AFI FLAT.DUO Record Flattener / Relaxer

AFI (Audio Fidelity Improvement) and HiFi-Studio Wittmann present the FLAT.DUO, a groundbreaking innovation in the world of record care. As the second product in our range of record flattener/relaxers, the FLAT.DUO combines state-of-the-art technology with efficient design. Through the revolutionary use of EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) for the housing construction, we achieve a level of energy efficiency previously thought impossible and at the same time reduce the ecological footprint.

DUO stands for two records and two treatment methods

The name "DUO" in the FLAT.DUO stands for its duality in function and efficiency: the simultaneous treatment of two records and two types of treatment - flattening and relaxing. On the one hand, this saves a considerable amount of time and, on the other, improves the sound quality.

Flattening with reduced treatment time

The FLAT.DUO's integrated fan enables two records to be smoothed simultaneously in just 1.75 hours - a significant time saving compared to the four-hour treatment time of conventional models. The fan can be regulated in three stages or can be deactivated.

Heating-press module

The innovative heat-press module of the FLAT.DUO record flattener enables two records to be flattened at the same time by stacking them in a piggyback or sandwich process. The sophisticated design of this module ensures even heat distribution and pressure, which is crucial for optimum results in the flattening process.

Torque knurled handle

The torque knurled handle plays a crucial role in the heat-press module of the FLAT.DUO record flattener. It ensures that the individual components of the module and the records are held together securely and pressed with exactly the right pressure. This is essential for the uniformity and high quality of the flattening process.

EPP - a material revolutionizes the industry

Expanded polypropylene (EPP) is a material that is ideal for use in record flatteners/relaxers and marks a revolutionary step in equipment design. The EPP we use consists of 92% air and 8% polypropylene. Its high heat resistance and excellent thermal insulation make the material ideal for use in temperature-controlled processes.

Passive tempering/relaxing with EPP

For the first time, the use of EPP as an enclosure material makes passive tempering of vinyl records possible. The slower and more evenly the temperature drops at the end of the process, the better the tempering process and thus the sound improvement. Thanks to the excellent insulating properties of EPP, simply switching off the heating voltage is enough to achieve a perfect, ideally decreasing temperature curve. There is no need for reheating to extend the cooling phase.

Improved energy efficiency thanks to EPP

The FLAT.DUO only requires a connected load of 30 watts compared to 90 watts for the previous flat.2 model.

Complex housing design with EPP

EPP makes it possible to create complex enclosure designs that would otherwise be difficult to manufacture thanks to mold-based production. The durability of EPP leads to an extended product life.

Ecological and sustainable

EPP is environmentally friendly and recyclable, which means that the FLAT.DUO leaves only a small ecological footprint. Its use in the FLAT.DUO is an example of responsible innovation.

Made in Germany

With the FLAT.DUO, developed, designed and manufactured in Germany, we are continuing our tradition of innovation. Through continuous improvement and the incorporation of customer feedback, we combine proven technologies with new, innovative and smart solutions.

Audio Fidelity Improvement & HiFi-Studio Wittmann, the discoverers of the sound improvement of vinyl records by means of thermal relaxation, also known as tempering.

The record flattener

The idea and the technical know-how for the record flattener came from Dr. Ullrich Kathe - a passionate hi-fi fan, analog lover and long-time customer of HiFi Studio Wittmann. One day, Ulli Kathe brought his vision of a record flattener into the studio, motivated by the knowledge that wavy records directly influence the essential settings of a high-quality pickup, such as the horizontal alignment of the turntable, tracking force, VTA, azimuth and anti-skating. Depending on the shaft position, the needle dips to different depths, which changes the previously carefully set parameters during scanning. Oliver Wittmann, the owner of the studio, was immediately enthusiastic about the idea. He offered to take care of marketing and sales as well as the sonic evaluation of the flattening processes. That was the start of the joint project: 'The record flattener', Made in Germany.

The development

During the two years of development, we experimented, tinkered and ironed with passion. Countless test records were put through processes with different temperatures and varying warm-up, holding and cooling times. Oliver Wittmann regularly checked the sound of the ironing results on his reference system. It was of central importance not only to achieve a perfectly flat record, but also to ensure that the sound quality remained undiminished. It was during this research process that the decisive "aha" moment occurred: "Wait a minute, that sounds better than before!" This is how the innovative idea of tempering vinyl records was born. Another year of development work was devoted to determining the optimum temperature curves and holding times. The goal: to achieve the best possible tempering of vinyl records and thus maximum sound improvement.

The start in 2016

In 2016, the time had finally come: the world's first record flattener, the AFI flat, with a special tempering/relaxation program to improve the sound of vinyl records was launched on the market.

Sound Advantage of a 100% Flat Record

Playing a warped record completely nullifies the adjustment of the cartridge as the stylus is forced to travel up and down over the ripples or waves of the warp. The carefully adjusted settings of tracking force, VTA/SRA and azimuth as well as anti-skate will be in a state of constant change as the relationship between the stylus and the record surface changes with each rise and fall. Wear on both record surface and stylus is also impacted, with effective VTF increasing and decreasing with each undulation of the tonearm.

It is clear that under these conditions the elaborately adjusted pick-up cannot show its possible sound performance in the remotest way, with every little ripple inevitably producing a misalignment of the pick-up.

Flatten Records

Trying to flatten a record without accurate equipment is risky but possible. But the flattening result is uncertain, and the sound experience even more so!

How Does the AFI FLAT.DUO Flatten?

1. Clever time management. Time is not money, but patience is required.

2. Select and maintain the correct temperature. If the record is treated too hot, it will become flat more quickly, but unfortunately it will twist and crackle a lot.

3. Even temperature applied across all parts of the record.

4. Not all records are equally deformed, and they may also differ in material chemistry. The FLAT.DUO offers settings for the flatten parameters time and temperature.

Flattening and Sound Quality

In the beginning, the flat.2 development team only intended to build an ironing machine.

And how did the first ironed records sound? Well — not convincing. A lot was learned through trial and error, and the machine was perfected piece by piece over several years, resulting in the FLAT.DUO.

The FLAT.DUO record flattener is the result of continuous development and improvement, based on the proven features of the AFI flat.2 model. Developed and manufactured in Germany, the FLAT.DUO combines the highest standards of functionality, design, and innovative technology. Improvements over the flat.2 model include the use of expanded polypropylene (EPP) as the housing material. The result is a cabinet that has far exceeded expectations.

EPP Offers the Following Advantages:

• Energy efficiency: Thanks to the very high thermal insulation of the EPP material, less energy is consumed when flattening.

• Environmentally friendly: The housing material is 100% recyclable and completely free of harmful substances.

• Robustness with material savings: Despite the composition of 92% air and only 8% polypropylene, the material is characterized by high strength.

• Transportation: The low weight of the material ensures low transportation costs and emissions.

• Production: Production is waste-free and energy-saving, as no machining is required.

A Tempered Record Sounds Even Better

The AFI FLAT.DUO is not only able to flatten records, but also to produce a considerable sound improvement on most records through the so-called tempering process.

What Is Tempering?

Tempering is not our invention, but has been a common procedure for material relaxation in many industrial production processes for decades. This process is used for metals, glass, and many plastics.

Why Tempering?

Records are pressed at approximately 150 degrees centigrade, and the pressing process takes around 30 seconds. After a short cooling phase, in which the matrices are cooled with water, the press is opened and the record is removed. For further cooling, the records are stacked on a spindle and weighted down with metal plates.

This production process is very likely to lead to material tension. Due to the uneven, rapid cooling and the toughness of the material, the long molecular chains of PVC and polyvinyl acetate (vinyl) have little chance of aligning themselves in a relaxed state. The tensions are virtually frozen in the material — and you can hear that in the music.

What Happens During Tempering?

Tempering leads to a relaxation of the material. The record is heated slowly and evenly to the so-called plateau temperature, left at this temperature for a while, and finally cooled down slowly and in a controlled manner. This process takes up to four hours. This gives the molecules enough time to align themselves naturally and relax without stress.

How Does the AFI FLAT.DUO Temper?

The FLAT.DUO is designed in its choice of materials, its construction, and above all, its process sequence in such a way that every part of the record (inside, outside, top or bottom) has a uniform temperature at every point in the process.

The FLAT.DUO pays special attention not only to uniform heating but also to the cooling process. Simply switching off and letting it cool down is not a good idea. Since the material becomes increasingly tough as it cools, the mobility of the molecules decreases more and more as the temperature decreases.

Therefore, the duration and height of the plateau temperature as well as the time and constant falling of the curve are crucial for an excellent result. Only if the cooling process is very slow, very homogeneous, controlled, and regulated, can the material be relaxed optimally.

The Surface of the Record Becomes Harder

The tempering process leads to an increase in the crystalline content of the vinyl. This makes the surface harder and reduces scanning noise.

The Sound Result

The result is impressive:

less noise, more spatial imaging, more natural flow, more analogue, more organic — in summary: a RELAXED sound.

Does the Result Change Over Time?

The result of the tempering process is permanent, provided the record is stored properly.

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