Read about our new Pro-ject Record Flattener here.

After searching through, inspecting and selecting thousands of records, you develop a pretty good eye for choosing the best albums for you, our clients.  
Our goal is to offer only pristine, top-quality records, so we take the grading process very seriously. The final stage begins with a run through the Clearaudio Smart Clean machine. Once cleaned, we inspect the record again carefully before moving to the most important test — ‘How does it actually sounds?’
Playback evaluation is done on our reference system using a Rega turntable. If the album is too noisy or warped, it gets weeded out. Thankfully, severe warping is not a common issue for us, but it does happen from time to time.

So, imagine my surprise and excitement when I heard that Pro-Ject had released a dedicated Record Flattening machine. 
Of course, the first question is, at $1849 NZD, do you really need one? For many vinyl enthusiasts, that kind of money could go towards a very nice moving coil cartridge or new phono preamp.
But the quality of the sound you get out of your system is directly related to the quality of the vinyl at the front end. Super-clean flat records, excellent cartridges and properly maintained equipment all play their part. A warped record can introduce several problems including wow and flutter, tracking distortion and, in severe cases, skipping. Over time, it may also cause uneven stylus wear and place unnecessary pressure on the cantilever. And it looks a bit sad….
If it’s a rare album you’ve already invested heavily in corrective treatment is recommended? That’s where the Pro-Ject Record Flattener really comes into its own.
For OnVinyl, purchasing one was an easy decision. Even though warped records are relatively uncommon, the machine will pay for itself over many years of use.

And for collectors? Here’s a thought, if you have a group of vinyl-loving friends, why not buy one together and share it? Or, of course, simply buy your records from OnVinyl.
We spoke with our good friends at Paul Money Hi-Fi and ordered a machine. Using the machine has been a genuine pleasure. We had a few lightly warped records, put aside, which gave us the ideal opportunity to test it properly.

The unit itself is reassuringly solid — very much function over form — but with a satisfyingly weighty, well-built feel. Even Otis mastered it quickly.
Operation is remarkably simple. Switch the unit to “Heating” and it gradually reaches around 58°C, fluctuating by only a couple of degrees either side. The record is placed inside the supplied paper sleeve, the heavy lid is closed, and the flattening process begins. We found that a heating cycle of around one to two hours worked well.
The cooling stage is equally important. Once switched over, the machine slowly cools the record down to approximately 30°C. (around another hour) We quickly learned that this gradual cooling process is critical in helping the vinyl reset and retain its corrected shape.

But some records are too far gone. It's good but 
Conclusion- Totally worth it. Protecting your wonderful records is just something we take seriously. Check one out. Caveat- some records are too far gone. It's good but no guarantees on being able to solve all.