Slovenian start-up Mag Lev Audio is starting serial production of its innovative levitating turntable and is getting first reviews in the audiophile press.
Turntables have been in style for some time among music aficionados. Yet some turntables are more stylish than others. The Mag Lev turntable developed by a Slovenian start up caused a small sensation on crowdfunding platforms a couple of years ago. In a short period of time the Mag Lev project attracted over 850 backers on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and 800.000 euros in funding – far above the stated goal. Earlier this year the young Slovenian company began serial production – and fulfilling a long list of pre-orders.
Serial production has also brought with it the first batch of reviews. What could be cooler than a turntable with a levitating platter? The answer is simple: a deck with a levitating platter that also sounds superb. In fact, in the hi-fi community this is the main prerequisite for success – anything else would be just a short-lived fad. The first reviews came out in audiophile magazines this summer. Their verdict is that Mag Lev’s ML1 deck sounds at good as it looks. The reviewers of the prestigious German Audio magazine were »surprised by the sound« of the ML1 and awarded it the »Recommended« badge. The reviewers in Lite, a German lifestyle and technology magazine, stated that “the electromagnetic drive is another highlight that makes the ML1 an impressive milestone in hi-fi history”.
The company Mag Lev Audio currently employs 20 people – the planned production is around 1.500 record players per month. The ML1 costs 2.500 US dollars – or around 2.100 euros. The team behind the levitating turntable had already had success with their crowdfunding campaign for the Goat Story Coffee Mug machine.
