LAST record preservative improves the sound

Just dove into a bottle of Last Record Preservative and...I'm convinced. I do have some questions that I've not seen definitively answered...I think I'll reach out to Walter and if I get a response, I'll post it here.

So I sent the Last Factory the following questions about a week ago. I haven't received a response (not a judgement, just a statement of fact). However, in the past week, I've treated (probably) 150+ records, and have thoughts on my own questions.

Just received my 8 oz. order of Last Record Preservative, and, overall, I'm loving what it does to my vinyl (ordered through Amazon). I do have a few questions that I've not seen definitively answered anywhere. They are all a bit interrelated.

1. I understand the vinyl should be as clean as possible before applying Last Record Preservative (my vinyl, at a minimum, have run through a 5-minute cycle in a Klaudio ultrasonic record cleaning machine - perhaps even an enzyme-based scrubbing before the ultrasonic process).

I also understand that Last Record Preservative will not "lock in" contaminants, but will get underneath the contaminants to create a molecular bond with the vinyl (correct me if I'm wrong).

Does Last Record Preservative help loosen those remaining stubborn contaminants? I'm assuming those that have reported more "gunk" on their stylus after an application of Last Record Preservative are actually seeing their stylus remove some of those stubborn contaminants (and not the Last Record Preservative itself). Is there a benefit to re-cleaning a record treated with Last Record Preservative - particularly with an ultrasonic cleaner?

I believe that, yes, those that report more "gunk" on their stylus after using LAST Record Preservative are NOT scraping off the LAST Record Preservative, but contaminants their record cleaning process (or lack thereof) have not removed. As stated above, I employ a relatively rigorous process to clean my records BEFORE applying LAST Record Preservative, and have not accumulated any more "gunk" on my stylus - even after spinning several dozen sides between stylus cleanings.

Would a treated record benefit from (another) ultrasonic cleaning? Possibly. Probably. But I haven't done any testing on an uncleaned record that's been treated.

2. It's mentioned on your website that Last Record Preservative "has an extreme affinity for vinyl, and once in place, is very difficult to remove" and "for standard record cleaning solutions used in either in manual or vacuum machine operation, the integrity of the treatment is not compromised."

How would one remove Last Record Preservative form vinyl? Would an ultrasonic record cleaning machine compromise the integrity of the treatment? In what situations would a 2nd treatment of Last Record Preservative be beneficial? Is there any situation where a 2nd treatment of Last Record Preservative would be detrimental?

I don't think you really can remove LAST Record Preservative from a treated record. Once it has bonded, I think it's pretty much bonded. This is pure conjecture, and we really need a reply from the LAST Factory to confirm. I have run a few records through my ultrasonic cleaner after treatment, and while I didn't experience significant improvement (as my records were clean before the additional ultrasonic cleaning), the LAST Record Preservative seem to not be affected.

I think a 2nd treatment of LAST Record Preservative is only necessary if the first treatment was not applied with sufficient coverage. From my experience so far, I don't think a 2nd treatment would be detrimental. However, provided the first treatment was sufficient, I don't think a 2nd treatment would be beneficial, either.

3. As I mentioned in my opening, overall I'm extremely happy with the effect of Last Record Preservative. The noise floor seems to drop significantly (and I think I'm conservatively describing the effect). However, I detect a softening of the extreme highs. What am I hearing? Is this the "almost 10-dB reduction in high-frequency IM distortion as measured on a test record"?

Yes, I did experience some "softening" of the extreme highs on treated records. However, what I believe I was hearing is the "almost 10-dB reduction in high-frequency IM distortion as measured on a test record" (per the LAST Factory website). This distortion reduction is documented in a Stereophile review of LAST Record Preservative.

I believe this "softening" is actually due to a sub-optimal SRA / VTA (historically masked by high-frequency IM distortion). A bit more "tail-up" and not only did those extreme highs return, but imagining snapped into place in a way I did not experience with untreated records.

Bottom line, I'm not only a LAST Record Preservative convert, I'm now a LAST Record Preservative evangelist. They should call this stuff "magic in a bottle". I love what it does. It makes the lead-in grove dead silent. Somehow, it minimizes some of the pops and clicks throughout the record. I don't hear any negatives. If it does what it claims it does - protect the record from repeated plays - that's just gravy. It like what it's doing *today*.

Is this stuff for everyone? Nope. Probably not. We audiophiles abhor any "distortion" in our system, but secretly, we love distortion (when it pleases us) - whether it's vacuum tubes, significant feedback (or lack thereof) in solid-state designs, the impact of cables, our choices in speakers, time-domain effects of digital filters, or the high-frequency IM distortion in inherent in vinyl playback. IMHO, LAST Record Preservative takes you one step closer to the truth. But the question remains...Can you handle the truth?

inna said that there was no audible difference after a 2nd application of LAST Record Preservative. 

And, yes, LAST Record Preservative is designed to prevent deterioration. However, I stand behind my claim that it makes records sound better today. 

I got a note from Walter (he's been a bit underwater lately). In addition to the 3 sets of questions noted above, I actually asked him a 4th question as well: "Would you mind if I shared your responses on the AudioGon forum?" Here are the responses I received...

#1 Gunk on the stylus after treating a record with Record Preservative. In our experience, this is almost always occurs because the original cleaning operation was unable to completely remove the residues left in place at the completion of the record pressing process.

There is however, an additional component to the perceived problem. The clamping pressure of the record presses run to the thousands of p./s.i. After the press (and the still captive record) have been cooled and chilled, the press is opened. But, there is still a pressure gradient within the body of the record. And within the vinyl plastic there can be microscopic cavities with the release agent and internal lubricant still under pressure within the now cool record. Those compounds (with the plastic) make up a small puck of semi-molten vinyl that begins life in the center of the press which under high heat, and very high pressure, subsequently flows out to the edge of the press completely filling the mold cavity. A record can be thoroughly and completely cleaned, but after awhile, some of the release/lubricant can diffuse to the surface and ending up as a ball of gunk on what was assumed to be a "Clean" record.

A record cleaned using Ultra Sonic cleaning is probably as clean as is possible to achieve. It probably is not very helpful to re-clean using U.S. Though you could experiment to determine if there is an audible difference.

2. We have not heard any adverse experiences where listeners have used U.S. to clean treated records. However, the machines are still relatively new for much data to have been collected. My own experience is that a good U.S. machine will meticulously clean a record surface but doesn't affect the bond between the record surface and the Preservation Treatment. But I have only had chance to clean a couple of treated records.

3. I fully believe that you are hearing and responding to the reduction in I.M. Distortion brought about by use of the Preservative. I and many other have experienced the same.

4. I am very happy to have my replies posted. We welcome the opportunity to present our views and experience to those who love their recorded music.

Thank you for asking such insightful and probing questions. I am personally gratified that music lovers still care so deeply about their music listening experience.

Best regards,

Walter Davies