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Motorman's New Scam Of The Week - the miraculous Furutech LP Demagnetizer

I thought I would find enough snake oil to write something amusing each week.  Partly because I was busy, and party because no particularly expensive scam caught my attention, I have not nominated a new ridiculous piece of audiophile nonsense . . . until now!  Today's new piece of ridiculous snake oil that no audiophile can do without is the Furutech LP Demagnetizer.  Yes, you had no idea that you needed one, did you?  This little baby showed up for the bargain basement price of $1,845.00 (retail, $2,715).

What does this amazing product do?  It demagnetizes your vinyl, because your vinyl contains carbon and carbon attracts a magnetic charge.  That magnetic charge apparently adds "a layer of grit, glare, and haze," that the LP Demagnetizer magically removes. Of course, once your LP has be run through the Demagnetizer, it will reveal the usual "smoother treble and increased dimensionality," according to The Absolute Sound.  Presumably given a nod to just how dumb that may sound, particularly for $2,715, Absolute Sound actually acknowledges "Nor is it an essential piece of equipment. You can probably get more bang for the buck by upgrading a cartridge or tonearm or maybe even by improving the isolation of your ’table with a device like the Minus K product. But if you’re pretty much set on your analog rig and looking for a nifty upgrade—one, let’s face it, that will likely have your friends questioning your sanity  . .  . then the Furutech DeMag is a no-brainer."  

In other words, if you love your current analog rig as is, but feel compelled to waste money on snake oil that you don't need, the Furutech is a "no-brainer."  Let's put aside the fact that The Absolute Sound's review lacks of any type of double-blind listening study, which is the anathema to snake oil salesman, and lets put aside the fact that if LP's really needed a demagnetizer, you can pick one up for $30.  It is more likely that the purchaser of a $2,715 Furutech is the person without a brain.

6Moons adds to the completely unscientific and totally subjective chorus by saying " It seemed as if analog was even more analog. That little edge on middle and high notes, that glare, was completely gone now. Overall the sound was warmer, more rounded and fuller of color."  Of course -- it makes "analog more analog."  Do we check our common sense at the door when we buy audio gear?  I could never figure out why my already wonderfully warm sounding vinyl had "that little edge on the middle and high notes."  Thank you Furutech!  Now I know.

A voice in the wilderness -- Gizmodo, an organization that does not seem beholden to exaggerated and unmeasurable claims of "making analog more analog," summed it up nicely: "Furutech DeMag Demagnetizes Your Money Away"

As always, if you are one of those people that light their cigars with $100 bills, and think nothing of spending $2715 on something that admittedly looks pretty cool even if its worthless, I guess you may be the target market.  But if you haven't checked your common sense at the door . . .

moto_man

Showing 5 responses by geoffkait

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Moto man wrote,

"6Moons adds to the completely unscientific and totally subjective chorus by saying " It seemed as if analog was even more analog."

Actually listening I.e., subjective tests, are very scientific. You know, since we obtain information regarding the world around us through our senses which, the last time I checked, number five, including sense of hearing.

I hate to judge these things to quickly but I’m pretty sure the folks over at Gizmodo are runaways from some forlorn collection of mossbacks and knuckle draggers.

Be it sight, sound, the smell, the touch.
There’s something,
Inside that we need so much,
The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
The wonder of flowers, to be covered, and then to burst up,
Thru tarmack, to the sun again,
Or to fly to the sun without burning a wing,
To lie in the meadow and hear the grass sing,
To have all these things in our memories hoard,
And to use them,
To help us,
To find...
God...


cheerios
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Moto man wrote,

"What does this amazing product do? It demagnetizes your vinyl, because your vinyl contains carbon and carbon attracts a magnetic charge. That magnetic charge apparently adds "a layer of grit, glare, and haze."

Not wishing to judge too quickly but it appears, at least based on the results of a preliminary Google search, that the Carbon atoms found in the chemical Polyvinyl Chloride - the main ingredient found in LPs - are actually not magnetizable. So perhaps some other theory might be offered to explain why demagnetization of LPs and CDs works.

From the Ferro Carbon Project website:

"To date, the observation of ferromagnetic properties has only been observed as a small fraction of some carbon samples. Pure carbon can take many forms, ranging from graphite to diamond, alongside more recently discovered forms such as the fullerenes � C60. Ferromagnetic behaviour has so far been observed in pressure and light polymerised fullerenes and irradiated graphite, amongst others."

cheers, GK



geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Ohlala wrote,

"I’m not sure how trace ferrous metals can get and stay magnetized over a record, or have a geometry that creates a magnetic field large enough to disturb a cartridge. That may be reflected in the nanotesla numbers."

Well, exactly. By the same token, are we really supposed to take in on face value that trace elements of some ferrous material somehow managed to wind up either in the atrociously thin metal layer of the CD (which one imagines is a rather pure metal or metal alloy or even 24 carat gold) or in the ink used for graphics on the CD label are sufficiently magnetizable to have the slightest chance of affecting the path of the CD laser or discombobulate some electric circuit or other in the vicinity?

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Yes, I know I’m the last person anyone would expect to throw a damp towel on the proceedings but in order for an object to be demagnetized it must obviously be magnetized in the first place and in order to be magnetized it must be magnetizable, no? Furutech theorizes the surface is magnetized, but what is there to become magnetized to begin with? The ink? The ferrous impurities in the vinyl, if any? The carbon atoms in polyvinyl chloride? I don’t think so. I’m not buying it. As far as putting a magnetic field back on the LP or CD using a handheld demag, as Furutech warns, of course that is quite possible - if the demag is used improperly.

Now, this is not at all to say that demagnetizing LPs and CDs doesn’t work. My argument is directed only towards the theories floated around on how demagnetizers work. Anyone who has an alternative theory feel free to chime in.

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
ehtoo
3 posts
05-15-2016 11:13am
"You think the Furutech is expensive. Try the Acoustic Revive. The Walker Talisman also works, is about $200 but, it takes more effort to use. At least the Furutech or AR allow you to do lengths of cabling as well."

From the Walker Audio website for Talisman, note last sentence Re treating cables:

"Magnetic fields and static electricity can greatly affect audio and video playback equipment and source material. The Talisman temporarily dissipates magnetic fields and static electricity allowing the phono cartridge or laser reader to transmit a purer, more accurate signal. Use the Talisman to treat LPs, CDs, SACDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs, and Blu Ray discs, as well as treating your audio and video cables in place!"

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