AFI
What happens during vinyl LP tempering?
During tempering, the vinyl record is slowly and evenly heated up to the plateau temperature, held at this temperature for a while, and then cooled very slowly and in a controlled manner - a process that can take up to four hours. Slow and even cooling is more important than heating. This allows the molecules to align themselves naturally and without stress. This process significantly reduces the tensions and makes the material harder, more robust, and more homogeneous.
ABOUT
AFI (Audio Fidelity Improvement) and HiFi-Studio Wittmann are the makers of the FLAT.DUO, a groundbreaking innovation in record care. The FLAT.DUO record flattener/relaxer, combines state-of-the-art technology with efficient design. Through the revolutionary use of EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) for housing construction, they have achieved energy efficiency previously thought impossible and simultaneously reduced the ecological footprint.
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.
