-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L0tNBxaZi1YS5g5Gaud8IAPnykwB31nrvefZmRCXUs6AQf28VD5cf3jAwspt8i7i
 NYmd6LHF7iajv6TM1eNSOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-018697.txt : 20040924
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-018697.hdr.sgml : 20040924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040924145437
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-018697
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040924
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040924

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAGNETEK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000751085
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, NEC [3679]
		IRS NUMBER:				953917584
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10900 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90024
		BUSINESS PHONE:		310-689-1600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10900 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90024

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JORDEN YON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189397

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10233
		FILM NUMBER:		041044820

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 WEST JOHN CARPENTER FREEWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4695244700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 WEST JOHN CARPENTER FREEWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000751085</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAGNETEK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JORDEN YON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10900 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 850</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1512.8593</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1512.8593</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1512.8593</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Phantom Stock Units were accrued under the Magnetek, Inc. Amended and Restated Director Compensation and Deferral Investment Plan and will be settled in shares of Magnetek, Inc. common stock upon the Reporting Persons termination of service as a director of Magnetek, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tina D. McKnight, Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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