HumminGuru NOVA & EZ Vinyl Cleaners: 2 Machines To Get Your Vinyl Sounding Incredible

The HumminGuru brand has become synonymous with vinyl care, making machines that clean records, remove static, and even clean cartridge styluses.

Vinyl culture has continued to grow, and as people make bigger investments in their HiFi gear and vinyl collections, the need for more sophisticated record-cleaning devices has followed suit. Older or used records are typically dirty, and new records have oils from the pressing plant that can clog the grooves.

The HumminGuru NOVA can handle most cleaning needs for your vinyl, including standard oil, dust/dirt, and even a bit of mold. The process might feel a bit laborious, but for records coming out of the used record bin, this type of cleaning with ultrasonic cavitation bubbles is extremely effective and, in my opinion, one of the absolute best ways to clean a piece of vinyl that needs some TLC.

The HumminGuru is not meant to restore vinyl like the Kirmuss KA-RC-1. That’s another fantastic machine if you need to bring records back from the dead and get them in tip-top shape, but it’s about 3x the amount of work and over 2x the price of the NOVA.

So, for most collectors who are buying new or getting records that are in decent condition out of the sleeve, the NOVA is perfect and will serve you well.

The NOVA is HumminGuru’s next evolution in ultrasonic record cleaning, and it’s clearly aimed at the modern vinyl enthusiast who wants serious cleaning performance without an industrial-looking machine in their living room, and that is relatively easy to operate.

This is for: Dedicated vinyl collectors with mid-to-high-end systems, DJs archiving rare pressings, Audiophiles looking to eliminate surface noise, Record store owners or private sellers cleaning up records before sale.

Build Quality & Industrial Design: The HumminGuru NOVA delivers on both

One of the biggest wins here is the clean aesthetic of the device. Ultrasonic cleaners historically look like something borrowed from a dental office. The NOVA looks like it belongs next to a turntable from Rega or Music Hall. So if you have the space, this is something you can leave out with pride, but it also tucks away on a shelf with your records nicely.

The chassis is solid, cleanly finished, and more refined than the original Humminguru design. The front display is clear and modern, with tactile physical controls that are easy to figure out. The lid mechanism also cleverly doubles as a drying rack.

Ultrasonic Cleaning: The Science of the HummingGuru NOVA

At its core, the NOVA uses high-frequency ultrasonic cavitation. In layman’s terms basically these are microscopic bubbles that implode, dislodging dirt from deep within record grooves. No brushes grind debris deeper. No abrasive contact.

Compared to traditional vacuum-based cleaners, ultrasonic systems are gentler and more precise. And compared to manual spin baths, they’re in another league entirely. Spin cleaners like the HumminGuru EZ washer (see below) are great for touch ups if a record has been sitting around for a while and a good companion to the NOVA.

The HumminGuru NOVA offers greater power and control than earlier models, with adjustable cleaning cycles and enhanced drying efficiency. The result is everything a record collector and HiFi nerd dreams about: less surface noise, improved detail retrieval, tighter bass articulation, and that almost shocking “black background” audiophiles obsess over.

It’s not magic. It’s physics. But the first time you clean a “clean” record and hear the difference, it does feels pretty damn good.

Features & Functions: Where HumminGuru NOVA Levels Up

Adjustable Cleaning Modes – Multiple cleaning cycle lengths let you tailor intensity depending on: New pressings with light dust, Used crate-dig finds and Heavily soiled thrift store rescues (These will vary, if they are totally thrashed don’t hold your breath)

Enhanced Drying System – The integrated drying cycle is more efficient and quieter than earlier iterations. Adjustable drying times ensure you’re not pulling out damp vinyl.

User Interface

The front display of the HumminGuru NOVA gives you real feedback on cleaning progress, drying status, settings control, instead of just blinking lights and guesswork. The user interface does require you to read the instructions, so don’t skip that part.

Water Management System

Improved filtration and internal water handling help maintain consistency between cleans. Less guesswork, more repeatability. Highly recommend the HumminGuru NOVA water dispenser

Humminguru Nova $695 – More information HERE

The Essential Companion Piece: HumminGuru NOVA Water Dispenser

Now here’s where the ecosystem thinking kicks in. If you’ve ever owned an ultrasonic cleaner, you know the most annoying part isn’t the cleaning. It’s the water handling. Measuring distilled water. Pouring carefully. Trying not to spill onto your rack of rare Blue Note or early Chicago House wax.

The Humminguru Water Dispenser is essentially a purpose-built distilled water reservoir that pairs seamlessly with the NOVA. It allows precise filling and controlled dispensing into the machine without messy funnels or overpours.

While not essential for the operation of the HumminGuru NOVA, this is a nice conveinience if you are doing cleaning sesssions, and frankly I’ve never busted this thing out and not done at minimum 10-15 records.

Humminguru Water Dispenser Specifications

• Dedicated distilled water reservoir
• Controlled dispensing mechanism
• Designed specifically for NOVA compatibility
• Spill-reducing design
• Compact footprint

Humminguru NOVA Water Dispenser Pros and Cons:

Pros

• Simplifies water handling
• Reduces mess
• Improves workflow
• Affordable accessory

Cons

• Not strictly necessary
• Adds another device to shelf space

So I highly recommend spending the extra $139. You can get it HERE

Real-World Performance: What Changes in Your Vinyl Playback

Here’s what actually happens after cleaning with the HumminGuru NOVA, keeping in mind you are cleaning records that are new to clear out the pressing oil or records that are moderately dirty with oil, a little mold, dust, etc. Sometimes you might need to do longer sessions or 2x with records that are really dirty. If you are going for more restoration that’s going to take a heavier lift and the Kirmuss machine is much better for that type of job. I own both and love them equally, but the Kirmuss is for records that need more serious attention.

What you can expect with one or two cycles on the HumminGuru NOVA: Surface crackle reduces noticeably, you will here the record more clearly if you have a really good stylus/cartridge like an Ortofon 2M Blue or Black, Soundstage clarity opens up, Micro-detail becomes more apparent, Sibilance often softens if you have audiophile ears.

For DJs digitizing vinyl, it means cleaner samples and fewer hours manually removing noise. For collectors, it protects stylus longevity, because dirt is abrasive, and cartridges are expensive.

Keep in mind, if you are reading this and your system is lower tier or middle of the road, you will still hear a big improvement, but when the cleaning really shines when you get into the upper tier of HiFi set ups where everything is noticeable

Pro Tip: Get the HumminGuru Orbit Static Cleaner and use this before you play your cleaned records, because static is the other enemy of perfect sounding vinyl playback

Competitors in the Market

The ultrasonic vinyl cleaning category has matured significantly.

• Degritter MkII – Premium build, premium price. I’ve never used one of these machines and at $3600 if feels a bit hard to defend against a NOVA or KIrmuss.
• Audio Desk Systeme Vinyl Cleaner Pro – Fully automated and high-end, but larger and even more expensive than the Degritter with a list at $4699
• Kirmuss Audio KA-RC-1 – More manual involvement, cult following. Made for heavy duty cleaning and restoring. Amazing machine if you are cleaning and restoring records in rough shape. At $1490 it’s a good price and don’t be fooled by the bad branding and marketing, it is a very good machine.
• Pro-Ject VC-S3 – Not ultrasonic, but a popular vacuum-based alternative – I do not recommend this type of cleaner, just get a good brush and save your money.

The NOVA positions itself below the ultra-premium Degritter tier while offering more sophistication and polish than entry-level ultrasonic units. It’s the sweet spot for serious collectors who want top-tier performance without going into mortgage territory.

Pros & Cons For The Humminguru NOVA

Pros

• True ultrasonic cleaning performance
• Adjustable cycles for tailored care
• Compact, modern design
• Improved drying system
• User-friendly interface
• Strong value relative to premium competitors

Cons

• Still an investment purchase
• Single-record cleaning at a time
• Requires distilled water management
• Not as industrially powerful as the very top-tier units, but I’m not personally sold on that price point.

The HumminGuru EZ Vinyl Washer: A Smart Companion for the Nova

Not everyone needs to jump straight into ultrasonic cleaning, and HumminGuru seems to understand that better than most.

While the Nova is clearly designed for collectors chasing the deepest possible clean, the company recently introduced the EZ Vinyl Washer, a lower-cost manual cleaning solution that serves as either an affordable entry point into proper record maintenance or a useful companion to the Nova itself for touch ups on vinyl that has been sitting around for a while after an ultrasonic cleaning or for a pre cleaning prior to the NOVA.

Think of it as the difference between rinsing your muddy mountain bike after a trail ride and giving it a full detailing session. Both have their place.

The EZ Vinyl Washer strips away the technology-heavy approach and focuses on the fundamentals: cleaning fluid, dual goat-hair brushes, and a surprisingly clever clamp system that keeps record labels dry while allowing users to rotate records comfortably through the cleaning bath. It’s simple, effective, and refreshingly free of the kind of over-engineering that occasionally creeps into audiophile products.

For new vinyl collectors, the EZ makes a strong case as a first cleaning system. It removes surface dust, fingerprints, static-attracting grime, and the general layer of mystery residue that seems to accumulate on records simply by existing. More importantly, it encourages good habits. Much like buying a record brush when you purchase your first turntable, a dedicated cleaning solution becomes part of the ritual.

For Nova owners, however, the EZ may actually make even more sense in regards to prepping vinyl for deeper cleans.

One of the more common practices among serious collectors is performing a pre-clean before running records through an ultrasonic machine. Removing larger particles, visible dust, and oils beforehand allows the ultrasonic process to focus on what it does best, reaching deep into the grooves and extracting contaminants that traditional cleaning methods simply can’t touch.

In that role, the EZ becomes less of a budget alternative and more of a workflow upgrade.

It’s also worth noting that record cleaning isn’t always an all-or-nothing proposition. If you’ve just picked up a brand-new pressing that needs a quick wipe-down before its first spin, firing up a full ultrasonic cycle can feel a bit like bringing a pressure washer to clean a coffee mug. The EZ handles those everyday maintenance tasks quickly and efficiently.

What impressed me most is that HumminGuru approached the category with the same design-first mindset that made its ultrasonic machines popular in the first place. The integrated handle, easy-lock clamp, compact drying rack, and tidy storage solutions all reduce the friction that often makes record cleaning feel like a chore.

You really get a lot for a sub $100 price point, although it does take a little time, that’s just part of the vinyl process overall. I love using this for pre cleaning and touch ups, so it’s something I can recommend highly as a companion or stand alone unit, depending on your budget and commitment level.

Get the HumminGuru EZ Washer HERE for $88