Warped Vinyl Records CAN be fixed. Furutech Record Flattener Review. What can and Cannot be fixed.
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- An in depth video of what the Furutech DP-2 machine can and cannot do. With before and after results. Big successes and failures. Stay for the end of the video where I test Mofi SUPER VINYL!
Need some records flattened? We provide that service
toadhallonline...
We flatten warped vinyl records for audiophiles and collectors. We agree that heat damaged records are a lost cause as the grooves have melted and nothing can reverse that. Interesting that he says that one shouldn't use the Furutech Flattening Machine more than once? This is probably the official line from Furutech and maybe also from Orb Japan. The Furutech is, after all, a re-badged Orb Japan model. We put seriously warped records through multiple cycles and we can confirm, as incredibly fussy and exacting audiophiles, that there is no adverse affect. Zero! The Neil Young record in the video footage can indeed be fixed and restored to complete flatness. It just takes a bit of 'Know How' and 'thinking outside the box'. We have fixed many records, just like that one, both for ourselves and for customers. While we haven't watched the entire video (it is rather long!), the impression that is given is that if the process does not work first time, then it's a case of 'too bad'. It is only in the case of new records with 'mild' undulations that the process works first time, in our experience. A warp that is long established will take considerably longer that one 4 hours cycle. We have put records through as many as 10 cycles and more, to get them satisfactorily flat. Dish warps are some of the easiest to fix as it turns out. Anybody who is interested can see footage of 'before' and 'after' cases on our Facebook page (@vinyllpcare). We have been doing this for more than fifteen years at this stage and use two machines at present with a new one on the way in 2021. We know full well the frustration and annoyance that warped vinyl records cause to audiophiles, collectors and music fans. We bought our first machine to flatten scores of records in our own collection in 2005. These are all flat now for many years. So, don't give up on your warped vinyl records! Unless the warp is due to a catastrophic pressing error or heat damage, they can be fixed in almost every case. Remember too that it takes a long time for a record like the Neil Young 'Rust Never Sleeps' to get into that state. One 4 hour cycle or even 2 x 4 hours cycles will not fix that. Flattening, like the initial warping, is a gradual process. There is also this phenomenon called 'Vinyl Memory' which gets no mention in the modern era? Good video which I found interesting.
Thank you so much for taking the time and effort in doing this for us. So valuable and informative and a great service to us subscribers. I recently purchased a Record Pi, that I am very pleased with. So, this is very useful and timely for me personally. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this video. Very helpful to know the possible problems with flattening
Never seen one of these!!! Very cool
Its because the are so expensive. But they do work! (Most of the time)
Aren't you using a SOTA? Why don't you try the vacuum hold down with the reflex clamp?
The DEVO Energy Dome hat in the background.
Not sure about all this high tech heating equipment. Its 2023 and ive been buying lots and lots of new reçords and unfortunately/occasionaly some have been bad to WTF bad with all types of warps. Anyhow i put the record in its sleeve and jacket making sure the high sides up. Put them one at a time on my hardwood flood and put maybe 80 magazines (in 20s x4) distributed evenly. Leave it for two days, and voila, i would say i get them almost perfect every time and they play great. Blue Notes, 180, 200 grammers, lightweight shitters etc. Flat flat flat.
Specially with new tiles like the RSD warped record(where the warped version should sound like a new non-warped version), can you or have you ever done an A/B test to see if there is any impact on the sound from the original record when using the record flattner?
There is no impact on the sound quality. If anything its improved when successfully completed because the headshell rides evenly in the grove. However as far is distortion, or muddyness or any other sound changes you would expect from an lp that got hot. It doesnt show. Visually and sonically there are no signs that the lps has changed. Its pretty amazing. In fact this is the same maching places like music direct or acoustic sounds use to straighten warped lps when returned. They they send out a replacement (new to customer). And resell the newly flattened lps at shows at a discount.
@@ToadHall thanks for sharing all that. Helpful.
I use the Vinyl Flat, and have had to failures; in both cases they were colored vinyl, and in both cases, the surface was "mottled" like an orange peel. As a result, when I have colored vinyl, I only flatten those that are really bad, and when I do I start at the very lowest time.
Yep. Colored vinyl can be tricky
So, are you saying that when trying to straighten colored vinyl, you only put it inside the Groovy Pouch for the lowest time possible? Also, have you ever done multiple attempts to flatten colored records, while using the lowest time possible? I appreciate your input, as I am thinking about purchasing one myself. Blessings!
always love watching your videos man an i always enjoy the mofi minute videos
Thanks. Yeah, im gonna keep that going and to fill in the gap il do different videos like this.
How much is the record
straightener?
I believe these run about $2500 but have not priced them out recently
Hi, congratulations for the video and the very exhaustive explanation, with all the examples of the case. I just wanted to ask you a question: in all these years of experimentation, has it ever happened to you that a new record from the store, after putting it in the machine, instead of improving, gets worse and becomes even more warp?
thanks again, I have owned the Furutech DF-2 for 5 years and it was nice to compare myself with you
Nope. Only impoved or fixed completly. The only issues I have ever had was like what happend to the DEVO record in the video. Which was on colored vinyl. I did have this happen to one other record. But it was also colored. Never gotten worse on ANY black vinyl.
5:41 is that the Devo face shield I see?
It is!!
@@ToadHall Lol I love it. Didn't know you guys had this machine. I'll probably be bringing some records in for fixing.
Hello I have a question, so are you only flattening 12”s?
Ive tried 7" and they are alot more stubborn. Sometimes they work sometimes not
Do you still have that presidents of the usa album?
Been sold out for a bit now.. waiting for more to get pressed
I use the Vinyl Flat. Fraction of the cost and I've had great results.
New records are always warped, so I'm using it all the time.
usually sealed new old stock records.
I have also seen that some people close the hinges during the treatment, although the official manual advises against it and advises to do it only during a possible transport. This thing is controversial
I just bought a Vinyl Flat and have had no success flattening records. I'm working with the company and they have given me 90 days to return. What I don't like is their comment that records before 1991 may not be flattened. This makes no sense as most albums were produced before 1991.
My Record Pi does a great job. Unless I expected to unwarp hundreds of records I'd never pay a fortune this machine he uses. Way overpriced.
Nice!!!!
Pretty nifty ehh
@@ToadHall yep :)
Nick how much the machine cost
I paid almost $2000 for it. This was years ago. Not sure if they have come down at all. I also bought it new. So a used one might be cheaper.
With the cost of this I could just buy another one of the warped records.
He said he owns a store. As a store owner myself, we often get warped records that are otherwise in good condition and valuable. Being able to flatten them adequately for resale allows this machine to pay for itself in a few months.
@@TheAgeOfAnalog in order to flaten it you will need to clean it completely which is impossible. In the end zhe vinyl flattener will melt the accumilated dust in the grooves. When a record warps its grooves are set inthat particular position...flattening it will distort the grooves as well. It will be a second rate product.
@@tiborosz1825 an extreme warp, a filthy record, and too much heat, sure. I've flattened hundreds of records with my VinylFlat with no damage to the groove or music. I own a record store and do this for a living. I consider myself a budget audiophile. I care about sound quality. I know serious audiophiles who use the VinylFlat, VinylPi, and ORB on a daily basis. None of them would attempt this if they knew they'd ruin records. I'm buying an ORB soon, because it provides more predictable results in less time. Saying any process of record flattening is pointless or destructive is simply wrong.
I've used a Vinyl Flat for years with fantastic results at a fraction of the cost.
I just bought one of those. So far I'm not impressed.
@@slipwagon7944 I've had mine for years and it's great. I think I've only had an issue with 2 Lps out of 30 or so. If you are using the heated bag try experimenting with your timings and your heat settings. I really can't fault it.
@@madmeister407 So far I've only tested one LP and the warp hasn't come out yet. I've been using the medium setting which measures at about 130 degrees. I started at 2 hours and have been increasing the time by 30 minutes each day. Today I'm trying 5 and a 1/2 hours.
@@slipwagon7944 It depends on the weight of the vinyl and the severity of the warp. Your heater may be the issue? so I suggest you contact Vinyl Flat and seek their advice. The longest I have used it on a single LP was 2x 3 hour sessions first session was on medium and the second was on high, and it did the job.
@@madmeister407 5 and 1/2 hours didn't get the warp out. I'm trying out a new record, I already did 2 hours on medium and it didn't do anything, I'm trying 2 and a half hours today. I'll probably try a couple more records after this but if I still have no success, I'm sending the vinyl flat back.