Vinyl is experiencing a comeback that has completely shattered the theories and calculations of many experts. Even last year, it was said that vinyl sales moved more money than sponsored streaming, and although it is a small market compared to other technologies, its enthusiasts know what they want and don't hesitate to stack one bill on another. That said, a new turntable called MAG-LEV Audio has just appeared, and as its name suggests... the platter floats.
Okay, I think we should tread carefully here. The wars over audio quality have reached legendary proportions in some forums, which confirms the subjective profile of the whole conflict. Personally, I've been dealing with an external otitis for days, and if someone asked me whether one thing or another "sounds good", honestly I couldn't answer. Our ears lose capacity over time due to multiple factors (aging is just one), and a special format or playback device is not going to change that. Add to this companies that, with the aim of obtaining a quick economic benefit, appeal to different terms (supposedly, gold connectors are "hyper-uber-HQ"), which in the end mean nothing. Now, I invoke the mercy of enthusiasts who have been vinyl riders for many years to help me with this... floating turntable.
No, it's not a mistake. The MAG-LEV Audio is a turntable with a floating platter. Of course, magnetic levitation is real, and we already find effective functions for it, like trains and bearings. However, there's something strange about seeing that technology applied to music. The only technical data we have speaks of a semi-automatic system, a Pro-Ject 8.6 arm and an Ortofon OM 5E cartridge, playback support at 33 and 45 RPM, retractable feet that emerge from the tray and hold the platter when the turntable is off, and an integrated UPS with enough power to lift the arm, stop the disc and extend the feet. After all, nobody wants the platter to fly off at the first power cut. The net weight of the turntable is 8.8 kilograms.
As expected, the MAG-LEV Audio is seeking financial support through crowdfunding, and its Kickstarter campaign came very close to reaching the original goal of 300 thousand dollars. At the moment, the price of the turntable is 880 dollars, and if all goes well, the first deliveries will take place in September 2017. I'll be honest: The promotional video isn't enough for me, and I'd like to see a prototype.
