient without some extra steps, makes me just want the Degritter.
I didn't expect a giant killer of any kind, but I did hope the cavitation would be stronger.
@@thevinylattack A strong cavitation could harm the Lp plastic, so, it’s a trade-off. Is it better to remove the biggest part of the dirt by hand or using a strong cavitation, risking to damage the Lp?
@@CapitanHarlockisback The Degritter can do both without the strong cavitation so I guess I'm good there. The HG however needs some help to clean up to what I'd say is an acceptable standard.
It’s exactly what we paid for. I’ll still use my Loricraft, but all in all, it’s not bad! Great review! Also, add more water than the measuring marks on the reservoir suggest, I think a lot of the dust you see is coming from the uncleaned runout grooves during the interminable drying cycle. I air dried a bunch and it was definitely better. The air filter is pretty weak.
I'll try a test or two with more water, but I don't think the outcome will be much different.
Thank you for taking the time to test and review this unit. It seems that if there will be a v. 2, they will need to address some of the issues. The fact that it leaves so much particulates on the record after the wash/dry cycle is not very encouraging to me. It would be interesting to compare it with a general purpose US cleaner like the VEVOR Commercial Ultrasonic Cleaner 6L with record bracket which together costs almost the same.
I personally wouldn't use those types of cleaners because they're just too powerful for vinyl.
@@thevinylattack good comment, there is still an unknown about the damage ultrasonics can do to pvc in vinyl records, using anything that is overly industrial is likely a big mistake. i've noticed some youtuber are using a default ultrasonic used to jewelry and added a rotating holder. the ultrasonic tanks are extremely cheap, but long term damage is a high risk. these are questions that will get answered in time i believe as the cleaning market develops.
@@varsityathlete9927 There was a study done (that I can't seem to find at the moment) that showed the effects on vinyl when subjected to long-term ultrasonic waves using a utility-style cleaner. It confirmed my suspicions and was more than enough to steer me away from those types of machines.
Thanks for the video. I have had mine for about a week and I am not disappointed in my purchase. Maybe it’s about expectations. I never figured that the HG would perform anywhere near as good as the Degritter. But there was no way I was going to spend 3-4k to clean my records.
I didn't have Degritter expectations, but I was a little less than thrilled with the overall performance.
@@thevinylattack Would this be the I believe 40Khz vs 120 Khz?
@@chewingcheung I'm sure that's part of it.
@@thevinylattack is there one you'd recommend first in the same price range?
@@nanchanger No.
Very informative. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and impressions of various equipment, it really helps people make a more informed decision to purchase or not. Still not a fan of the cuts, but your content is worth it. Also GO BLUE! What a game. I am originally from Michigan but now find myself living behind enemy lines in Ohio.
I'm glad you're sticking around for the content. I do appreciate it.
Yeah, but next year we (the Buckeyes) are coming back and kicking rear!🤟🏾
$3000 ITEM VS $300 ITEM .... GREAT REVIEW, THANK YOU!
I JUST GOT ONE TODAY, I HAVEN'T OPENED THE BOX YET.....
so you spent $3000 US...
no..nothing. i got a used humminguru for $100@@happycarlo1
@@happycarlo1 you sure a sh*t spent $3300 if you bought the Degritter Mark III, pal. It's called Google, look into it
Great review, as usual!
By chance I bought and tested my first cleaning machine last sunday, the Pro-Ject VC-S (used, but in apparently good working order). I had thought to complement liquid cleaning with ultrasonic cleaning, and it seems I wasn't the only one! Perhaps in the near future.
A side issue: were the noise measurements you made in dBC rather than dBA for some special reason? Normally "A" filter measurements have a better relationship with the typical auditory sensation, and "C" filter gives additional weight to the low frequencies (which in this case shouldn't have much influence, quite the contrary).
Mainly because that's where the machine was set and there were no low frequencies to be heard from either machine.
Very fair review. I’m loving mine, but do understand it to be a low power ultrasonic cleaner. I use mine in conjunction with a soft camel hair shaving brush and get amazing results. One quick 2 minute clean only, run over the camel hair brush on both sides then put it into a full auto clean. Haha writing this as I’m listening to your final words :) and you then suggest my solution :) great minds, and all that… 😂
I'm happy to hear it's working for you. That is indeed the end goal.
Thanks for this! It was really helpful even if sadly discouraging. I was really hoping to find an affordable all-in-one cleaning unit that I could set and forget. We're not there yet apparently.
So it would seem.
Don’t be discouraged. It works.
Hmm...
Good review. Seems pretty fine for the price.
Thanks :-)
Thanks for the video! Ironically it did verify my decision on the HumminGuru, as the differences in regards to other machines seem to be more quantitative than qualitative. I've been looking for something to speed up my cleaning process (manual cleaning and rinsing on an old turntable + Record Doctor V), which just took too long to accomodate other aspects of life. I'm still using the RD V to vacuum off any dust and dirt that might've been loosened but not removed by the HG. After that the records get an additional short drying cycle to completely dry them off (this solved another problem I had, because the vacuum always left some humidity behind). I'm very happy, but I also don't subject extremely dirty records to the HG. If they may arise, I'll get out the old gear first. That being said, I often do come across very dusty albums, and the combination of HG and RD really work wonders with these, even on a single cleaning cycle.
That was pretty much my experience with it.
Thanks for the video. And, Go Blue!
You bet!
Gotta say, I haven't had any of the same issues with dust on my unit. My guess is that it's related to airborne dust + the extended drying cycle producing static charge on the record.
You also didn't mention that the Degritter and the Harbor Freight have tank volumes 4x and 7x that of the Humminguru, respectively. I wouldn't expect the HG to require the same number of transducers or the same active wattage to energize a much smaller amount of water.
You wouldn't think it so but in my experience, more wattage is exactly what it needs.
Got HumminGuru in Australia this week. I had a new reissued 2022 Ozzy Osbourne No More Tears LP and side 3 was unplayable. First record I cleaned was the Side 3 & 4. Distilled water and 2 drops of Kodak Photo-Flo 200 solution and 10 min clean/dry cycle. Then another 5 min clean/dry cycle with only Distilled water. Wow it has brought side 3 back to life. Great machine for the price. Would recommend.
I'm glad it's working for you.
I ordered a vevor system about 2 months ago for a little over 200 dollars and it works great
You might want to be careful with that. Industrial type ultrasonics are dangerous for vinyl records.
Great video… I questioned a lot, but never thought to question the very “ultrasonic-ness” of the HumminGuru, glad we can put that to rest.
Otherwise, very close to my conclusion too. There’s a lot to like about the overall package and product approach, but just ain’t got the goods to effectively and reliably clean an average collection. Especially when used as directed.
Yeah, it just seems to need a bit more power to really make a go of it.
Great review - lots of stuff to think about. I'm expecting to do a little hand drying but I live in arid Boise so it shouldn't be too bad. What are your thoughts on the Granbo Ultra Sonic Cleaner ($600) and how it compares to the Humminguru. Which one would you choose out of the two?
The Granbo looks like a standard utility-style cleaner which can be dangerous to records. I suppose the Humminguru might be the better choice, but not enthusiastically.
"brandnew Pantera record" got my instant sub :D
Can't argue with good taste ;-)
Thanks for the review. I think ill put my 400 toward the Degritter.
It's definitely not a cheap machine, but in my experience it is BY FAR the best record cleaner available.
Hey Chris! How are ya!
This may be a bit wordy, my apologies in advance.
First of all…great video and go Wolverines!
I’ve had it up to HERE with Ohio State winning year after year. This is supposed to be a rivalry for crissakes, but I digress.
I think if one already owns a Degritter at this time, not much else in Ultrasonicville is going to compare very favorably…especially with something that’s $2,500.00 cheaper. That’s a big drop which means that the letdown is generally inevitable in most cases. Let’s be honest.
It’s like owning a 2009 Ferrari 599 GTO and then driving a Saturn….they are both cars, they both have 4 wheels, they both have engines, they both have brakes, radios and speakers, seats, AC, Heat and windows but…
Exactly.
Having said all of that I cannot see myself buying the Humminguru as the issues that were pointed out in this video would be big issues for me at $430.00. Some, I’m sure will be very happy with it which is fine. But I’ll pass. You get what you pay for.
On the flip side I cannot spend $3,000.00 on a Degritter. In my opinion the price is ridiculous and frankly speaking, I don’t have nearly enough records to justify such an investment anyway. Most of my stuff is CD and digital downloads, records is more of a side hobby of mine. I enjoy all of the formats for different reasons, but I don’t plan on duplicating all of my CD’s with vinyl. At over 1,200 that would cost me a king’s ransom.
So what have I been using to clean my records?
I’m the proud owner & operator of a
Record Doctor VI in a Carbon Fiber wrap which makes it look like a 2021 Chevy Corvette if it were a rectangular box with four small feet instead of wheels.
Which also means that my Record Doctor looks like it’s moving even though it’s stand still….😜
My results from the Record Doctor VI cleaning machine have been quite excellent in my opinion. It’s cleaned new and used vinyl (even vinyl from the 1950’s) quite masterfully.
At $299 I can’t recommend it enough to those on a budget or simply against spending a LOT of money. The trick with the Record Doctor, for me, is using a very good quality record cleaning fluid.
(The “Record Doctor” brand fluid is good but “TM-8 Super Record Cleaning Fluid” is much better based on my observations)
Having said all of that, as is the usual with your channel, you delivered another great video with down-to-earth entertainment, transparency, fairness, and as always great critical thinking.
And THAT is called Integrity which is why I keep coming back here.
Well done Sir!
I'm glad you have a system that works for you. In the end, that's what really counts.
I’ve been waiting for this. Thank you! (Also I’m going to slurp my channel it’s new - music only)
Thanks for watching!
I wonder if using the cleaning fluid that comes with the Degritter would benefit the HumminGuru? I know the manual says to not use any additives, but I am curious.
I don't even just the Degritter fluid in the Degritter. I do a wash with water and a surfactant, and then a rinse with water. I didn't do those tests here though because I felt most people would just use water.
@@thevinylattack Completely understandable. Perhaps the engineers of the HumminGuru will update the product, and increase the output of the cavitation.
@@inko123 I hope they do. I'd certainly like to see it succeed.
I have the HumminGuru and I can't say I have experienced some of the issues you have laid out, but I also live in Arizona so a different climate/atmosphere may make a difference. One thing that may make a difference for you is to first clean the record with a Spin Clean and then put it though a 5 minute cycle. By doing that combination, the end result has been comparable or better than any of the other four figure ultra sonic cleaners I have tried by themselves. I am not a chemist, but I think the addition of cleaning with the spin clean solution (flocculating agent) not only gets the bigger pieces of dirt off but it would seem that it also acts as something similar to a surfactant and allows the bubbles to be more effective. Give that a shot.
Personally, I use a Degritter which gives me the best results I've ever seen. For those using the HG, a pre-wash seems like the best way to go.
I've owned my HumminGuru now for about 3 weeks and cleaned about a dozen 12" LPs. I largely agree with this review and appreciate his microscopic look at the albums. With the naked eye, this clearly cleans dirty albums with the distilled water alone. I found that adding a few drops of Spin Clean cleaning fluid, which I believe is just a very mild dishwashing soap to the ~cup of water in the HumminGuru, made a huge difference in the resulting clean. What I found was that the water alone didn't remove used album finger prints. This makes sense, as the dishwashing soap reduces the surface tension and removes the oils making the cleaning process much better (visually with the naked eye) in my experience The part that I am perhaps the least happy with is the drying process. I consistently had a few & very small drops on both sides of the LP thus requiring the use of a drying cloth. All in all, given that is is 1/6th the cost of a degritter, it seems like a wonderful value. I would buy it again but it does require more participation in the cleaning process than the degritter which in my experience is mostly a hands off process.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Gave a thumbs up just for the Michigan shirt. Go Blue. I'd give another one if I could for the content.
I appreciate it.
You testing methodology is really good. And the detailed delivery of the data gathered by said mthodology is greatly appreciated. Well done, thanks, and keep up the good work.
Great review. I’ll save my money and stick with my vacuum machine. Thought about this for my second system but will look at the Degritter instead.
The Degritter is in a league of its own and well worth the money in my opinion.
Thanks for the video. Ill keep my iSonic.
Thanks Chris....you just saved me some $$$, time and possibly aggravation. Keep it 100!
Glad to help.
Really good review! I‘ve ordered it a few weeks ago, but after seeing your review, i‘m a bit frustrated! But who knows? Normally my motto is: you get what you pay. But this time, i‘ve made an exception, because the project looks serious …
I think with a little pre-clean you should have good results.
@@thevinylattack ok, thanks! A good thing is, my records are all in very good condition, i’ve always cleaned them by hand! Otherwise, i will go for a Degritter …😉😆
I was wondering if you tried adding anything to the water such as the HuminGuru small bottle fluid or any “G” fluid drops as others have?
Techmoan has a fairly in depth review of this unit that’s a great supplement to this video and well worth a watch
I had a blast reading the comments on that video, clearly not targeted at an audiophile community.
He and I are indeed after different things with this machine.
I have one of these on the way...no clue when it will ever get here, so, I'm curious...
Since you also own the sweet Degritter, do you have an opinion of additives to the water?
I've read people actually putting isopropyl in the water, which seems like an insane thing to do.
Back to the question, are you strictly water or do you add, maybe a surfactant of some kind, detergent...?
Nice video, man 👍
I do two to three cleanings with a distilled water and tergitol blend, then one rinse of just distilled water.
GREAT! 👌
I've seen good results with adding the Mobile Fidelity Super Record Wash to the distilled water.
The only additive I every personally use is a tergitol surfactant. I could revisit some test using that, but I don't care for the 'major brand' wash additives.
@@thevinylattack I used what I have...it really has produced great results.
@Bill Fridley Fantastic! How much MOFI Wash do you add to the tank of distilled water? I've also got a bottle of that lying around.
and one more question...How many LPs do you clean before you change the water? I pretty much only buy new LPs.
@@mkintaiwan I've been using about 1/3 to 1/2 a capful to the distilled water and changing the water about every 6 albums.
Degritter all day imo, best vinyl audio purchase I’ve made all year. Short term finance it if you have to, I have over 1100 cycles on my machine and still works like a dream.
It really is a fantastic machine.
I just purchased a HumminGuru, if for nothing else as a good rinse after a manual liquinox/citranox/tergikleen scrub. The documentation doesn't specify but it's standard practice to degas the water beforehand. I wonder if that would have helped the dust test results?
Being that a degas is simply running the machine for a couple of minutes without a record, I can't see any improvement. I ran the machine plenty of times, so in the end it was indeed degassed.
Seems like this would pair well with a Spin Clean or similar product, where you do the initial cleaning that way to get the obvious surface dust and particulates off, and then run it through the HummingGuru as a second pass, to make sure that it gets cleaner than the first method will allow. I could see investing in this in that scenario, as it's WAY cheaper than spending thousands on the DeGritter, and far more automated and convenient than buying my own off the shelf cavitation machine, and trying to rig up my own configuration.
I wouldn't even spend the money on a spin clean. A good makeup brush will give you the same results of a pre-wash for under ten bucks.
You should know that any physical dirt or scuffs visible on top of the record needs to wipe it off with a micro cloth first. After that, that’s when you put in the ultrasonic cleaner.
Having a fantastic ultrasonic cleaner in the Degritter (and many years of using them for other types of tool cleaning), I can say for certain that you do not need to do any prep to clean a record. You simply put it in the machine and go. Furthermore, this unit marketed itself as being able to clean records spotlessly using the methods I tested. It failed.
I was excited for this cleaner but haven't seen one review that said it did a phenomenal job. All have said that it works good but not great.
In my experience, I'd say that's about right.
Mine is due to ship to Oz any day now, and my expectation is that it performs a bit better then my SpinClean, without all the effort that that involves.
I'm happy to pay the cost just so I don't have to go through the whole process of setting up the SpinClean and manually turning all the 4 for $10 records that my wife buys at the local record fairs, or to clean the few brand new albums I occasionally get.
You will not be disappointed, this is exactly what the Humminguru does. It is so easy and comfortable to use.
I wish you luck with it. You may find that using the spin clean along with the HG will be the best way to go.
@@thevinylattack another good comment Attack, spinclean can do a lot of removal, but not the deep stuff. its why im keeping the spinclean, but looking for ultrasonic solution to improve the cleaning process. :)
Great review! I’m surprised more hi fi producers don’t have you give reviews on their products....your so honest and in-depth on your testing,I really appreciate that! Your reviews either help me save or spend my money on this hobby! Gotta love it man.....Go Blue!
Thanks. I'm doing what I can.
Thanks for the video, I will stick with my vacuum RCM
I'm hearing that a lot today, lol.
Nice review. I've been think of adding an ultrasonic to my cleaning regimen. Right now I use an Okki Nokki with L'Art du Son for the first pass and distilled water for the second pass. Then final air dry in a wire rack. I'm thinking it might make sense to do a vacuum clean first with surfactant, and then put it in the Humminguru. That would only add about 2 mins to the process, get most of the big gunk and save doing the 2nd ultrasonic wash. One thing that does not get stressed enough is that dirt/dust is not the cause of ALL noise problems on discs. Poor pressings, rough handling, and stylus wear all make a huge difference. New records can sound terrible and visually awful used records can sound surprisingly good despite their outward appearance. I think the goal should be "much better" not "perfection". Also, the brain is a really effective filter for getting rid of surface noise. After a while, I might not care about some noise if the music's really good.
A pre-wash with the HG seems like the best idea.
@@thevinylattack Interesting. I'd think the vacuum cleaner would get the biggest offenders first so that the HG doesn't have to work as hard. If you have both a vacuum RCM and the HG, perhaps you could try it both ways and let us know which works better.
@@paulgolden6012 What I meant was, do a pre-wash then use the HG. Sorry about that.
Really been looking forward to your review on this machine, as it was your original video (which I beleive was your second or third video that brought me to this channel).
I was also one of the original backers of this machine (No. 403) and received the machine several weeks ago now, and much like most have been very underwhelmed with it, as I was hoping to replace using my Okki Nokki or Knosti manual cleaners, but sadly it jsut doesn't cut the mustard maybe because you are un-able to use a Surfactant? but either way I doubt it's ever going to become a one stop cleaner, instead I now put my records through my Knosti (as it's a lot quicker than the okki Nokki and is about as good except it doesn't dry the records) with a surfactant, prior to putting it through the Guru, and this generally does the job for me.
I did try using it on a couple off records which hadn't been cleaned prior and put my results on the Facebook Owners group, but I basically got labasted by a lot of other owners who all said it would never clean a film of a record or the mould that can sometimes build on old records which haven't been stored properly, fair enough on the Mould, but the film was removed but only in a 2/3" area in the centre of the records, so the film was still covering the first 1" or so and the last 1" or so. People said I was expecting too much from an UC, but other people have removed these things perfectly well on other UC's so I don't think I was?
Anyway I'm lucky in that I don't end up with dust all over my record after putting it through the Guru, but that's probably because of putting it through the Knosti first, so basically I would class the Guru as a Polisher (as there is no doubting how shiny records come out of it), as opossed to a cleaner, I would liken it to washing a car and then adding the wax afterwards to make it shine, that is what the Guru is the Waxer for records.
I'd say using the system you are is indeed the best way to go about it with the HG. You might consider at some point saving and bit and then selling all the cleaners you have to get a Degritter. I assure you, it will do the kind of clean you've been looking for.
I have come to same conclusion I use the Knosti and Project cleaners followed by the Humminguru.
Hi Chris.
Mine is due to arrive today but I think it will be delayed a day or two. It had an interesting journey from China to Japan then Taiwan and finally Hong Kong before it started is journey to Europe. It's currently in France now so I'm guessing maybe tomorrow or the day after depending on customs etc.
Did you notice if the power adapter got particularly warm at all? Just wondering if its really giving it enough current. Maybe a supply with a higher rated current and obviously the same voltage would improve it's performance.
Either way I'm fairly ok with the results you had for the price. It's still better than any cleaning method I currently have. Though if it leaves me yearning for better results I may get something like the Degritter next year.
Ya know, I didn't handle the power supply during testing but that's a great question. I think the machine will do fine for you, you just might have to do a little pre-clean prep to get the best results.
Interesting. I've been using a Kirmuss with surfactant for some time. I'm happy with it but I'm a big believer in a final ultra pure water rinse and the 2 gal reservoir in the kirmuss is just too large so I've been using a vacuum type cleaner to apply and remove the pure water. This quite small reservoir would allow me to do an ultra pure water rinse with the cavitation effect. It's a clean record at that point so I'm really just using it to get the rinse deep into the grooves, not cleaning it per se. Any thoughts?
I think it'd be a waste of money to spend $400 on a machine that will simply rinse records.
@@thevinylattack 😅
Next step is running the machine with various concoctions to see if one could achieve better results than distilled water. Surfactants and detergents might help.
A surfactant might indeed help and I may revisit the testing using it, but that would be all. I don't much care for the proprietary blends made by cleaners out there and it'd be too hard to test them all.
@@thevinylattack Indeed. I have yet to come across an off-the-shelve concoction that did appreciably better than what I could mix up myself.
Great review! Does anyone use Matto brush for vinyl cleaning? I think I will give it a shot. More bristles the better result? I think I will try on some cheap vinyl.
2 questions please. What about using their clearner they sell? Also, would warming up the water a bit help at all?
This is covered in the video.
supplementing the water with something safe to clean vinyl seems to work the best to increase the cleaning power of this device as i have seen posted many places regarding this machine. i wish he would have done that and posted the results as he has the microscope to see results. good video about a mid level record cleaning device.
ua-cam.com/video/5gh_OxTA3x0/v-deo.html
Thank you for comparing it to the top end. Never been on your channel, but this was a clear and nice review so I checked the subscribe. As for my thought I found my records from the past that I had forgotten for about 30 years this summer. I discovered that some of my old favorites was lost and try to get hold of them second hand now. In this process I have gotten about a dozen records that I have not been able to get the snap and crackles out of using a cloth. I am careful only records without visible scratches. So I have been considering to find some method/machine to get the last crackling out of my records. I tried the wood-glue method on two records and that got me a better result than water/cloth. It was a tedious method and the result was not perfect. So my questions.
- Do you think a sonic cleaner will do a better job than the wood-glue method? Or is the last crackles maybe in bad recordings and something that no method can remove?
- Is it possible to get a fully clean record with precleaning with a cloth and running it through the Humminguru several times after that?
The Degritter is out of the question for me due to the ridiculous price, the Humminguru is also a lot of money considering the modest amount of records I have to clean (1-5 records each month). Now that you pointed out that it is lacking in some areas I am unsure. Maybe I can live with the lack of water level security or perhaps I should wait for a model to with an update for that.
Anything is better than the wood glue method, but some records will indeed have crackles in them that simply aren't removable. With a little extra pre-cleaning effort, I think the HG can work fairly well.
@@thevinylattack Well the glue method was better than water and cloth ;)
Fairly well... hmm, so really clean no? Better results with a Spin-vacuum?
@@JahaJaho I haven't had the chance to test a vacuum so I'm not certain.
@@thevinylattack I really dig your review and style. Among all UA-camrs about Ultrasonics yours is the best I have watched. Clear, balanced, thorough, but not overly long. It would be really good if you could get your hands on the competition like Knostis ultrasonic Disco Antistat , the Humminguru, Kirmuss and maybe some more and make a round up of pros and cons. I am sure there is quite a few of us out here curious about how they stack up. Knostis mix of brushes, filtering and ultrasonic and medium price point is attractive.
@@JahaJaho I've reviewed the Humminguru. The Knosti seems to be a German product that's only focused on Europe. I've emailed them to no avail. I doubt I'll get my hand on a Kirmuss as I'm not willing to pay for one and I'm sure they won't send one.
I purchased a ultrasonic cleaner with LP kit for $300 (Amazon). It cleans 7 LPs at one time. Its awesome and works great. I have purchased used LPs covered it dirt and grime and once cleaned it looked almost new. Best thing I have ever purchased for my LP collection.
Make sure to watch the temperature on those kinds of ultrasonics.
Which one?
@@thevinylattack where should it be?
@@nanchanger For the cleaning, I recommend 32 degrees Celsius, distilled water and just a splash of isopropyl alcohol.
@@Albee213 as a Spin Clean user I never even considered a need for warm water... Which make/model machine did you get?
Wetter and surfactant is key!! Promotes cleaning and drying... 🙂
I have an original Nitty Gritty Cleaning machine. It does a fabulous job quickly. When they are fairly clean I will just use Last cleaner and if I am storing I use the Last preserver solution. I guess by now my nitty gritty would be classified an antique. Oh yea......Go Blue!
If it's working, that's what counts.
I think I'll stick with my vinyl vac setup. A little more involved perhaps but much less time involved overall.
Hi Michigander from Grand Rapids. I tried to use the record adapter with my HG for 33’s and I can’t get that to fit. The adapter for the 45’s works though. So I am running it without the adaptor on the 33’s at the moment. Weird
If you're talking about the standard 12 inch record size, you don't need an adapter for that.
The AudioDesk Systeme Pro also uses an adapter, and it has been proven effective. However, good review.
The AudioDesk has also been questioned about it true ultrasonic properties. I'd test one, but getting your hands on one these days is difficult.
@@thevinylattack I own both the AudioDesk and a Kirmuss. Michael Fremer years ago did microscopic examinations of records after cleaning on his AudioDesk. Those who question its ultrasonic properties must also question his results. Of course, the AudioDesk does not leave any visual dust or residue, even after one cleaning.
@@helgar791 I think they were questioning the lack of power to truly be an ultrasonic, not the results as such. I'm happy to hear that it works for you though.
I notice you mentioned the Harbor Freight ultrasonic. Have you used one of those to clean records? At 84 bucks I’m really curious.
I personally would never use something like the Harbor Freight ultrasonic, or any of the other utility machines as they can easily damage records. They're frequency and power were not meant to be subtle. I use mine to clean things like metal airbrush parts and tools.
I was looking for this comparison! Although it is $300 vs $3000! It should have been named Humminguru vs Degritter.
I tried to not do much of a comparison between the two for that reason.
@@thevinylattack I agree that a price 10 times as much is not a fair comparison. In this case you do get what you pay for.
Ultrasound cleans in layers so it's important that the record looks clean before using ultrasonics in order that the grooves be cleaned. Otherwise you need to do prolonged, or multiple shorter, cycles for the bubbles to clean inside the grooves, as you discovered.
Because Degritter realizes that an ultrasonic pulse that powerful can damage records.
Hi Chris, you're one of my favourite guys on the youtube channel when it comes to records and related stuff. My question regarding how to get rid of pops and crackles on our vinyl? Which machine or equipment would you recommend within a budget of USD$500? Cheers & thanks
A Destat III and a quality set of cloths from Analog Productions. You can do a nice wet clean using soft make up brushes, and dry the record with the towels. Hit it with the Destat for static and you're on your way.
@@thevinylattack I have seen your review of Destat III a few months back as well as reviews of others hence I must do the final decision between ultrasonic cleaning machine and Destat III. Well then I should purchase Destat III for good. Thanks For your kind advice.
@@joemohdarif7707 I hope it helps.
@@thevinylattack of course u did… peace out 🙏
I understand that using water only gave only ok results, but is there going to be any follow up using surfactant, or using a technique similar to what Kirmuss recommends?
I might look doing a video that tests with a surfactant and/or a light brushing. I have no interest in putting in the amount of scrubbing that Kirmuss thinks is necessary. If an ultrasonic can't get a record clean without that, it's not a good ultrasonic.
@@thevinylattack 👍
I had several records from "The World's Great Music", among them Bizet's "Carmen Suite."
Thanks for the review! I’m going to hold off on buying this machine. The degritter is out of my budget. I am looking at the iSonic which sits somewhere in between cost wise. If you ever put your hands on one I would love to get your opinion :)
I could certainly ask them for a test model. I have concerns about those types of ultrasonics though as they're not made for cleaning records and the typical type of tranducers in them are pretty heavy duty and will damage records.
@@thevinylattack good point I didn’t know that. Thanks.
@@thevinylattack oh man, that leaves the Kirmuss record cleaner in my budget. After that I’m out of ideas 😆
@@audiorick841 The Kirmuss is the same thing as the iSonic and others like it.
I have my eye on the iSonic too.
I know it's 2 years later, but I'm curious if you used just distilled water or have you tried it again with a surfactant like HumminGuru's or GrooveWasher?
BTW -- the HG does have a thermal shut-off if the water exceeds a pre-determined temp.
I have tried it with a surfactant (I thought that was in the video, but it's been a while and I don't feel like watching it right now) but the results were the same. Dirt is pushed around more than moved, and it takes several cycles to get clean. That's on a very dirty record, however.
@@thevinylattack Thanks for taking the time to respond. I really enjoy your reviews and your no BS take on audio gear and records.
@@richardpena6201 I appreciate the kind words.
There are different frequencies used in ultrasonic cleaners. What does Harbor Freight, Degritter, and Hummin Guru use? Frequency and number and placement of transducers will effect the cleaning effectiveness
As mentioned in the video, the Harbor Freight uses a 60 kHz and the Degritter 120 kHz.
@@thevinylattack Sorry I missed that part
Very well thought out presentation. There is significantly more to records and ultrasonics and record cleaning as presented in the Audiophile Society of NJ recent zoom. Just as noted where a very prominent German made 40 KHz sonic fails the universal aluminum foil test when Aluminum foil is made to replicate a record as to the presence of cavitation and uses primarily 4 rotating scrubbers, your tests confirm where these machines whether 40 or 120 khz do not use the principle of cavitation. Anyone can replicate your test by building a frame and gluing a sheet of aluminum foil on it. In fact, noted where some manufacturers are using ultrasonic transducers as bubblers to agitate a cleaning solution and thus giving the buyer a false impression. Not seeing the buyer benefit from cavitational action.
The models inferred to can surface clean at best as where the cleaning medium and the record both have the same electrical charge and repel each other as like charges repel.
You also mention also external power adapters. Used to avoid product safety testing to meet UL, CSA and CE norms, and listed as an external power source only, use thereof is therefore misrepresenting any electrical product approvals or FCC emissions testing, it would seem, and as you noted they cannot adequately power transducers needed to generate even cavitation. The discussion of wattage warrants more review as these external laptop style power blocks cannot produce the power needed to supply motors, ultrasonic transducers, heaters and the like for a cleaning machine that uses cavitation. One can review the current rating output of these blocks then use common sense to calculate current draw.
Ultrasonic design precludes where Ultrasonic action and resulting cavitation occurs from bottom mounted transducers and not side mounted. If an ultrasonic was designed correctly using cavitation as the desired effect indeed where one should see evenly distributed gentle dimpling on the aluminimum foil from the outer edge of the record to the dead wax area. Anything less is indicative of no effects of cavitation. In fact a 120 khz unit tested shows no dimpling of the aluminum foil record.
While this review is of a single record cleaner, I would like to comment where systems that process more than one record simulateously sees the effects of cavitation be attenuated by processing multiple records that are skewered on a rotisserie style DIY looking assembly. Reflected standing waves nullify the cavitation. Impossible to process 12 records in a 6 liter sonic spaced at a quarter inch apart. A simple foil test also would confirm this.
To matters of filters, dirt, dust, and fungus, they are 3 to 5 microns in diameter. Measured pores of filters used sees 85 to 280 microns, not capable of any filtration. That is why water needs to be changed out frequently depending on the provenance of the records being processed and condition of the record let alone where the water should be discarded daily.
Very good analysis of this machine.
@@mikechedwick2034 sorry but I worked on the space shuttle and respectfully we tested sonics every day. You should
Review the book on testing sonics and the patent on testing ultrasonics, most respectfully sent in reply.
Gee thanks...now I am lusting after a Degritter. 😮I am ruined, just cannot settle for an ok product when I know there is something A LOT better and more effective to be had.
However, a divorce would cost me quite a bit more, so I will wait, and lust.
A BIG "Thank you" for taking the time to make and edit these video's. I find them very helpful as I get back into it. Resurrecting my old electronics/records from the mid 70's has been fun. My missing Zerostat led me here. I always wondered if that thing actually worked, all my friends laughed and doubted it. Now I know
Just stash away your spare pennies and over time you'll get the product you want. It's well worth the saving.
did you add a small amount of wetting agent to the distilled water?
I did use a tergikleen and distilled water mix for cleaning and pure distilled water for rinsing.
If someone is pretty new to vinyl and wants a way to clean their records would you recommend this over a spin clean or other more manual process? Even though the HumminGuru doesn't seem perfect it does seem more automated/easy to operate.
This is definitely better than a spin clean, yes.