06-05-2025
The Pro-Ject Flatten It Uses Heat to Fix Warped Records
Photograph: Chris Haslam
A quick trip to a thrift store plus five minutes with a hair dryer, and Rod Stewart's Greatest Hits was warped almost to the point of no return. Two hours in Flatten It, however, and it's as good as nearly-new, with no discernible damage to the grooves.
Putting the records in and setting the clock is a simple if time-consuming process, but it works brilliantly. I've been able to resurrect a few old favorites that haven't played properly since 1993, and for that I owe Pro-Ject a debt of thanks. A Worthy Competitor
Photograph: Chris Haslam
At $1,000 MSRP, you're going to need to be a wealthy and fastidious collector or a record store or dealer to make it worth your while. For most of us, we'll want to wait until a well-heeled friend or local store has shelled out for one.
If you stumble across Ringo's spare but warped copy of The White Album , it'll be a wise investment. Most casual collectors will find it more useful for restoring nostalgic favorites than valuable gems.
Pro-Ject's Flatten It isn't the only solution. Brave souls who don't want to buy vinyl accessories have been putting their warped records under heavy flat surfaces for years, and even in the oven. Don't do that. There are other options: Japanese audio brand Orb has the DF-01iA+, which costs around $1,500, while Vinyl Flat offers a cheaper solution featuring a simple record clamp and heated blanket for a total of $224, although I've not tested either yet. For now, the Flatten It remains the best solution I've tried. It works a treat.
