HumminGuru Lumi

HumminGuru Lumi Record Weight

Placing a weight on a record’s label remains one of the simplest ways to hold it against the platter and limit vibrations during playback. HumminGuru, a Hong Kong manufacturer of ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning machines, adds two features rarely found on this type of accessory to this 300 g record weight: nine-color ambient lighting and a built-in strobe to check the turntable’s rotation speed.

A 300-gram record weight in aluminum and ABS

The Lumi is a cylinder measuring 80 mm in diameter and 56 mm in height, with a body combining aluminum alloy and ABS. It slips over the central spindle and rests on the label under its own weight, with no screw to tighten or clamping mechanism. Its 300 g press the center of the record against the platter mat, reducing vibrations between the vinyl and the platter: HumminGuru highlights reduced vibrations and resonances, as well as a more consistent rotation speed. Its action remains concentrated at the center of the record, so a record warped at the edges will not be flattened by this type of weight.

The only compatibility requirement concerns spindle height: once the record is in place, the protruding section must not exceed 17 mm, otherwise the weight will not rest on the label. Most hi-fi turntables meet this requirement, but checking takes just a few seconds with a ruler. On a turntable with a suspended subchassis, the 300 g add to the mass supported by the suspension, and the turntable manufacturer’s manual remains the best reference for determining whether a record weight can be used.

Nine shades to light up the platter

The top of the Lumi emits a soft light, with a choice of eight fixed colors (red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue, purple and fuchsia) and a ninth RGB gradient mode that cycles through the shades. A central button on top turns on the light, then switches from one color to the next with each press. Placed on the record, the weight rotates with the platter, taking its light with it and giving the turntable a bright spot at its center during listening.

The lighting also works away from the turntable: placed on a piece of furniture or its base, the Lumi serves as a small accent lamp for listening in subdued lighting. It turns off automatically after an hour, a duration that comfortably covers both sides of an LP and prevents the battery from draining if left on, but requires restarting during a long session.

Checking rotation speed with the strobe

The second function is housed in the base of the record weight, where a strobe light is located. The principle is old and still reliable: a light flashing at a fixed frequency illuminates a disc printed with rings of markings, and when the turntable rotates at the correct speed, these markings appear stationary. The supplied strobe disc has rings for speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm.

To start the test, remove the weight from the platter, slip the strobe disc over the spindle, start the turntable at the desired speed, then press the button on the right-hand side of the Lumi’s top to turn on the strobe. Hold the weight in your hand with the light directed toward the disc, about ten centimeters away. Markings moving in the direction of rotation indicate that the speed is too high; markings moving backward indicate that it is too low. Adjustment is then made using the turntable’s pitch control or speed adjustment screw. On a model without adjustment, the test still has diagnostic value: a slightly slow speed often points to a worn belt.

USB-C charging and storage base

The Lumi runs on a rechargeable 1100 mAh battery, supplied with 5 V at 1 A (5 W) via an included USB-C cable. The charging base supplied with the weight also serves as storage: it holds the strobe disc, keeping it from ending up at the bottom of a drawer between speed checks. The Lumi returns to its place there after each listening session, charged for the next one.

Technical specifications

Identification and design

• Multifunction hi-fi accessory with an elegant design, designed to improve sound quality and listening enjoyment of vinyl records
• Materials: ABS, aluminium alloy

Record stabilisation and sound quality

• Holds the vinyl record on the turntable platter with a weight of 300 g
• Improves sound quality by reducing vibrations and stabilising rotational speed

Ambient lighting

• Built-in ambient lighting with 9 colours to choose from
• Soft, adjustable light to create a captivating atmosphere during listening sessions
• Use on the turntable platter or as standalone accent lighting

Rotational speed control

• Built-in strobe lighting which, together with the supplied strobe disc, allows you to check and adjust the turntable’s rotational speed

Turntable compatibility

• Maximum central spindle height with vinyl record in place: 17 mm

Power supply and battery

• Input voltage and current: 5 V DC, 1.0 A
• Power: 5 W
• Rechargeable battery capacity: 1100 mAh
• Easy charging and tidy storage thanks to the supplied charging base

Supplied accessories

• Charging base
• USB-C charging cable
• Strobe disc
• User manual

Dimensions

• Stabiliser dimensions: diameter 80 mm × height 56 mm