Mag-Lev Audio ML1 Turntable
Australian Hi-Fi 21
My guess is that Mag-Lev is using these
Ortofon models at least in part because they
are so light in weight (5 grams) that they will
have the least effect on the motion of the
platter. The heavier the cartridge, the more
likely the mass of the cartridge is to affect the
rotational stability of the platter.
The Pro-Ject 9cc is not quite ‘factory stand-
ard’ because unlike any 9cc model I have
ever seen, the one fitted to the Mag-Lev has
an automatic arm raise/lower lift device in
addition to the usual manual cueing lever. It
subsequently transpired that there was a very
good reason for this handy addition... about
which more later.
The speed control knob is very cool. It’s
a thick, cookie-like control that has a single
large hole in it. Looking down through the
hole enables you to see the turntable’s status:
You’ll see the word ‘Off’ when the hole is
at the ‘9 o’clock’ position. Rotate the knob
to the right to the ‘12 o’clock’ position and
you’ll see ‘33’ at the bottom of the hole (the
letters are so large that 33.33 wouldn’t fit!). A
further rotation to the right to the ‘3 o’clock’
position will have you seeing ‘45’ at the
bottom of the hole. The letters and numer-
als have an orange backlight that flashes
until speed stability is achieved, after which
the light glows a steady orange. In the ‘Off’
position, the light will eventually extinguish
when the turntable automatically enters its
power-saving Stand-by mode. There is one
other position of this ‘cookie’ control, which
you reach by turning the control anti-clock-
wise from the ‘Off’ position to the ‘6 o’clock’
position. In this position, there’s a single flat
line ( – ) visible at the bottom of the hole.
Mag-Lev Audio calls this position the ‘levita-
tion mode’ and it levitates the platter to its
normal operating height, but does not rotate
the platter. I presume it is used to facilitate
things such as VTA alignment (a feature of
the Pro-Ject 9cc), but Mag-Lev Audio’s Owner’s
Manual does not elaborate.
While it’s obvious that the platter is held
in mid-air by magnetic forces, it’s not at all
obvious exactly how this is done, nor is it
obvious what method Mag-Lev Audio is using
to rotate and manage the speed of the platter,
and the company is keeping its cards pressed
tightly to its chest, with its website saying
only that it uses: ‘innovative and patented
technology that allows to maintain the incred-
ibly precise turning of the platter with sensor
regulating software (sic)’. My best guess is that
Mag-Lev Audio is using an induction motor
in which the platter is actually the rotor part
of the induction motor, and the stator part
is located in the plinth. My confidence in
this guess was enhanced when I noticed that
in circumstances following a fault condition
(about which more later) the platter rotated
far more slowly than it should which, if I am
right, would be the result of a phenomenon
that affects all induction motors called ‘crawl-
ing’ (for a reason that will shortly become
obvious).
However I was totally impressed that the
Mag-Lev Audio ML1 was not at all affected by
another serious issue that affects all induc-
tion motors—particularly at start-up—called
cogging. It seems that Mag-Lev Audio has de-
veloped an innovation solution to this issue.
My ‘best guesses’ aside, the one thing about
which I am certain is that Mag-Lev Audio’s
approach to platter levitation is different to
all other companies using levitation (e.g.,
Clearaudio) and its drive system is completely
different to companies that claim to be using
‘magnetic drive’ systems (such as Paravacini).
When the platter is not spinning unsup-
ported in mid-air (which is just sooo cool!), itis supported by four pylons that automatical-
ly rise up from where they’re hidden inside
the plinth. Also hidden inside the plinth is
an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that
stores just enough juice to raise the pylons
in the event of a power outage. The UPS
necessarily includes a rechargeable battery,
which would have to be replaced at regular
intervals to ensure correct operation. Mag-Lev
Audio’s Owners’ Manual does not mention the
replacement interval nor the costs or proce-
dures involved.
At present, four cosmetic variants of the
Mag-Lev Audio ML1 are available: one has
wood-grain plinth, one has a gloss white
plinth, and two are black and silver. The
lowest-priced versions are the black and silver
models, at $4,895, while the highest-priced
is the one with the wood-grain plinth, at
$5,665. A clear Perspex turntable cover is
available as an optional extra, for $390.