New Mag-Lev Turntable

Highly sceptical of this table. Mag Lev with no points of contact is very difficult to do. Not sure how it could be done at all, especially for so little money.

If it can be done, it would require powerful magnets that I would not want anywhere near my cartridges.  

I agree with what Ralph says above. Mag-Lev under the entire turntable may have some merit. It would just act like a simple spring though. A Minus K or a piezo electric table base would probably work better.

You would never see a vinyl cutting machine with a design like the turntable the OP posted about.

I wonder if an isolation device under a cutting machine would be of benefit?   

ct0517, Yes tolerances are very important. The MagLev table in question is highly unlikely to have good tolerances at it's price point. Also highly unlikely to out perform other turntables at the same price point. All depends on how accurately the platter is spinning and floating. From the video it looks like it has some wobble. Do they have any specs for this table? Speed stability, wow and flutter would be nice to know.  

I'm sure they will sell plenty of them based on the fact that it is a novel and cool looking design. 

 

Geoff, that is true but any extra motion is not ideal. Since there is no spindle how accurately does it spin in one location? Does the platter always align to the same spot? If not this could change the pivot to spindle difference each time. When aligning a cartridge with the platter at rest, will it float in the exact same horizontal location as it does when resting? That could cause an alignment problem. This design may help one design problem but it also creates new design problems as well.

On that same track, in order to align the cartridge correctly you would need to put blocks under the platter to raise it to the same height as when it is spinning. How would you accurately place the platter at the same place it spins when floating? That would be very difficult it not impossible.

Ok thanks. I missed that. There is some sort of groove on the bottom of the platter. The feet look like they are cone shaped to fit that groove.

ct0517, I was kind of wondering that myself. My guess is the magnetism would go right through things that are not magnetic.

Geoff, vinyl has many flaws. If you do not want to sweat the details that is fine. I prefer not to add errors if I can help it personally.