Bergmann Audio Magne Turntable 10th Anniversary Edition
If love at first sight is a thing in high end audio, then my first look at Bergmann Audio’s Bauhaus beauty, the Magne Turntable was it. I don’t like curves. Straight lines all the way. And Minimalism is something I live by, not food and wine, of course, but definitely furniture, architecture and lifestyle. Thus, the straight, minimalist lines of the Magne Turntable System (includes the equally superb Magne air bearing tonearm) really was vinyl love at first sight. Quickly, I began a lustful journey to get one and expected it be the final stop on my lifelong quest for the very best I could afford in vinyl playback.
You can read my first and second thoughts about the Magne here and here.
This post is about the new 10th Anniversary Edition ($13,900/incl. arm) kindly provided to me by my friends Johnnie and Eva Bergmann. A Danish Dynamic Duo if ever there was.
I’ll be writing about the differences in sound (if any) and the subtle but very effective design changes that Bergmann has made that makes life even simpler for the owner.
Bergmann design & manufacture offices in Hobro, Denmark.
The Magne arrived unharmed by FedEx after an unexplained ten day delay at the FedEx Euro hub, Cologne. The long wait while the turntable laid in a cold, dark pallet as the Euro workers went about their business was very first world frustrating (actually, to be fair to my German friends, their employer FedEx has laid off workers while raising prices and making huge profits during Covid).
The Magne system packaging is very effective (see unboxing and setup video on our YouTube Channel here. Please subscribe. Thanks). As you’ll see in the video, unboxing is a breeze as is setup (tonearm is shipped attached).
My Use
The new Magne was setup on the first of my two Salamander Archetype 5 stands, meaning I could fit the air pump box in my closet (a very long air hose is provided). Behind closed doors is not a requisite as the box is silent and almost maintenance free.
Attached was the Phasemation EA-550 Phono Amplifier (unboxing) ($9600. Review forthcoming) with my reference Phasemation PP-2000 MC Phono Cartridge ($7000) hung on the Magne tonearm. My MBL N51 Integrated Amplifier ($17,600) did pre/power duties and Allnic Audio cables connected everything.
Features and Specifications
This will be a longer section than usual. Here is where I’ll report to you the physical and design changes I observed in the new edition.
First up, the finish. I ordered the same industrial dark grey colour with silver aluminium (very heavy) platter. It looks as good as my Gen 1. However, now the finish has a very tactile and refined ‘rubbery’ feel. Seems very upmarket. I like it. It doesn’t affect the colour or visuals, just the touch.
A happy discovery between my earlier first-run Magne and this new model is with the air system/motor interface. Now, press the 33 or 45 button once, wait two seconds, then press again. First press begins airflow, second starts the motor (like the Gen 1, this new motor is silent but gives a very rewarding startup sound before getting to speed, followed by silence). Practicality gets even better when ending your listening session—press the 33 or 45 and the motor stops immediately and the airflow to the platter and arm stops automatically 2 minutes later. This is a great improvement.
If you’ve followed my Magne journey on Audiophilia and our YouTube Channel, you’ll know of all the joys and the one problem. Intermittent speed fluctuation after a few years with the original ‘table. It was solved, but could be frustrating. No such frustration now. I’ve checked the 10th Anniversary speeds daily for two months (RPM Pro iOS app and Allnic Audio Speednic). 33 and 45 rock solid. Hundreds of records played.
I recently received an answer to my Magne speed controller question from Johnnie Bergmann:
Magne has become a kind of design icon. Therefore, we have not made visual changes—only improved the operating system in connection with the 10th Anniversary.
The electronic feedback system:
All our tables are mounted with a DC tacho motor. The tacho is a small disc mounted at the bottom end of the motor spindle. The tacho disc has 68 points around it. These points are monitored by the motor, 68 times per revolution.
At 33rpm, the motor is spinning about 1100rpm. 45rpm is about 1400rpm. 68 readings per revolution x 1100rpm = nearly 75.000/95.000 times per minute, the DC motor is monitored and corrected.
I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but with the super stable pitch, am I hearing more inner detail? We’ll talk about dynamics, shortly. Interestingly, the power supply is of the wall wart variety. I thought this may have been upgraded, too [see Bergmann’s comments above]. Even mid level turntables ship with a speed controller. There is a controller in the air supply box for the Modi (‘entry level’) and Galder (the flagship Bergmann), but not, it seems, for the Magne. Happily, the speed is spot on.
The even higher grade Litz wire is still tethered to the ‘table, but there is more of it, meaning cartridge installs are easier.
VTA is still very easily Allen key adjusted via the main post. Interestingly, I eyeballed for parallel, but the sound was tizzy. A little rear lift, and all was well with the cart’s balance. YMMV. In the interest of best analogue practices, I have a reminder on my iPhone to nudge me every two months to check speed, tracking weight, VTA and arm level (the most simple, ingenious, effective plastic cylinder riding the airflow along the arm tube is highly accurate—adjustment is via Allen key). Be sure to check weekly after unboxing for about a month. Analogue geometry and physics are harsh mistresses.
Specifications
Turntable
Airbearing design.
Record flatten by a clamp.
Tacho motor. High precision feedback control system. Speed accuracy 0.003%.
33 & 45 rpm beltdriven.
Plinth:
Polymer material/aluminium.
Platter/Bearing:
Aluminium platter/Polycarbonate mat, supported by air, and centered by a hard anodized spindle/hardened, low friction, polymer bearing.
Platter weight:
5.5 kg.
Subplatter:
Aluminium
Weight: 1.5kg.
Dimensions:
440 x 495 x 165 (D x W x H)
Total weight:
20 kg.
Tonearm
Linear tracking airbearing tonearm.
Aluminium/carbon.
Armtube damped inside.
Counter weight decoupled from armtube.
Wire:
Pure copper litz.
Clips:
Gold plated copper.
Connectors:
Gold plated RCA, XLR, DIN.
Effective mass: 11g.
Air Supply
Silent, clean, dry and smooth airflow. Replaceable dust filter.
Dimensions:
370 x 195 x 175 (D x W x H)
Weight:
8.3kg.
Sound
Reading both previous posts (linked above) will be beneficial and give you a consistent message about the wonderful sound. The sound structure continues with the 10th Anniversary: explosive dynamics, very low noise with effectively black backgrounds, an arm that could ride out any vinyl storm, and the ability to dig down deep into the soundstage to unveil low energy details. Not much escapes.
I use a $5 LP find, Novelletten by Schumann (Opus 21/1838) with Claudio Arrau on a mid price Philips record to gauge the ever elusive, accurate piano tone. First, the repertoire is exceptional, and, before this record, hitherto unknown to me. Such great music with Arrau’s gorgeous piano tone and his thunderous dynamics. Typical of Dutch vinyl, the pressing is exemplary. And all for five bucks.
This was one of the first LPs on the 10th and it was love rekindled in bar 1. The notes jumped off the page but without the clangorous piano sound heard on lesser turntables. This was a master turntable at work, controlling everything in its power; reflections under control from the instrument’s soundboard, pitch stability (Arrau’s piano pitch was rock solid, even on long held chords with the sustaining pedal), dynamics various with no subtlety of his tone unheard. As such, the colours from a difficult to record instrument were superb.
Conclusion
Really take the fine tuning, maintenance upkeep to heart. The simple Bauhaus lines may deceive—it’s a brilliantly engineered device, but like all the very finest machines, needs targeted, tender care. After the first week and many, many records, the Magne needed some small adjustments. These really aided in the music’s focus and flow. When the turntable’s happy, everybody’s happy. And this turntable workflow will be the same for any high end ‘table.
With the 10th ($13,900/incl. arm), I felt the detail retrieval was even better than the First Gen. Maybe it was the jet black backgrounds or the soundstage was clearer. Unsure. But, my ears didn’t seem to be lying. In any guise, First Gen or 10th Anniversary, you’re getting a Rolls Royce of a turntable that will stroke your analogue ego for many years to come. And continues to be my top recommendation.
Further information: Bergmann Audio
