An unmistakable increase in definition and dynamic range, almost like the records increased in volume by 2 db. Pops and clicks also became more pronounced and did not change at all. Could be small scratches but seems more likely as others have said maybe we’re gonna need to use a different solution. Look forward to getting mine. Thanks for the video.
Just used mine for the 1st time On tea for the tillerman mofi which had surface noise on beginning of 1st tracks on both sides after the surface noise all but gone and sonically sounds so much better so so far very impressed
Ben..than you for the very thorough review. I have two quick questions: Did you use a static removal device before each play and what are your current opinion of the HumminGuru?..tks!
@@robertshanks3674 Robert, no I did not use any static removal device before playing. As for my current opinion on the HumminGuru… I actually like it quite a lot. I now add a bit of cleaner to the water (I use Groovewasher G2, a few drops) and run two 5-minute clean cycles (flipping the record around between cycles) and finish with a 10-minute dry. So while it does take 20-minutes to clean a record, the results are reliably good. All in all, at this point I consider the HumminGuru to be an essential part of my stereo/vinyl setup. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for doing this comparison video. After watching your video of November 4th I was intrigued by the possibility of owning a relatively affordable cavitation machine. I was not aware of this machine. While I noticed the pops and clicks were not eliminated (and thus may be caused by some other factor such as slight scratches) I did detect an improvement in musical definition. I would be interested in a comparison of conventional wet brush cleaning versus, or in addition to, the HumminGuru. Thank you again for the creation and posting of these videos.
@@davidclemmett9797no difference but that was due to your solution. Distilled water will never get into the grooves unfortunately. Due diligence is required here.
Was looking at this or the pr0-ject VCE vac now after watching your video even going through a PC you should still hear a difference but there was not enough difference for me-Thanks for sharing Salute !!
Thank you so much for this video, and the earlier one where you demoed the machine. I appreciate that you didn't give your opinion in the video, and let viewers decide for themselves. But I don't have good enough computer speakers to be able to discern the differences very well. And even if I did, you can hear it better on your system than we can. So I'm really interested in your opinion - does the HG improve sound quality significantly? What about compared to other cleaning methods you've used? Many thanks, Ron Kenosha, WI USA
Thank you for the comment... I intend to release a "final verdict" video with my overall opinions on ~ Monday (11/15) ahead of the official 11/18 release. I will share ALL my thoughts and opinions in that video. Thanks again for watching.
Whats with people saying the dynamic range is better after cleaning? I assume you just played them at slightly different levels. I heard no improvements on the noise anyway, could be that its more so damage than dirt though. I would try more records before deciding anyway and possibly try to add alcohol in the water as soon as you feel comfortable. No other USonic machine uses ONLY distilled water I dont think.
I believe you ARE correct in that no other Ultrasonic machine recommends distilled water only. As for any increase in dynamic range, I did try and keep levels the same but totally possible mic position changed slightly or other environmental changes occurred. Thanks for the comment and watching.
I heard more ticks and pops, perhaps a bit more dynamic range after cleaning. Maybe first clean revealed more pops/ticks that a 2nd clean will remove? It will be interest to hear your opinion on the 15th.
Appreciate your video! I'm currently waiting on the delivery of mine. Honestly, I thought the Alan Parson's had more noise after Humminguru. I did wonder about cleaning the stylus before each playing. I do plan on using PhotoFlo or some other kind of wetting agent with mine which in theory, will pull away contaminants with the water. I was not familiar with the third musician/artist but from the little bit I heard, it reminded me of Jean Michel-Jarre.
Hey Ben - Love the Radios Shack speaker! Is that the 10 inch subwoofer version? I had 4 of those and a RS Quadraphonic receiver in the 70's as a young teen. It was my first foray into "Hi-Fi". Those speakers look so good. I have the smaller 8 inch now that I just rebuilt. I hope you show more of yours and talk about them!
Hey Matt, well thank you! Yes, those are the Realistic (Radio Shack) Nova 7b speakers with 10" woofer. I am an admitted and proud Radio Shack/Realistic fanatic, my system is ALL Realistic (STA-2000 Receiver / LAB-500 Turntable). I also have Mach One speakers, but REALLY prefer and love the Nova 7b setup... very smooth sounding with better-than-you'd-think bass response. Thanks for the comment and watching!
I see no surfactants mentioned on the website; no cleaning solution bundled. And you mentioned that they said use only distilled water, and you also mentioned no use of added surfactants. Every single other notable ultrasonic machine is bundled with one. I am waiting on mine and I was sure they had their own proprietary cleaner as part of the system. A surfactant *is* necessary to properly release the debris, in conjunction with the cavitation process (look at the M. Fremer approved Kirmuss system to see the most detailed explanation of this). Anyway, the sound is a bit brighter, but the surface noise is unchanged. WTF? I would say the best test would be to use a newer record that is free of any marks, warps, scratches, noticeable defects, etc., but HAS clicks and pops, to see if it can do anything. These machines are supposed to work. 🤔
I was considering getting the kirmuss until i watched some videos of the cleaning process. first of all that thing is ginormous, and second, it takes like 20 minutes to clean one record! lol. it doesn’t dry the record so between the cleaning and then manual cleaning by hand (isn’t this why you’d want an ultrasonic to not have to clean by hand MULTIPLE TIMES IN ADDITION TO the ultrasonic???). just seems like overkill if you have a decent sized collection.
Not sure i could hear big improvements but obviously a recorded on camera vs being there would hide a lot. did not seem to effect the clicks, but likely from small scratches or marks? i personally use a vinyl styl deep groove cleaner (like a spin clean only better with brushes for inside the grooves) and honestly for the money i dont think you can do better. it is great for that first clean after buying a used record, then you just use a brush after it and look after them.
Considered it, yes. Done it yet, no. For now I am keeping my reviews and trials as "per manufacturer instructions" which state distilled water only... Do I think the machine's cleaning ability could improve with additional "ingredients," yes I DO "think" it is possible (do not KNOW). Thank you for watching and the question.
@@polypetalous Every cleaning fluid I've tried so far maybe cleans better than water but really changes the tonal balance in a negative way. Wish I never tried them on many of my records.
could you pls tell us more about pops & crackles? this hummin guru can eliminate those pops & crackles from vinyl? I'm thinking of purchasing one if hummin guru can do as such. appreciate your advice and comment. thanks
I plan to release the part 3 video tonight 11/15 or tomorrow morning, that will cover “my verdict” and overall opinion of the HumminGuru. Thank you for the comment and watching.
The actual public release is on 11/18/2021, so not 100% on final pricing... HumminGuru website right now lists the price (with 7" & 10" adapters) as 3,354HKD (~$430 USD) not sure if that is including shipping or even if that will be actual final price... 11/18/2021 we will all know. As for "does it make a record much cleaner?" well listen tot the before and after clips in this video and let YOUR ears tell you if it works or not. Around Monday (11/15/2021) I will be doing a "final thoughts video" with my overall impressions, opinions etc. Thanks for the comment.
I hate to say this, but I strongly suspect that the more resolving your system is the more you are going to hear the differences. Unfortunately, I think that possibly this is really the true determinant here....
I would definitely say that the “noise” gets amplified (or more so is “out front”) in these sound clips due to my system and setup. I’m not really high end hi-fi by any means, but my very low mass arm plus m95 line contact stylus combo tends to highlight flaws. Of course I think when all is right it sounds super fantastic.
Agreed! Still figuring out this CZcams thing, and filming/editing in general... hence my often repeated apology for "terrible videos." I "think" I got better microphone audio of my speaking by Video 3 of this series, but definitely the videos could be better ALL the way around. Thanks for the comment and watching.
An unmistakable increase in definition and dynamic range, almost like the records increased in volume by 2 db. Pops and clicks also became more pronounced and did not change at all. Could be small scratches but seems more likely as others have said maybe we’re gonna need to use a different solution. Look forward to getting mine. Thanks for the video.
Just used mine for the 1st time On tea for the tillerman mofi which had surface noise on beginning of 1st tracks on both sides after the surface noise all but gone and sonically sounds so much better so so far very impressed
Ben..than you for the very thorough review. I have two quick questions: Did you use a static removal device before each play and what are your current opinion of the HumminGuru?..tks!
@@robertshanks3674 Robert, no I did not use any static removal device before playing.
As for my current opinion on the HumminGuru…
I actually like it quite a lot. I now add a bit of cleaner to the water (I use Groovewasher G2, a few drops) and run two 5-minute clean cycles (flipping the record around between cycles) and finish with a 10-minute dry.
So while it does take 20-minutes to clean a record, the results are reliably good. All in all, at this point I consider the HumminGuru to be an essential part of my stereo/vinyl setup.
Thanks for watching!
@@polypetalous Thank you! Your review has been the MOST helpful
Thank you for doing this comparison video. After watching your video of November 4th I was intrigued by the possibility of owning a relatively affordable cavitation machine. I was not aware of this machine. While I noticed the pops and clicks were not eliminated (and thus may be caused by some other factor such as slight scratches) I did detect an improvement in musical definition. I would be interested in a comparison of conventional wet brush cleaning versus, or in addition to, the HumminGuru. Thank you again for the creation and posting of these videos.
Well done video. It seems quite well to cut surface noise on records.
Using only distilled water won’t do a thing due to the inability for plain distilled water to get into the grooves. You MUST use a surfactant
You MUST calm down
@@davidclemmett9797no difference but that was due to your solution. Distilled water will never get into the grooves unfortunately. Due diligence is required here.
Was looking at this or the pr0-ject VCE vac now after watching your video even going through a PC you should still hear a difference but there was not enough difference for me-Thanks for sharing Salute !!
Thank you so much for this video, and the earlier one where you demoed the machine.
I appreciate that you didn't give your opinion in the video, and let viewers decide for themselves.
But I don't have good enough computer speakers to be able to discern the differences very well. And even if I did, you can hear it better on your system than we can. So I'm really interested in your opinion - does the HG improve sound quality significantly? What about compared to other cleaning methods you've used?
Many thanks,
Ron
Kenosha, WI
USA
Thank you for the comment...
I intend to release a "final verdict" video with my overall opinions on ~ Monday (11/15) ahead of the official 11/18 release. I will share ALL my thoughts and opinions in that video.
Thanks again for watching.
Whats with people saying the dynamic range is better after cleaning? I assume you just played them at slightly different levels.
I heard no improvements on the noise anyway, could be that its more so damage than dirt though. I would try more records before deciding anyway and possibly try to add alcohol in the water as soon as you feel comfortable. No other USonic machine uses ONLY distilled water I dont think.
I believe you ARE correct in that no other Ultrasonic machine recommends distilled water only.
As for any increase in dynamic range, I did try and keep levels the same but totally possible mic position changed slightly or other environmental changes occurred.
Thanks for the comment and watching.
I heard more ticks and pops, perhaps a bit more dynamic range after cleaning. Maybe first clean revealed more pops/ticks that a 2nd clean will remove? It will be interest to hear your opinion on the 15th.
Appreciate your video! I'm currently waiting on the delivery of mine. Honestly, I thought the Alan Parson's had more noise after Humminguru. I did wonder about cleaning the stylus before each playing. I do plan on using PhotoFlo or some other kind of wetting agent with mine which in theory, will pull away contaminants with the water. I was not familiar with the third musician/artist but from the little bit I heard, it reminded me of Jean Michel-Jarre.
You’ve not heard of the 3rd artist, fuck me where have you been😃
Hey Ben - Love the Radios Shack speaker! Is that the 10 inch subwoofer version? I had 4 of those and a RS Quadraphonic receiver in the 70's as a young teen. It was my first foray into "Hi-Fi". Those speakers look so good. I have the smaller 8 inch now that I just rebuilt. I hope you show more of yours and talk about them!
Hey Matt, well thank you! Yes, those are the Realistic (Radio Shack) Nova 7b speakers with 10" woofer. I am an admitted and proud Radio Shack/Realistic fanatic, my system is ALL Realistic (STA-2000 Receiver / LAB-500 Turntable). I also have Mach One speakers, but REALLY prefer and love the Nova 7b setup... very smooth sounding with better-than-you'd-think bass response.
Thanks for the comment and watching!
not enough difference to matter to me, you can buy a lot of discs for $500
I see no surfactants mentioned on the website; no cleaning solution bundled. And you mentioned that they said use only distilled water, and you also mentioned no use of added surfactants. Every single other notable ultrasonic machine is bundled with one. I am waiting on mine and I was sure they had their own proprietary cleaner as part of the system. A surfactant *is* necessary to properly release the debris, in conjunction with the cavitation process (look at the M. Fremer approved Kirmuss system to see the most detailed explanation of this). Anyway, the sound is a bit brighter, but the surface noise is unchanged. WTF? I would say the best test would be to use a newer record that is free of any marks, warps, scratches, noticeable defects, etc., but HAS clicks and pops, to see if it can do anything. These machines are supposed to work. 🤔
I was considering getting the kirmuss until i watched some videos of the cleaning process. first of all that thing is ginormous, and second, it takes like 20 minutes to clean one record! lol. it doesn’t dry the record so between the cleaning and then manual cleaning by hand (isn’t this why you’d want an ultrasonic to not have to clean by hand MULTIPLE TIMES IN ADDITION TO the ultrasonic???). just seems like overkill if you have a decent sized collection.
Seems like it made the pops and ticks more pronounced actually after the cleaning, which is not what I expected. $500 paper weight?
Not sure i could hear big improvements but obviously a recorded on camera vs being there would hide a lot. did not seem to effect the clicks, but likely from small scratches or marks? i personally use a vinyl styl deep groove cleaner (like a spin clean only better with brushes for inside the grooves) and honestly for the money i dont think you can do better. it is great for that first clean after buying a used record, then you just use a brush after it and look after them.
Could you post a link to the deep groove spin cleaner you use?
czcams.com/video/_1fc7OhVksw/video.html&ab_channel=DeafManVinyl
Do you consider adding more than just water? Reading alot of good feedback when adding more traditional record washing fluids.
Considered it, yes. Done it yet, no.
For now I am keeping my reviews and trials as "per manufacturer instructions" which state distilled water only... Do I think the machine's cleaning ability could improve with additional "ingredients," yes I DO "think" it is possible (do not KNOW).
Thank you for watching and the question.
@@polypetalous Every cleaning fluid I've tried so far maybe cleans better than water but really changes the tonal balance in a negative way. Wish I never tried them on many of my records.
could you pls tell us more about pops & crackles? this hummin guru can eliminate those pops & crackles from vinyl? I'm thinking of purchasing one if hummin guru can do as such. appreciate your advice and comment. thanks
I plan to release the part 3 video tonight 11/15 or tomorrow morning, that will cover “my verdict” and overall opinion of the HumminGuru.
Thank you for the comment and watching.
@@polypetalous love to hear from u. Looking forward to see your new episode. Thanks
are these things very expensive?they do make a record much clearer
The actual public release is on 11/18/2021, so not 100% on final pricing... HumminGuru website right now lists the price (with 7" & 10" adapters) as 3,354HKD (~$430 USD) not sure if that is including shipping or even if that will be actual final price... 11/18/2021 we will all know.
As for "does it make a record much cleaner?" well listen tot the before and after clips in this video and let YOUR ears tell you if it works or not.
Around Monday (11/15/2021) I will be doing a "final thoughts video" with my overall impressions, opinions etc.
Thanks for the comment.
Damn it .. guessing just keep saving for the snake oil degritter
I hate to say this, but I strongly suspect that the more resolving your system is the more you are going to hear the differences. Unfortunately, I think that possibly this is really the true determinant here....
I would definitely say that the “noise” gets amplified (or more so is “out front”) in these sound clips due to my system and setup.
I’m not really high end hi-fi by any means, but my very low mass arm plus m95 line contact stylus combo tends to highlight flaws. Of course I think when all is right it sounds super fantastic.
Dynamic range better after cleaning
You need a better camera.
Agreed! Still figuring out this CZcams thing, and filming/editing in general... hence my often repeated apology for "terrible videos." I "think" I got better microphone audio of my speaking by Video 3 of this series, but definitely the videos could be better ALL the way around.
Thanks for the comment and watching.
Seems like a waste of money to me I have better resalts with soap and water and a sponge.