-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UXgroHz/8VBYo1mvuhWdA/y/im6vH2WM+7si9ss2RdQkZZ4SKriEl48YPxQNwMc6
 peuyjdIyF8ntWeko5gRENg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-018807.txt : 20050929
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-018807.hdr.sgml : 20050929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050929123039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-018807
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050927
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050929
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050929

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:			QUAIN MITCHELL I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213693

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10233
		FILM NUMBER:		051110415

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10900 WILDHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 850
		CITY:			LOS ANGLES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90024
</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>2005-09-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213693</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>QUAIN MITCHELL I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10900 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 850</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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>2005-09-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5027.9329</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.58</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>5027.9329</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44151.5429</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>2005-09-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----