Magnetic bearings .

[the loaf]

Hi All ,
Has anyone had experience with turntables with magnetic bearings ? As far as I can make out airtight did make one (now discontinued ) , also Blue Pearl Jem was another make .
Intrigued to know if they are as trouble free as I would assume ?
Cheers.

[YNWaN]

I designed one based on neodymium magnets years ago and still use a version in my turntable today. Also, I designed a variant that is sold by the company Tigerpaw as a retro-fit upgrade to the Linn LP12 and that has done well. They are entirely trouble free and do not require maintenance.

[petrat]

My Platine Verdier is basically just a big flywheel floating on a magnetic field. Works fine in practice, with no trace of rumble or anything. The only thing to be careful about is when dismantling/assembling to avoid the two magnets getting too close to each other ... if one is inverted and they attract each other, it's apparently impossible to separate them again :doh:

[Audio Al]

My Pro Ject 10.1 has this as well . I was sceptical at first but it does work , You can feel the opposing magnets coming into action as you lower the big platter onto the bearing spindle , It sort of halvs the weight / cussions it

I cant see any down side .

[YNWaN]

There are two main variants; the type that reduces the load on the bearing and the type that fully suspends the platter - I have done both.

[walpurgis]

There are two main variants; the type that reduces the load on the bearing and the type that fully suspends the platter - I have done both.

I was wondering when somebody would mention that. There is a big difference in the principles.

[petrat]

I was wondering when somebody would mention that. There is a big difference in the principles.

Presumably, you mean that the fully floating one has the magnetic field as part of the deck's suspension, whereas t'other is merely allowing an inferior bearing to be used? :D

The instructions that come with the Platine Verdier discuss set-up procedures for either approach. Being lazy, I set it up fully floating (which is easier), but web-chat seems to indicate some benefits to having the bearing just touching (using a ball-bearing as support), claiming improved bass definition ... something about 'grounding' it acoustically? Conceptually, I prefer the idea of the weight of the platter being fully supported by the magnets, but, of course, that only provides a degree of cushioning in the exact vertical axis ... any vibrations with any horizontal component would, I presume, still be 'seen' pretty much like any other turntable.

I sometimes look at the PV, and wonder if this approach is used anywhere else by mechanical engineers, or whether it's just another example of hifi marketing nonsense ... yet another great 'solution' to a non-problem? :lol: Either way, I must say it sounds pretty good.

[rubber duck]

Doesn't PV offer both options - magnetic bearings and non-mag/traditional bearings?

[rubber duck]

There are two main variants; the type that reduces the load on the bearing and the type that fully suspends the platter - I have done both.

And your preference is ... if you don't mind me asking?

[the loaf]

Thanks All very useful . The airtight tt apparently also has a facility to either fully cushion the suspension or partly so I guess the there must be some significant aural changes .