Sound Advice: Koss headphones are good for the long run

Q: A few years ago I purchased the Koss Pro4S headphones you recommended and have not been disappointed. Within the past year, the covering on the ear pads has begun to fall apart. I have searched but haven’t been able to find replacement pads. Do you have any suggestions as to where I might find them?

A: I first wrote about the Pro4S in December 2015, and it is still in production. Why mess with success? I checked the website and the $149 Pro4S is on sale for $99, a great deal for anyone who wants lightweight, accurate-sounding wired headphones. (koss.com)

Ultrasonic record cleaning machines are considered the best, but my past experience turned me off. I liked the results, but the process was complicated and time-consuming, made up of multiple sessions in the cleaner alternating with spraying and brushing the record between each bath.

When I first read about the $379 HumminGuru all-in-one ultrasonic record cleaner (humminguru.com), it seemed too good to be true. But it lives up to its billing.

The HumminGuru has a small tank in the bottom and a slot for a record on top. You remove the tank and fill it with water, then pour the water in the top of the cleaner where you place the record. You replace the tank and put in your record, select the cleaning and drying time and press start.

It slowly spins the record while cleaning it ultrasonically, then drains the water back into the tank and blow-dries the record. When the process is complete you have a clean, dry record that is ready to be played.

I was very impressed with how well it worked, and I quickly realized what it represents for vinyl collectors. The time and effort required to clean records can be a barrier to doing it very often. This can lead to an expensive record cleaning machine not actually getting used, so you do not get a good return from your investment.

In the HumminGuru I see a record cleaning machine that will get used quite often, even when you want to clean only a single record. The only potential downside I see is that it’s relatively complicated with a motor, ultrasonic cleaning mechanism, draining pump and dryer.

Most record cleaning machines are simple, with just one or two electric motors, and tend to last a lifetime without servicing. I cannot say what the HumminGuru’s complexity will mean for longevity, but given that it is likely to get a lot more use than those other machines, I think it the way to go, especially for $379, which is considerably less than most vacuum machines.