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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
cd318
2,636 posts
 
The Mag-Lev ML1 has certainly ruffled a few audiophile feathers, but the feeling is they are definitely curious but not convinced.

I wonder if it would be possible to float the arm in a similar fashion whilst increasing stability? Or is that just begging for trouble?

The current specs for the Mag-Lev ML1 are indeed pretty impressive - 

Wow and flutter: < 0.17%
Signal-to-noise ratio:-73dB

But they cannot match those phenomenal ones of the latest Technics decks.

Wow and flutter: 0.025%
Signal-to-noise ratio:-78dB

And that's just the base models.

The top of the range Technics turntables are almost only borderline measurable -maybe already well past the point where they need to be.

Impressive stuff indeed, but they still can't fly like the Mag-Lev!
bloke77's avatar
bloke77
1 posts
 
I'm gutted. Can someone help maybe? 
My Mag-Lev ML doesn't work. It's very worrying that they display an invalid phone number somewhere in Slovenia another one in USA and do not answer any emails.
Very disappointing considering the money spent. If anyone knows how to get in touch with the makers of this turntable or how to fix the problem please let me know.
It no longer levitates. The platter just spins off. Could it be a dirty sensor? I am based in London UK and would appreciate any suggestions if you have time. 
Thanks

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
bloke77, I doubt any of us will be able to help you with this. I think it best to go back where you bought it from. 

I have made many mistakes in the past and just swallowed the loss and chalked it up to learning and experience. I would get a new turntable if I were you. 

My guess is that the attractive field that keeps the platter centered is probably generated by an electro magnet which has stopped working for whatever reason. Permanent magnets are more expensive but they don't quit. You would have to take the table apart to figure it out. Since it is probably a total loss it cold not hurt to try. Maybe you will find a blown fuse or something easy to fix.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@bloke77 In London try andy@hifi.repair

I contacted him when I was looking for a quality repair shop for my Victor TT-101. They can fix many different turntables. He’s got a shop.
lewm
12,995 posts
 
Not that this helps in any way, but the Maglev was widely described as "problematic", even during its brief period on the retail market.  There were bizarre stories circulating about destructive malfunction events, like platter flying off into space.  I'm very sorry to learn of your problems, and I hope you can find someone to fix it.
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