What is your experience with the Spin Clean?

To the OP, yes I used the Spin Clean by itself, it did well, to me it just takes it up a notch adding the Record Doctor, but by itself it was impressive, especially for the money.....like I said the water got pretty dark, so it was doing what it was meant to.

Thanks @jjbeason14 I’ll probably hold on to the spin clean as a backup if ever needed. I did add just a few drops of the cleaning solution that came with the spin clean to the hguru water. Didn’t try without it yet. I’m sure there are many record cleaning solutions that might help in small doses. I used to use a very low concentration of Shaklee Basic H when manually cleaning records and that always worked well.

Helpful thread. Thanks to all.

Nice mapman!

👍

Cleaned my first 3 records today with the new Guru and it’s a big thumbs up. The records sounded phenomenal. These were 3 old releases from 60 years back . One was a used copy of “Music of Leroy Anderson Vol. 2 on Mercury Living Presence, a phenomenal golden age of vinyl recording, that I picked up used a few years back and only played once in that it did not sound great. Couldn’t tell if it was just dirty or damaged. Anyhow after a spin in the Guru it sounded pretty close to immaculate.

Been eyeballing US record cleaners for awhile and was waiting for one that would do the job well, be easy to use, and not cost a fortune. So far so good with the Guru. I like that I can just press a button and it cleans and dries automatically in just a few minutes and is ready to go. Just what the doctor ordered! Seems to be well designed and the manual was very helpful getting off to a good start. Very exciting to be able to easily get my records clean again without a major production.

Hey

superH have you tried to use the Spin Clean alone and if so what were the results?

I made the mistake of leaving about 400 records in my basement...for yrs, they were in boxes and I had to peel the lps from the covers, thought they were gonners

most were covered in...yuk...great test for my set up...I took 10 bad ones and cleaned them with spin clean, then dried them with the record doctor....the reservoir in the spin clean got dirty pretty fast.....then I played them...WOW...they were ok and looked good too.....I saw a video of a guy with this combo who had like 15k records and felt it got close to the big buck cleaners.

It makes sense....you wash your clothes...then dry them.....wash your records....then dry them....I have done about 80 lps...all with great results

and these were in bad shape.

Depending on how many records you plan to clean, not sure about second tank for rinsing. I change my cleaning solution after about 100 records. Thats when my pmm reaches 50. I use a ppm meter to check how dirty my water is getting. I use 4 gal. distilled water, 4 oz 100% isopropyl alchol, 4 ml kodak photo flow 200. 5 min 100 degree F seems to do the trick. Then I air dry in a dust free area.  

Just got a HumminGuru. Will try it out this weekend.

Been using a Spin Clean. Hoping the Guru will be faster and easier for one record at a time as needed. 

Fear not, the HG produces cavitation - Interesting All-in-One Ultrasonic Cleaner - HumminGuru | Page 38 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums - see Post #930.  

The HG only has 350-ml of fluid, so it does not need a lot of power and the lower kHz, the lower the power required for cavitation.  With the HG, the two 40kHz transducers (~30W ea) are located one each side, very close to the record; located exactly where the big hole is in the aluminum foil.

Thanks guys!

Good points @moonwatcher. As I already have acquired an ultrasonic tank (Vevor 6L, 50kHz) and LP spinner (the discontinued VinylStack), I have no need for or interest in the Humminguru. I also have long owned and used a VPI HW-17 (which I like much more than the Nitty Gritty it replaced), and still use it in conjunction with the ultrasonic.

Lots of amateur reviewers have found the Humminguru ineffective at removing fingerprints and heavy soiling. If one buys only new LP’s that may not be a problem, but for buyers of used LP’s it certainly is.

I now pre-clean used LP’s in the kitchen sink (as per Neil’s suggestions), then deep clean (hand held brushes, cleaning fluids) on the VPI (why I like it's LP platter), then into the ultrasonic, then back onto the VPI for a final rinse with pure distilled water (what I fill the VPI’s reservoir with) and dry (two revolutions on each side is all it takes. Any more than that and static may be created), and finally into a new Vinyl Storage Solutions inner sleeve. Perfection!

Can I use an old discwasher instead of the anti static brush?

@jjbeason14 if new and lightly used, the Humminguru might do just fine along with using an anti-static brush. Good luck with it.  And yes, even new records do have a mold release agent on them that should be cleaned before playing. Replacing any paper sleeves with rice paper ones will help keep your records clean and free of some static electricity as well. Have fun.

Hey, 

I have new and lightly used records.  No 'crudded ups'

Not wanting to be a fly in the ointment but I do want to mention that on at least some forums, and on some reviews, the Humminguru at $500 or so wasn’t seen as being "all that". For those of you with one and are happy with it, that’s great.

I did read that any US cleaner powered by a wall wart simply can’t produce the same amount of cavitation bubbles with the same amount of cleaning power that a "real" US cleaner (yes, a far more expensive device) can do. No surprise there.

I think it is a matter of setting your expectations. The reason I say this is just to throw out the question of whether the OP would be better off with a $500 vacuum cleaning system instead of the $500 Humminguru?

I mean, if you are going to be buying only one machine, which one then? Or maybe keep the Spin Clean as an adjunct to the Humminguru as others have suggested?

Much will depend on what records he has (new, lightly used, or really crudded up).

I also note that Frank Landry of "Channel 33 RPM" on YouTube had some quality control issues with the Humminguru he bought and had to manually replace some parts TWICE over a period of a few months. He said their customer service was great though, sending him out the parts with clear instructions.

I too have a Spin Clean and have had mixed results with it. Not bad but not great either. Maybe that Knosti with the better brushes would be better. So I’ve moved up to a vacuum system based on the Vinyl Vac, but by the time I bought all the things necessary to construct it (including an automatic rotating turntable), the drill bits necessary, the wood to make a platform, etc., I had invested as much a buying a Record Doctor VI, however I expect my "homemade" system to be better and last longer. Some reviewers say the Record Doctor V and VI are constructed of plasticized cardboard, so it definitely won’t stand the test of time.

One of the vacuum systems by Pro-Ject might be a better choice long term.

This is really good info!

Thanks antinn!

@jjbeason14,

WRT to a return policy, I highly doubt that if you buy from China, they are going to give you a money back return policy.  

Read the HG manual to understand the device - HumminGuru_HG01_Owner_s_Manual_English_Version.pdf (shopify.com)

The purpose of the rinse tank is dependent on the cleaning process you use, such as:  Read Post #62 - HumminGuru - an inexpensive desktop RCM | What's Best Audio and Video Forum. The Best High End Audio Forum on the planet! (whatsbestforum.com)

If you use only a 'no-rinse' cleaner concentration, then you 'should' not require a rinse tank.  There are other people such as Groovewasher 

 that sell 'no-rinse' cleaning solutions.  What are they, what is the actual concentration who knows.  

Cool!

Thanks again.

You can get the Humminguru, the spare parts, and all Neil's recommended chemicals, for $500.

My budget is $500 however.

Thanks BDP

Good info!

@jjbeason14: Great info and advice from Neil (@antinn). I would get a pack of the replacement parts (filters, pinch rollers) while you’re at it. Yes, the only difference is the inclusion of adapters for 7" and 10" discs.

And be sure to read Neil’s treatise of record cleaning, which contains everything you need to know. In it you will read about doing a pre-cleaning in your kitchen sink, a step I now include in my LP cleaning regimen.

In that tome you will also find advice and recommendations for cleaning and surfactant (to reduce water tension) chemicals: the former being Alconox Liquinox, the latter Talas Tergitol 15-S-9, both readily available at reasonable cost on the internet.

Anyone deciding to go for a Spin Clean type product, be sure to check out the Knosti Disco Antistat (goofy name!) mentioned by @oldaudiophile. I did, and deduced that it is a better version of the same idea as the Spin Clean, in that in place of the SCs "pads" uses very fine camel hair bristles instead.

The Knosti is available for under a hundred bucks, but for far less than that you can get the plastic LP holder that Neil recommends (I got mine on ebay for under twenty bucks), and wash LP’s in your kitchen sink, using a paint brush pad (for getting into corners) or your favorite brush (an old Discwasher?) to get the surface gunk off, then rinsing with tap water (at this stage of cleaning tap water will suffice). When putting your dirty LP’s directly into a Spin Clean or the Knosti, all the removed gunk is released into the water in their tanks, rather than going down the drain in your sink. Even if you use one of those cleaners, do a pre-wash in the sink first. That will keep the water in your Spin Clean or Knosti (or Humminguru, for that matter) tank cleaner.

Thanks antinn!

So the only difference between the two is the 7 and 10 adapters?

Is the rinse step before or after the HG? or both?

Also,any idea what their return policy is? Couldn't find it on their website.

@jjbeason14,

Read carefully, HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner,

HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner 
Regular price $376.00 USD

HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner Bundle with 7" + 10" Record Adapters 
Regular price$426.00 USD

If you buy the HG, recommend you get a spare tank for a rinse step - HumminGuru HG01 Water Tank | Record Cleaner | Ultrasonic Cleaner | RCM

One is $376 and the other is $426.

This is good!

Thanks BD.

I just checked the Humminguru site and they have 2 models with different prices.

Which one would you recommend? 

TIA

@jjbeason14: The price of buying directly from Humminguru is a little over $400 (including shipping). You can include a replacement pack of water filters & rubber pinch rollers, and/or a second water "tank" in your order, saving on shipping costs in the future.

Thanks bd!

I saw the price increase. 

It should come back down again.

You can put together a DIY ultrasonic for far less than the price of the Humminguru, but that will not dry your LP’s as does the HG, and no water filter. And there is an ultrasonic listed on Amazon at a price of $220, a 6L US tank with an LP spinner attached. Again, no drying function or filter.

By the way: the price of the Humminguru on Amazon went up $50 in the past few days, now selling for $549.

Also, what's the humminguru equivalent?

I returned the Spin Clean.

Thinking about picking up the Humminguru US.

Anyone have any experience with it?

I’ve used the SC for several years.  Is the best cleaner-no.  For the money it does a fair job.  All you have to do is look down in the bottom of the well after you’ve cleaned 20 albums.

pdspiegal,

                       You wouldn't believe the gunk on the bottom of my Ultrasonic tank after cleaning 3 brand new albums, Amy Winehouse, Beth Hart, Chris Cornell, they are all double albums but just after those there was a ton of gunk!! It was shocking!!!  These record making plants are not clean!  I wonder if they use some kind of releasing agents or something?

I have a Spin Clean and like it.  I use it for swap meet/yard sale records and think it does a pretty good job of getting the gunk out.  IMO, it makes no sense to use on new records, though.  In that case I wouldn't expect a Spin Clean to make any sonic difference which might explain some previous responses.

Clearaudio Double Matrix Sonic Pro cost $6,000

Not impressed either. It is a PITA and you can not play the record right away. You have to place them in a rack to dry. The towels never dry the record all the way.

Ultrasonic cleaners are a PITA in general. You have to get a suction record cleaning machine in addition to dry the record correctly. Fan drying is a terrible idea. You evaporate the water and leave everything else on the record. The AudioDesk has frequent reliability issues and Kirmuss is a space shot. You NEVER want to reuse whatever fluid you are using. Each cleaning you want fresh fluid.

The Clearaudio Double Matrix Sonic Pro is currently the best record cleaning device made. It is over built in the extreme. It does both sides at the same time. It not only uses fresh fluid every cleaning but it does so three times during each cycle! It thoroughly vacuum dries each side at the same time leaving the record bone dry and ready to play. It is fast. A regular cleaning cycle takes 3 minutes or so. It is not all that quiet. In vacuum mode it sounds like a vacuum cleaner but, when the vacuum cleaner stops you know the record is ready. Every twenty records or so you have to empty the waste tank and refill the fluid tank which for me adds up to once a week if that. I got it for all of the above reasons and am extremely happy with the purchase.   

Had a SpinClean. Used it. Not impressed. Now I have a VPI HW-16.5 and I’m finally impressed. 

I’ve been using a Spin Clean/Vacuum machine tag team method for years: Spin clean several rotations in both directions, then right onto the vacuum machine to suck the cleaning fluid off the surface of the record. The dirt that gathers in the bottom of the SC reservoir shows me what was on the records prior to the cleaning. It gets Really gross… and this from visually “clean” used, AND brand new records! I clean every record I buy before I play it. I’m not claiming it’s the end all cleaner, I’m just saying it does work. And it was like $80 bucks (plus the Nitty Gritty 1.5, which I bought used for another $100.)

I can't understand how some people are having good results with the SC.

There is no difference in my experience, I mean Zero.

Strange

@jjbeason14 Unless SC has changed/updated their design, I believe they still use cleaning pads (i.e.  microfiber pads, if I remember correctly). I've never used a SC. However, I have a Knosti Disco Antistat, which is basically the German version of a SC for around the same or a little less money. The Knosti uses camel hair cleaning brushes that get down deeper into the record grooves than microfiber pads can. I believe this is more effective. The newer Knosti model now has a handle to rotate the records with and replaceable camel hair cleaning brushes. I sincerely doubt these brushes will ever need to be replaced, unless you plan on cleaning a million records or something. It also looks like the new Knosti model comes with a better cleaning solution, as well. I use the Knosti for pre-cleaning records before running them through my US cleaner and also for a final rinse after US cleaning. The cleaning solution makes a significant difference. If you want to learn more about record cleaning, check out the latest edition of "Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Records" by Neil Antin in the Vinyl Press. If you are interested in getting into US cleaning without spending an arm & a leg on something like the Degritter or something similar, check out the CleanerVinyl ultrasonic record cleaning site. I would also recommend you check out The Last Factory website and consider using LAST record preservative after your records have been efficiently cleaned. Of course, proper care & storage of your records are very important, as well as keeping your TT stylus clean, etc. 

Spin Clean is the best record cleaner out there short of an Ultrasonic cleaner.  I have both but have used the Spin Clean for many years with good results.  

So and $80 spin clean isn't as good as an $800 cleaner??? Wow. you don't get that kind of info just anywhere.

The Pro-Ject VCU-ALU is my current choice. 
why?

Because it does a good job in general. 
I’m not a bin diver, so seldom need US cleaning. 
When a recent purchase rated as NM, came as a poor condition record, the softer brushes were not adequate. 
So, with warmed solution and a toothbrush, and a final clean with with the normal application, vacuum, it became acceptable. 
 

ya can’t repair damaged grooves with *anything* 🤣

I received a Spin Clean at Christmas.  I've done two batches of cleaning since then following the instructions in the box.  I heard no difference on records that I'd bought new, but I did hear some improvement on records I'd bought used and those I'd "ínherited" from others.   I habitually use a Decca brush on the record before playing, so maybe my new records haven't accumulated much debris. 

As for static, the drying process adds static: I can see hairs or fibres attach themselves to the record after it's been wiped dry.    I haven't tried air drying.  I use a Zerostat sometimes (more regularly now) and I can hear the difference that it makes.  

I enjoy listening to my records, but I wouldn't consider myself a sophisticated listener.   I'm sure others would hear features I don't (or can't -- my ears are 65 years old ;-) ).

I'll continue to use the Spin Clean on my used and inherited records, but I may not use it on the records I bought new. 

I loved my spin clean. It did a good job but was a lot of manual work. You could really see that it was cleaning by how the water looked. I still have it for pre cleaning really dirty records. I upgraded to an Audiodeske System cleaner and I must say that it beats the spin clean hands down. With the audiodeske you can hear the difference. It’s really amazing..

I had a spin queen. I couldn’t believe how loud it was(110dB)  on top of not doing a really great job. 
I bought a Humminguru. 500 bucks. Does a good job for 500 bucks. You can spin it a couple of times and it does just as good as for a job as $3000 unit according to some reviews. I wouldn’t know I don’t have $3000 to spend on a record cleaner

.Bent 

I use Vinyl Style with spin clean fluid.

@jjbeason14 

Check the i sonic ultra sonic cleaner on Amazon.  I've used a similar machines for several years.  Very satisfied.  Around $800

I agree with noromance or pickup the vinyl vac and a small 1.5-2HP small wet/dry vac for Pre clean or Vac Dry, it's nice to vacuum up the wet cleaned record and then rinse with distilled water and then vac dry. 

Keep the SpinClean. It's great for pre-cleaning before the ultrasonic cycle and for rinsing after the ultrasonic cycle.