Warped records can be a real thorn in the side for record collectors.
Whether due to poor storage or manufacturing defects, we all have records in our collections that aren’t flat, resulting in degraded audio quality or a risk of damaging our cartridge’s cantilever.
In extreme cases, warps can make a record completely unplayable, as the stylus can pop right out of the groove.
So, what can you do if a record becomes warped?
Traditionally, collectors might try placing the record between two heavy objects (say a couple of large books or two pieces of glass) and allow time to hopefully work its magic.
The trouble is that this method can be time-consuming, and the results are mixed.
This is where vinyl flattening devices come in, and Pro-Ject has just entered the market with their new Flatten It record flattening machine.
The Pro-Ject Flatten It is made of a solid aluminium construction and uses heated aluminium plates to gently press your records flat.
In true Pro-Ject style, the unit aesthetic is understated but feels extremely solid. All vinyl record types are supported regardless of thickness or size.
When attempting to flatten a warped record, a gentle, controlled amount of heat is what we need. If the temperature is too low, we could be waiting an age; on the other hand, using too much heat could cause permanent damage.
The Flatten It is temperature-controlled to a maximum of 58°C (around 136°F), after which it will fluctuate between approximately 56°C and 58°C.
That said, when you first unpack the Flatten It, Pro-Ject recommends you test the unit without a record first to ensure the temperature does not exceed 60°C – which would suggest shipping damage.
To be on the safe side, I followed Pro-Ject’s instructions and can happily confirm the unit does not exceed 60°C.
Flattening a Record
Using the Flatten It is extremely simple. There’s a digital display showing the current temperature in red and the target temperature in blue. You can switch the display between metric and imperial scales depending on your preference using the small black button on the digital display.
Inside the hinged press is a supplied paper sleeve, which is not required but comes recommended by Pro-Ject to provide a barrier between the press and your record.
For my initial test, I located a record with a reasonable warp, nothing extreme, but enough to be noticeable.
It’s recommended that you clean your records before using the press, so I first ran my record through a medium cycle on the degritter.
After this was complete and the record was fully dry, I placed the record inside the press and triggered the heating cycle using the rocker switch.
After about an hour, the press reached peak temperature. Pro-Ject’s instructions recommend a full two hours inside the press, after which you should switch to cooling mode and wait for the display to read roughly 30°C (86F).
According to Pro-Ject’s instructions, you can repeat the process or extend the cycle if required. However, for this record, I stuck to the standard instructions. You can see the results in the video review I made embedded at the top of this page. Impressive results.
And just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, I also flattened another, which you can also see goes from warped to lovely and flat in the video before and after.
What About REALLY Badly Warped Records? Can It Fix Those?
But let’s say you were unfortunate enough to have an extremely warped record — perhaps you carelessly left a record in direct sunlight.
Well, for a bit of fun, that’s exactly what I did. I went to my local charity shop and picked up this invaluable piece of high-culture music and proceeded to expose it to direct sunlight for well over an hour.
After which, well, let’s just say the record closely resembled the Rocky Mountains…
Oh well, I never did care much for 80s pop music anyway.
But! Remarkably, I was actually able to revive the record to a playable state again. Check out the video to see what it looked like after a two-hour cycle in the press…
Considering how badly warped that record was, I’m hugely impressed.
Should You Buy the Pro-Ject Flatten It
This a great new addition from Pro-Ject; it’s extremely sturdy, well-built and effortlessly fixes common warps without causing damage.
That said, it’s not the cheapest option on the market at $1000 (or £750) compared with some of the competition, namely the Record PI or the Vinyl Flat at both of which are under $400.
I haven’t got direct experience with any other purpose-built record flattener, so I can’t provide you with a comparison, but on face value the Pro-Ject Flatten It looks more heavy-duty than the competition.
It also seems the Record PI has an app for monitoring and controlling the flattening process, which admittedly could come in handy if you need to leave the house while flattening a record (say while you’re at work, for example). The Pro-Ject Flatten It, on the other hand, is completely manual in its controls. Some might argue this means there is simply less to go wrong!
Regardless, the results are impressive and would suit serious collectors or perhaps even record dealers with the space and budget.
For your average collector, a grand for a device that purely flattens records will probably not be high on the priority list.
For me, I like it, I might buy one – but I’ve first got to consider where it would live. It’s about the size of a turntable, and it’s currently placed where my second deck normally lives. It would have to be stored in a cupboard when not in use, or I’ll have to forgo the dual turntable setup. Decisions decisions.
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