CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP,
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 333-24187) and related
Prospectus of MagneTek, Inc. for the registration of 250,000 shares of its
common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated
August 20, 1996, except for the second paragraph of Note 4, as to which the date
is September 16, 1996, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
MagneTek, Inc., incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for
the year ended June 30, 1996 and the related financial statement schedule
included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


St. Louis, Missouri
April 2, 1997