EXHIBIT 23 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the incorporation by reference of the Registration Statements (Form S-3 Nos. 33-31932, 33-40222, 33-41854 and 33-43856) and in the related Prospectuses, and in the Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 33-31439, 33-33887, 33-34112, 33-34834 and 33-44519) pertaining to the 1987 Stock Option Plan of MagneTek, Inc., the MagneTek Flexcare Plus Savings Plan, 1989 Incentive Stock Compensation Plan of MagneTek, Inc., the MagneTek Unionized Employee Savings Plan, and the Amended and Restated 1989 Incentive Stock Compensation Plan of MagneTek, Inc., of our report dated August 18, 1994, except for the second paragraph of Note 4, as to which the date is September 29, 1994, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of MagneTek, Inc included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 1994. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Woodland Hills, California October 12, 1994 LC942860.033/-1+