This Weird Vinyl Accessory Is the Hi-Fi Gadget You Didn’t Know You Needed

Today, Pro-Ject is one of the leading turntable manufacturers, offering a wide range of models that cater to everyone from vinyl-curious individuals to those that are true audiophiles (with deep pockets).

Ahead of Record Store Day in early April, the renowned Austrian hi-fi brand has released something different. It’s an incredibly cool (yet nerdy) vinyl accessory aimed squarely at those who take vinyl seriously.

It’s called the Flatten It and, fun fact, it costs more than most of Pro-Ject’s turntables.

Pro-Ject Flatten It

Pro-Ject

Warped no more

The Flatten It is Pro-Ject’s first-ever vinyl flatter. As its name suggests, it is designed to flatten warped records — which, other than dust and static, is probably the biggest reason your records don’t sound as good as they could.

As you probably know, a vinyl record needs to be flat to sound best. Otherwise, the stylus won’t be able to read it accurately, which can lead to skipping or even damaging the record or stylus.

But warping is a common problem with records because it can be caused by various factors, including the position in which they are stored or stacked, the temperature of the room where they are kept, and how they are generally cared for.

So, Pro-Ject’s Flatten It aims to correct that so that records get back to sound their best. And while at face value, the device is fairly easy to understand — you place a vinyl record inside it and it gradually flattens it — what makes it so damn cool is how it goes about doing it.

Pro-Ject

Precise temperature control

The Flatten It uses precision-heated aluminum plates with “precise temperature control and a low-temperature hysteresis of just 2°C.” The plates evenly distribute this heat and gradually flatten the record to its original shape.

Pro-Ject hasn’t explicitly stated how long the flattening process takes, but it’s likely not quick. Too much heat or temperature fluctuations can damage a record, so Flatten It likely takes its time. But Pro-Ject does state that it is “easy to use.”

According to the brand, it is compatible with records of “all sizes and thicknesses.”

Pro-Ject

Price and availability

The Flatten It isn’t designed for casual vinyl listeners. It’s a premium device constructed of solid aluminum and made in Europe. And its price reflects that.

The Pro-Ject Flatten It costs $999, meaning that’s it most expensive than many of the company’s turntables.

At the time of writing, it’s only available on the company’s UK and European websites — but not on its US website. We’ll update this post when we know more.

Pro-Ject

Pro-Ject Flatten It

• $999 at Pro-Ject
• $999 at AudioLab

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