2. misc-audio
  3. 147568-4331

anybody buying into magnetic levitation "eliminates the effects of any vibration" ?

it is a cool idea but the claim is preposterous, if the bottom magnet moves that forces the top magnet to move.  If the bottom magnet vibrates, the top magnet follows suit. As an extreme example lift a corner of the base and the top moves right along with it. It may  dampen the motion and act like a spring, but they are still coupled together,

They say it is not attached in any way to the bottom, but it is because you also have the vibration from the base plate through the posts to the top plate. Without the posts the top would just slide off to the side so they have to be mechanically coupled

To read the hype you would believe it is like a magic carpet that just floats in the air, but it is definitely coupled to the base. I'm not saying it might not be the best sounding base in the world, I'm just saying what they are claiming is  impossible, and if someone is making claims that are absolutely not true it makes you leery.
herman

Showing 2 responses by larryi

larryi
3,715 posts
 
Geoffkait,

I don't see the point in quibbling with every comment, particularly when they are meant to just to illustrate a general point, which I think we all agree--nothing is perfect, so it did not make sense for the OP to harp on the manufacturer's claim.


As for the specific application of using a Relaxa under a turntable, I certainly think that it can work, but, I think there are way too many variable to say it will work under all or most circumstances.  For example, will it reduce or make footfall problems worse?  This would depend on the resonant frequency of the entire system and that would depend on a number of factors, including the mass of the table.  When a manufacturer builds a spring suspension, or in the case of Verdier, a magnetic suspension, the manufacturer at least has knowledge about that variable.  Also, most tables with suspensions allow for some tuning of the springs. I would be at least concerned that something like the Relaxa will not be quite as flexible in this regard.  
larryi
3,715 posts
 
Of course it doesn't provide complete isolation, the question is whether it does a reasonably good job of isolating whatever is on top from vibration originating from whatever the platform is sitting on at its price point.  It is not going to do the job that a platform built for an electron microscope sits on, and even that wouldn't qualify as "perfect." 

My speakers came with magnetic levitation, like the Relaxa, for the platform that held the midrange horn and tweeter.  I eventually removed the magnetic levitation feature because it was hard to keep the upper platform balanced correctly, particularly if one tried to tilt the speaker a little bit.  I have no idea if the sound changed that much.

I have seen Gabriel, Verdier and ClearAudio tables with magnetic levitation.  All of these tables sound good, but, I have no idea what this form of suspension contributed to the sound.

I would not fret so much about theoretical considerations.  The bottom line is what it does to the sound, and that is a quite complicated matter where "less" is not necessarily better.  I've heard demonstrations using the same brand and type of isolation where, in a particular application, the model capable of better isolation/damping sounded worse.  I've heard systems sound worse after being put on to very expensive rack systems, and I've even heard sets of microphonic tubes sound better than tubes that are less microphonic.   
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