AFI FLAT Record Flatener
1. I love the look and what appears to be very solid German design and construction.
2. Its operation is straight-forward and it has performed without any issues. The only thing I would note is that, as stated in the user manual, the cool-down cycle will not function properly in very warm ambient temperature. It basically cannot fully complete the cool-down cycle. After confirming this for myself (I am guessing the room temperature was around 27 or 28 C) I from then on ran it with my aircon on (24 C ambient temperature) for the cool-down cycle with no issues.
3. I have found its ability to flatten records excellent, five stars. This is described as the Standard function. I thought that I would have limited use for this feature, but since getting the FLAT I have been much more observant and found that quite a few new records that I have bought are dished. The Standard cycle has successfully flattened all my warped records.
4. It also has another function, Relax, which is of much interest. This is a milder version of the Standard cycle. Unfortunately, there is zero description, apart from how to operate it, that I could find in the 19 page
user manual on this. I wanted to know what Relax is
meant to accomplish and whether it can be used on both played and unplayed
records, and new and old. I have been told, but have not been able to substantiate, that the
designer believes it to release something trapped in the vinyl
during pressing. I wanted to know whether there is any audible difference
using this cycle so I managed to find two identical unplayed records in my collection of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”. They are US pressings but not
the original 1971 pressing but must have been a subsequent Warner Bros/Reprise
“Super Saver Series” reissue which I picked up around 1987-88. I
checked that they had identical Matrix/Runnout identifiers. I cleaned both with my KLAudio Mk2 cleaner and used the Relax cycle on one. A day later I played the non Relaxed record with a friend with excellent audio ears. The recording quality was not the best. We then put on the Relaxed record. We were both amazed. There was a very significant difference. The non Relaxed record was irritating and the Relaxed record was transformed to listenable.
Here’s a review http://www.theaudiobeat.com/blog/afi_flat.htm Price is €2000 + tax or €2490 in the German market. Now, who distributes in the U.S.? |
One assumes nobody still flattens records using glass sandwich in preheated oven on WARM for about 5-10 minutes. Experimentation with the actual temperature and time in the oven is advised to avoid damaging the record. Weighing down the top glass plate with say, lead weights will assist in flattening the LP, but not a telephone book that would absorb too much heat. cheers |
Hi all, l've just taken delivery of an AFI flattener too and am quite amazed by it already. So far I've used it on 6 records. In all cases I used the "relax" setting, and also the "standard" setting (in addition to the relax setting) on 3 of them. The standard setting got rid of the warps with no problem. What I have found amazing is the sonic benefits from the relax mode. Every single record has been markedly improved. The records I've used so far are a mix 1960 choral recordings, a 1978 MFSL and a 1958 Dave Brubeck original pressing that my dad bought before I was born. To my ears the relax "treatment" seems to strip away a layer of grain and any residual harshness in recordings. The sense of musical flow and ambience of the recording venue is really enhanced as is the tonal quality of voices and instruments. In my view the improvement to the sound quality of my system has gone up a huge notch- certainly equivalent to a big upgrade in hardware. It's not cheap (I bought mine from a friendly Belgium supplier - happy to pass on details if anybody interested) but if you are serious about vinyl then it's definitely up there with the essentials like a good cleaner is my opinion. Regards howard. |
