Knowledge Base

MAG-LEV Audio is the first record player ever to have a fully levitating platter. This patent pending technology employs the use of magnets to give your record near frictionless playback for an exceptionally high quality audio experience. First launched as a Kickstarter campaign, the MAG-LEV Audio turntable is now in production. To pre-order your very own zero gravity turntable, please visit our online store and select from three different colour options: Black, White, or Imitation Wood. You can also follow us on our Facebook page.

This is the Knowledge Base for the the MAG-LEV Audio turntable. Please choose a topic to explore below:

Contents

Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Turntable
Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Vinyl Records
Moving Your Turntable
Leveling Your MAG-LEV Audio Turntable
Buying Parts
Servicing Your System
Specifications
Image Gallery

Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Turntable

Turntable Placement and Balance

The best way to maintain your MAG-LEV Audio turntable is through prevention. Keep the turntable away from direct exposure to sun, heat, moisture, dirt, dust, and sources of vibration. Make sure that your turntable is properly balanced (see Leveling the MAG-LEV Audio turntable).

Cleaning the Stylus

Brush from back to front with a good quality stylus brush. Add a little cleaning fluid to the brush from time to time but don't soak the stylus.

Replacing the Stylus

Change your stylus approximately every 2500 to 3000 hours of use.

1. Pinch the sides of the stylus and pull away from the cartridge.
2. Positon the new stylus correctly, push onto the cartridge.

Replacing the Cartridge

Make sure that the MAG-LEV Audio turntable is powered off and the platter is resting on the platter feet before continuing.

When replacing a cartridge, there are three calibrations that need to be properly adjusted to achieve high quality sound and assure minimal wear on your records or equipment. The three adjustments are: tracking pressure, cartridge alignment, and anti-skating.

Tracking Pressure

Change your stylus approximately every 2500 to 3000 hours of use. Select a new cartridge based on compatibility with the Pro-Ject 8.6 Tonearm. The suggested cartridge to use is the Ortofon OM 5E. When tracking pressure is properly set up, the stylus will rest fully inside the groove of the record.

1. Connect the red, blue, green and white leads to the corresponding marked terminals on the back of the cartridge. Loosely screw the cartridge into the headshell with a hex screwdriver.
2. Set the turntable's anti-skating dial to zero. Turn the counterweight on the back of the tonearm until it floats on its own. Now, set the gauge back to zero to "re-zero" the weight (turn the gauge part of the counterweight, not the entire weight).
3. Turn the entire weight to the number of grams your cartridge weighs.

Cartridge Alignment

For proper alignment of the cartridge, use a Pro-Ject 8.6 Tonearm protractor.

1. Loosely screw the cartridge into the headshell so that there is 52 mm distance between the back of the headshell and the tip of the stylus.
2. Place the alignment protractor on the platter, slipping the hole at the corner of the protractor onto the pin at the center of the platter.
3. Carefully place the stylus tip onto the first alignment point. Gently adjust the cartridge until the cantilever is parallel to the guideline on the protractor. When the cantilever is parallel, tighten the screws on the headshell.
4. Carefully place the stylus tip onto the second alignment point. Check to see that the cantilever is parallel to the guideline on the protractor. If it is not, repeat steps 1 – 3.

Anti-Skating

As a record spins, the rotation can pull the stylus toward the center of the disk and therefore cause it to rub against the inner edge of the groove. Anti-skating counters this force, keeping your stylus in the center of the groove.

To set the anti-skating, turn the anti-skating knob to the same number of grams that you set when you set the tracking pressure.

Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Vinyl Records

Cleaning Records

You will need a soft mat or towel, an antistatic carbon fiber brush, and a microfiber cloth.

1. Place the record flat on the mat or towel. Make sure that this is on a solid surface.
2. Following the grooves of the record, brush in a circle with the cabon fiber brush.
         NOTE: only medium pressure is needed.
3. Polish record with the microfiber cloth.

For excessively dirty records:
      Lightly spray the record with record cleaning fluid, then brush and polish as above

It is not necessary to purchase a cleaning machine. Howerver, cleaning machines do a very good job of fully cleaning out any dust or debris that may be lodged in a track. The better record cleaners also will remove static from the record which further improves sound quality.

Our recommendation for record cleaning machine it the Okki Nokki RCM. It is available in black or white with an optional dust cover. Where it really shines is it comes with vacuum cleaning tubes specifically for 10” and 7” records to really get the grime out.

Storing Records

Store your vinyl records standing upright, never piled into stacks. When piled, the weight of all the records can cause those near the bottom of the pile to warp. Warping can cause the tonearm to bounce which can cause excess vibrations to reach the cartridge and produces poor quality sound. In extreme cases, the stylus can bounce out of the track it's in and can cause damage to both the record and the delicate parts of your MAG-LEV Audio turntable. Storing your vinyl records standing upright prevents this warping from occurring.

Use antistatic plastic sleeves. These sleeves stop static and dust from building up. The result is much better sound quality for longer periods of time and less cleaning required.

Moving Your Turntable

Before moving your unit, clear the area that you will be moving it to as well as the area around its current location and the path between the two locations.

1. Make sure that it is powered down and the platter is resting on the platter feet.
2. Remove the levitation platter from the unit. Set it safely aside on a soft surface.
3. Unplug the unit’s power cord from the wall and from the back of the turntable. Set the plug safely aside.
4. Unplug the RCA phono cable from your amplifier. Coil up the cable and fasten it together with the Velcro strap that is attached to the cable. Place the coiled cable onto the base in between the platter feet so that it won’t fall or dangle.
5. Grab the unit firmly on both sides and lift, make sure to keep the unit level. Tipping the unit could loosen or cause strain on fragile parts such as the platter feet or the tonearm assembly. Always keep the unit level.
6. Carry the unit to the new location and gently place it on the flat surface.

If this location will be the unit’s new home, follow the instruction on leveling the turntable.

Leveling Your MAG-LEV Audio Turntable

Placement

• Keep it away from dust, smoke, and dirt.
• Keep it away from moisture.
• Keep it out of direct sunlight (sunlight can cause the colour and finish of the unit to fade).
• Minimize the jarring effects of footsteps, laundry appliances, and other sources of vibration by selecting a flat, solid, and secure surface for your turntable. This surface should be as far away from the speakers as possible.

Leveling

• Use a spirit level.
• With your system switched off and in the rest position (platter resting on platter feet), place the level on the platter.
• Spin isolation feet to achieve level (test with the level at the front, rear and both sides of platter).
        NOTE: isolation feet screw clockwise (extend) and counter clockwise (retract).

Buying Parts

Parts and accessories are available through our online store. These include the following:

• 45 rpm Adaptor (for 7” singles)
• Cartridge (MM Ortofon OM SE)
• Dust Cover
• Isolation Feet
• Phono Cable Adaptors
• Platter
• Power Cable (IEC for correct localization)
• Pro-Ject 8.6 Tonearm protractor (for cartridge alignment)
• Record Clamp/Weight (300g or lighter)
• Stylus
• UPS Backup Power Unit

Servicing Your System

If you need to repair your system or replace worn parts, please consult the table below. Some parts are easily replaced. However, MAG-LEV Audio suggests that you contact an authorized service technician to be sure that your turntable is repaired to our ridged standards. Please consult the table below on how to get intouch with our top-quality technicians.

Issue	How to Proceed	Next Steps
Fix Levitation System	Authorized Service Technicians	Who to call: Europe: 1-800-555-0123 North America: 1-800-555-4567 Asia: 1-800-555-8998 Worldwide: 1-800-555-7654
Replace Cartridge	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information
Replace Isolation Feet	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information
Replace/fix ON/OFF LED Switch	Authorized Service Technicians	Who to call: Europe: 1-800-555-0123 North America: 1-800-555-4567 Asia: 1-800-555-8998 Worldwide: 1-800-555-7654
Replace/Fix ON/OFF/SPEED Switch	Authorized Service Technicians	Who to call: Europe: 1-800-555-0123 North America: 1-800-555-4567 Asia: 1-800-555-8998 Worldwide: 1-800-555-7654
Replace Platter	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information
Replace Platter Feet	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information
Replace Power Cord	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information
Replace Stylus	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information
Replace/fix Tonearm	Authorized Service Technicians	Who to call: Europe: 1-800-555-0123 North America: 1-800-555-4567 Asia: 1-800-555-8998 Worldwide: 1-800-555-7654
Replace UPS	Customer Replaceable	Please visit the MAG-LEV Audio online store for more information

Specifications

The table below lists detailed specifications for the MAG-LEV Audio turntable.

Feature	Specification
Colour Options	Black, White, Imitation Wood (larch)
Fitted Cartridge	Ortofon OM 5E Moving Magnet Cartridge
Stylus	Stylus 5E (18 µm tip radius) Elliptical
Tonearm	Pro-Ject 8.6 Tonearm
Effective Tonearm Length	(8.6”) (21.85 cm)
Effective Tonearm Mass	(0.33 oz.) (9.5 g)
Overhang	(8.7”) (22 cm)
Counterweight	(0.18 oz.) (5.0 g)
Platter	(11.8”) (30 cm)
Playback Speeds	33.3 / 45 rpm
Playback Adaptor	45 rpm adaptor (for 7” singles)
Pre-Amp	No
Audio Output	L/R RCA Phono cable (fixed to turntable)
Drive System	MAG-LEV Drive (magnetic levitation drive system)
Power Supply Type	IEC-60320 Mains-Fed 220-240V, 50 cycles or 100-110V, 60 cycles
Power Consumption	12 Watts
UPS Backup Power	2 minutes of power Enough to safely put the turntable into rest mode in the event of a power outage
Dimensions	45 x 33 x 15 cm (17 6/8” x 13” x 5 15/16“)
Weight	Entire Unit = 19.4 lbs. (8.8 kg) Platter = 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg)

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