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AFI FLAT Record Flatener

I have had a FLAT (that does have a nice ring to it) for several months and here are my impressions:

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.

5.     I later listened to a 1987 German pressing on Warner Brothers of “Shaka Zulu” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  I would have had this record for over 25 years but had not played it.  I had washed it with a KLAudio Mk1 in Nov 2014.  It is an excellent recording and pressing. I put it through the FLAT’s Relax cycle and listened to it again.  It is not often that I can compare two events separated by 18 hours and categorically be sure of the outcome.  The recording had a significant increase in ambient information that turned an excellent recording into something special.  I think also that the soundstage was improved in width and solidity.

6.     The Relax cycle will only take out the mildest of warps.  Nearly all warps need the Standard cycle. 

Since, I started to Relax FLAT all my best recordings.  I highly recommend this device to take out warps, and also more importantly for me, to Relax favourite recordings for improved sonics.  I would not be without it.

All the best,
128x128bluewolf
howardalex's avatar
howardalex
64 posts
 
Hi Norb
you could try emailing Francis (francis@technologyfactory.com)- he is in Belgium and shipped mine to London having obtained units directly from Germany. I'd be surprised if he couldn't ship to you in the US too.
I've been using the AFI Flat for a week now and continue to be hugely impressed by it on every record used.
The sonic benefits are really obvious - all the usual hi fi things (everything is simply clearer and cleaner sounding), improved dynamism and soundstage: in short it allows your system to perform to its fullest potential as you are giving it a better source. Having spent ££$$ and assembled a system capable of high resolution performance it must make sense to feed it the highest resolution source, which this does (as does keeping records properly cleaned- I also use the Audiodesk and find this comparable in terms of upping the ante of what vinyl can achieve sonically).
What  I am finding is that under close scrutiny most of my vinyl, while not grieveously warped, is at least slightly wobbly - in many cases making the lowering of the stylus onto the beginning of a side a bit fraught.
i have therefore been routinely using the Standard setting and then the Relax setting on all records. It takes a while but if you do the Standard setting last thing at night and the Relaxed one first thing in the morning you have a complete job done for the evenings entertainment !
There are significant sonic benefits just from the Standard mode by the way: I have tried records having just used that and can report that the effects are not unlike the Relax mode - which again makes sense if you think that the stylus isn't having to ride the equivalent of a near tidal wave as it travels across a record.
I can't recommend this AFI Flat too highly.
On a seperate note, how is the demagnetiser ? I was intrigued when I read about it - albeit the AFI seems to do what the reviews I read said the demagnetiser did - maybe they get to the same destination by a different path ?
If the demagnetiser adds to what the AFI Flat does (or vice versa) that would be very interesting indeed !!
Regards
Howard

ebm
9,311 posts
 
I give my badly warpped records away and get better copies.Good luck.
nkonor
635 posts
 
Howard,

l just got an email off to Francis about the AFI Flat. Thanks You for his email address.
The demagnetizing works independent of any cleaning regime that you do. I agree combined with flattening it would indeed be interesting.
 I have been looking closely at my records and find almost all exhibit some deviation from Flat. Even the supposedly best pressings.
From an engineering background, it just makes sense that Flat records will mean less work for the Tonearm and Cartridge.
Is all this labor and $$/ euros worth it? Only each individual can decide. For me; the answer is yes!

Each step in record care has always produced positive results. From diskwasher/ Zerostat days to VPI days to enzyme fluids to demagnetizing to ultrasonic cleaning and All combined into a total regime.

IMHO - Clean, Flat, Demagnetized records are worth the effort for the results. Hope to be able to add RELAXED to the formula.


howardalex's avatar
howardalex
64 posts
 
Hi Norb,
hope you sort it out with Francis ok.
i totally agree with your view about improving the source - after all the whole process is about making the best of it - as a matter of logic if you have a better source (record) you maximise the benefits of having a good system.
What have been your experiences with the demagnetiser ?
There's no going back after the AFI : last night I dug out a long unplayed (20 years ?)  copy of The Dreaming by Kate Bush.
It was so bad I gave up before the end of side two - it was just irritating (hence the 20 year gap ?)
24 hours later after the full AFI treatment I'm sitting here actually able to listen to it (not that I'm a great Kate Bush fan !) and it's remarkably pleasant.
It wasn't noticeably warped or anything - it just sounds good now, whereas it was screechingly crap before, (even through Avalon Compas Diamonds).  
Best regards
howard 


nkonor
635 posts
 
Howard,
Moving a bit slow, had back surgery 4 weeks ago. Have been using the D'Mag so automatically for last 7-8 years; that I just assume it is doing its job.

 I am getting better every week and have plenty of time. So I will dig out say, 10 records that I have not played in years. (They have only been cleaned on my VPI) I will listen and then D'Mag them and give you my rundown on what just what the D'Mag does alone.

Probably a good excercise to go over a VPI cleaning + D'Mag + enzyme + ultrasonic + rinses and listen to each evolution of the disk. I also have a half dozen 45 rpm disk that I have acquired just before surgery and not even opened yet.
Should be an interesting project during my rehabilitation period.

Thanks for your inspiration / motivation.
 
Norbert 

Have not heard from Francis yet.


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