Originally Posted by
alphaGT
I read an article many years ago, can't remember by who, but it was saying that old record players with ceramic cartridges and VTF's of 5 grams or more, were tough on vinyl, but ever since the latest designs in needle tech, with new diamond cut profiles and stylus pressures of less than 2 grams, record wear is non existent. I'd be inclined to believe this. I've got old records I thought were badly worn, but after a few good scrubbings they sound like new again! Maybe not as perfect as day one, but pretty good. Perhaps some dust particles are still imbedded in the groove walls? And therefore deformed the groove wall? But it is true that it sounds pretty amazing after such a good cleaning. And new records that I own will never be that bad as I keep them clean from day one.
I've also read an article long ago from someone who used that LAST compound, and said it had an audible effect on the record. As it made the top layer harder. And made it brighter, transients sharper. This could be a bad thing on some recordings? Albeit I'm sure it was small. What bothers me is the LAST instructions claim that it is good for 200 plays. Why? What changes after that time? If the records aren't actually wearing, why should it's effect wear off? Or are they just trying to sell more fluid? I can't imagine how long it would take to play a single record 200 times anyway. I'm with you, I do think that the RCM does away with any need for such products. I was really hoping to hear from someone with some first hand experience, but apparently these treatments aren't that popular.
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My dealer was trying to convince me to shell out $70 for LAST. I did a bit of snooping around and read that some are noticing how LAST rolls off some high frequencies. But then others chime in claiming how what gets rolled off are high end distortions, which you notice missing after the treatment and conclude that the highs are gone.
Now you come with the opposite claim -- that it adds top end hardness. Very hard now to decide whether to part with 70 bucks or not...
Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?
Alex.