How does the world’s first “levitating turntable” actually work?

[tima]

Originally Posted by Kal

... Unfortunately, the tone arm is fixed to the plinth and not to the platter.

One is on a magnetic spring, one is not.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by tima

One is on a magnetic spring, one is not.

Yes.

[mulveling]

Incidentally, many Clearuadio turntables have magnetically suspended platters - BUT it's a static magnetic field operating in exactly one axis (up/down), and with platter tightly constrained & stabilized by a traditional shaft bearing (ceramic shaft in sintered bronze sleeve). This works extremely well but STILL has a problem that the platter (no matter how massive) can move independently (up/down) relative the arm-board. Adding heavy ring clamping also alters the VTA, which is annoying. I say this as the owner of an Master Innovation.

The Mag-Lev concept is just complete nonsense, with a dangerous dynamic magnetic field that can never properly control or constrain the platter. The platter is perfectly free to move & wobble in ANY direction, and from videos it does this quite a bit.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by mulveling

Incidentally, many Clearuadio turntables have magnetically suspended platters - BUT it's a static magnetic field operating in exactly one axis (up/down), and with platter tightly constrained & stabilized by a traditional shaft bearing (ceramic shaft in sintered bronze sleeve). This works extremely well but STILL has a problem that the platter (no matter how massive) can move independently (up/down) relative the arm-board.

That describes the operation of my old Stanton.

The Mag-Lev concept is just complete nonsense, with a dangerous dynamic magnetic field that can never properly control or constrain the platter. The platter is perfectly free to move & wobble in ANY direction, and from videos it does this quite a bit.

[cleeds]

I always assumed the Mag-Lev was just a novelty item and never took it seriously, so I was shocked when I recently learned the price. No wonder the company went bankrupt!

[mulveling]

Originally Posted by cleeds

I always assumed the Mag-Lev was just a novelty item and never took it seriously, so I was shocked when I recently learned the price. No wonder the company went bankrupt!

IIRC early on (Kickstarter) they were selling for closer to $1000. So that was far too low versus their costs - though still not a "good" deal for what is a purely novelty turntable. Just a mess from the beginning. I'm honestly surprised they managed to build as many as they did.

There have been so many absolute disasters via audio Kickstarters (LH Labs, anyone?) - when you see one, just stay away!