At Capital Audio Fest, Musical Surroundings Introduces A Tube-based DS Audio Optical Cart Equalizer + The AFI "Record Flattener/Relaxer"

we've seen the AFI in Munich for a few years now.

Rockville, MD, November 7th, 2024— Musical Surroundings debuts two significant new products at this year's Capital Audio Festival. The first, pictured above, is a vacuum tube-based equalizer for DS Audio optical cartridges. The TB-100, available December, 2024 is a dual mono, single-ended design with RCA jack outputs. It features four selectable bass curves and uses "quad-matched" ECC82 (12AU7) dual-triode tubes, measured and classified using a special DS Audio developed "in-house tool". For each channel, one tube is used as a cascaded anode follower gain stage, the other as a cathode follower output. The TB-100 utilizes a wide frequency range transformer input and simultaneous left and right phase aligned current-to-voltage conversion of the photodiode derived audio signal with < -1dB deviation from 10Hz-70kHz. The design features "twin-mono" construction and bilaterally symmetrical twin mono amplifier sections and totally separate grounds and power transformers. Price is $20,000. The TB-100 will be presented at CAF by Dr. Vinyl in the Randolph Room.

The AFI (Audio Fidelity Improvement) Duo.Flat LP Flattener & Relaxer offers both LP flattening and relaxing. DUO refers to both treatment methods and the ability to simultaneously treat 2 LPs.

The Press Release:

AFI (Audio Fidelity Improvement) and HiFi Studio Wittmann present the FLAT.DUO, a groundbreaking innovation in the world of record care. The FLAT.DUO combines the latest technology with efficient design. Through the revolutionary use of EPP (expanded polypropylene) for the housing construction, we achieve a previously unimaginable level of energy efficiency while reducing the ecological footprint

DUO stands for two records and two treatment methods

The name "DUO" in FLAT.DUO stands for its duality in function and efficiency: the simultaneous treatment of two records and two treatment types - flattening and relaxing. This offers a significant time saving on the one hand and increases the sound quality on the other.

Flattening with reduced treatment time

The integrated fan of the FLAT.DUO makes it possible to flatten two records simultaneously in just around 1.75 hours—a significant time savings compared to the four hours of treatment time of conventional models. The fan can be regulated in three stages or deactivated.

Heating-press module

The innovative heating-press module of the FLAT.DUO record flattener enables two records to be flattened simultaneously by stacking them in a piggyback or sandwich method. The well-thought-out design of this module ensures even heat distribution and pressure, which is crucial for optimal flattening results.

Torque knurled handle

The torque-knurled handle plays a crucial role in the heating-press module of the FLAT.DUO record flattener. It ensures that the individual components of the module and the records are held securely together and pressed with exactly the right pressure. This is essential for the uniformity and high quality of the flattening process.

EPP - a material that revolutionizes the industry

Expanded polypropylene (EPP) is a material that is ideal for use in record flatteners/relaxers and marks a revolutionary step in device design. The EPP we use consists of 92% air and 8% polypropylene. Its high heat resistance and excellent thermal insulation make the material ideal for use in temperature-controlled processes.

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. There is an audible improvement in the quality of playback.

Passive tempering/relaxation with EPP

For the first time, the use of EPP as a housing material makes passive tempering of vinyl records possible. The tempering process and thus the sound improvement work better the slower and more evenly the temperature drops towards the end of the process. Thanks to the excellent insulation properties of EPP, simply switching off the heating voltage is enough to achieve a perfect, ideally falling temperature curve. There is no need for reheating to extend the cooling phase.

Improved energy efficiency thanks to EPP

The FLAT.DUO only requires a connected load of 30 watts compared to 90 watts for the previous model flat.2.

Complex housing construction with EPP.

Thanks to mold-based production, EPP enables the realization of complex housing designs that would otherwise be difficult to manufacture. Its durability leads to an extended product lifespan.

Ecological and sustainable

EPP is environmentally friendly and recyclable, which means that the FLAT.DUO only leaves a small ecological footprint. Its use in the FLAT.DUO is an example of responsible innovation.

Made in Germany

With the FLAT.DUO, developed, designed and manufactured in Germany, we continue our tradition of innovation. Through continuous improvements and the inclusion of customer feedback, we combine proven techniques with new, innovative and clever solutions.

The FLAT.DUO is made of Expanded polypropylene (EPP), a material that is ideal for use in record flatteners and relaxers. Its high heat resistance and excellent thermal insulation make it the ideal material for use in precision temperature-controlled processes.

Flattening is achieved in less than 2 hours by the integrated fan of the FLAT.DUO. Flatter records assure better trackability with reduced warp wow for better sound.

Vinyl LP tempering or relaxing, enhances the benefits of flattening, and creates a greater audible improvement in the quality of playback. During the 4-hour tempering treatment, the vinyl record is slowly and evenly heated up to the plateau temperature, held at this temperature, and then cooled very slowly in a controlled manner.

The FLAT.DUO comes programmed with both flattening and tempering cycles and allows you to modify for shellacs and other vinyl variants. The FLAT.DUO price is $2500.

At CAF the FLAT.DUO will be on display in booths 9&10 with WallyTools, and demoed by Dr. Vinyl in the Randolph Room.

For more information contact: info@musicalsurroundings.com