2. analog
  3. 151658-129831

Mag Lev Turntable. Your Thoughts?

One is for sale on Audiogon. Very cool BUT, I can think of a bunch of potential problems. My instinct says it is showmanship but not having actually played with one who knows? Anybody have any experience with the Mag Lev?
The first problem would be that magnetic fields are not solid. They are squishy. What happens when you play different weight records. What about a record clamp? The tonearm is fixed to the plinth. If the height of the platter changes the VTA changes. If the platter bounces at all it will cause rather rapid speed variations. What about those powerful magnetic fields right under cartridges. Looking at the video the platter certainly is not machined very well.
Is it really worth the trouble. Good tables make very little noise. 99% of it is coming from the record itself. My inclination is that the platter should be on a solid footing.
128x128mijostyn
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
The coupling between the platter surface and the base of the tone arm must be as rigid and dead as possible. To this end, the bearing can have no slop (but at the same time can't make noise and has to be free) and the plinth be as rigid and dead as possible. Anything short of this will be interpreted by the pickup as coloration should any vibration be introduced. IOW the base of the arm has to vibrate in the same plane and rate as the platter so as to be unable to interpret the vibration as a signal.

Obviously a magnetic suspension flies right in the face of this.
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
@atmasphere 

That was my initial thought when I saw the concept as a fund it dream.

It attacks one analog negative while introducing a couple more. The price is prohibitive in my opinion, 4000 for a curiosity is too much for me and likely most informed vinylista's. .......
decky999
1 posts
 
All good questions. Add to that speed variability and magnetic filed leakage. The only useful way to use magnetic suspension is to control (decrease) reaction force at the main thrust bearing with very heavy platters. Keeping your gyration point as close as possible to the platter/bearing assy CG is way more important.   
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Obviously sales are going really well......
Wonder just how far they will discount them?

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9g6f0-mag-lev-audio-s-levitating-turntable-ml1-black-features-o...
cd318
2,636 posts
 
I can only wish them and their backers well for attempting something SO radical. Bearing noise - what bearing noise?

Hopefully the price drop indicates that an improved MK2 version is on the way soon. Still won't please everyone but that's audiophiles for you.

For others the Mag-Lev may give you an inkling of the feeling that people must have had upon hearing radio for the first time, or even the gramophone.

You see it but you still have a hard time believing it. These are (still) the days of miracle and wonder.
More to discover