The Pro-Ject Flatten It Restores Your Vinyl to Its Former Glory

Warped vinyl records can have a serious impact on playback quality – causing skips, pops, distortion, or even rendering sections of a record unplayable. Pro-Ject, a brand well-regarded for its high-quality yet relatively affordable turntables, now aims to solve this problem with the Pro-Ject Flatten It – a new vinyl flattening machine designed to breathe new life into your cherished record collection.

The concept is simple but impactful: you place your warped record inside the Flatten It, close the lid, and let the machine do the work. Using a precisely heated aluminum plate with custom temperature controls, the Flatten It gently and evenly warms the entire surface of the vinyl, helping to restore its original flatness without causing any damage. This controlled heat application is key, as improper heating methods can warp records further or degrade sound quality.

Pro-Ject emphasizes that the Flatten It is engineered for safety and consistency. The device maintains a stable temperature throughout the process to ensure even results from edge to center. Once the cycle is complete, users may notice a significant reduction in playback issues like skips and pops, with overall sound quality improved thanks to the flatter record surface. The machine supports records of all sizes and thicknesses, and although Pro-Ject hasn’t specified exactly how long the flattening process takes, it’s built for ease of use from start to finish.

Aesthetically, the Flatten It is sleek and modern, with a minimalist metallic design that should complement any vinyl setup. It features an easy-to-open lid, rear-mounted controls, and a small digital display that shows both the current internal temperature and the target temperature. The interface is clean and intuitive, making the process approachable even for beginners.

Of course, not every vinyl enthusiast will see the need to own a record flattener. At $999 / €799, it’s a serious investment – though one that may be worthwhile for collectors with large or valuable record libraries. Even if it doesn’t make it into every home, there’s potential for widespread benefit if more record shops and listening bars begin offering flattening services to their customers.

While vinyl record flattening isn’t a new concept, devices that do it effectively and safely have been relatively rare and inaccessible – until now. The Pro-Ject Flatten It is now available at project-audio.com.

Photography courtesy of Pro-Ject.