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Is the Last Record Preservative system a worthwhile investment?

I take great care in my record collection.
1. I have a manual record vacuum cleaning machine. I also use an enzyme cleaner on a few really dirty ones.
2. I replace all paper sleeves with plastic ones.
3. I use groove glide on only the records in really bad shape. Around 1 percent.
4. I use a record jacket to protect the covers.
5. I meticulously keep the stylus clean.
6. Use a brush everytime I play a record.
  My question being is; will the Last system actually improve the sonics even after all the care I put in to my collection?
How much time is involved treating a record? How much per record does it cost if I buy the larger treatment kits? Id like to hear your experiences with this product. I have close to 3000 records. My analogy is like a great movie that I have never seen. Wow you just now saw that? Will I have an aha moment using the Last system like oh wow, I should have seen that movie years ago. Lol
128x128blueranger

Showing 8 responses by inna

inna
5,245 posts
 
Bill, since I applied it only on played records I don't know. I don't buy new records, a few that I did were thrown away after cleaning and playing once.
inna
5,245 posts
 
If your hearing and system are good enough there is a very slight improvement in clarity. Good test. But yes, the LAST was not designed for that purpose, it's a bonus. Second treatment does not improve sound quality, at least I don't hear it.
I use Okki Nokki cleaning machine in reverse to treat records with it, three revolutions.
inna
5,245 posts
 
As I said, the difference in sound quality is very small but it's nice to have it. Also, I didn't do it myself but you can try to clean the record again after applying LAST. I mean right away, because I re-clean records after about 10 or 15 plays. Yes, worth it - slightly less noise and of course better for stylus.
My only reservation about the LAST could be if you intended to sell collectible records at some point. Some record collectors will not want it on the records.
I once asked Walter Davis if he thought that treating records would prolong their life span in case the records were not played but just kept in archive. He said - Don't know. 
inna
5,245 posts
 
Yes, can be a touch quieter too with some pressings. I also suggest MA Recordings inner sleeves.
And if you use tape deck treat the heads with LAST head treatment before each play. Not substitute for head cleaning of course but a complement. I do it and there is virtually no head wear after thousands of hours of play. I do use best tape and clean the playback head after every 15 hours of play.
inna
5,245 posts
 
Records must be clean and you have to apply it correctly.
User error.
inna
5,245 posts
 
I clean stylus with Lyra stylus cleaner before each play. I think, the smallest bottle of the LAST was enough for 50 or 60 records but I didn’t count, so it’s $1 per record or less, almost like nothing even for me.
inna
5,245 posts
 
I decided to use Lyra stylus cleaner instead of LAST because they claim it does not dissolve the glue, and it doesn't.
Besides, I have $500 MM cartridge and don't worry about stylus wear, it's $375 to replace. For now, after about 700 hours of play it is not far from new.
inna
5,245 posts
 
By the way, tape also sounds a little better when the play head is treated with head preservative, and record head when recording. Tape moves more smoothly, very simple. I don't use LAST tape preservative because I can't apply it with cassettes, with open reel deck you can.
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