EAT European Audio Team C-Sharp

The success of the E-Flat motivated EAT to offer the public a TD turntable that is just as elegant but more compact.

Thanks to new materials like carbon and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), EAT was able to design a new turntable with a very low-profile chassis. The base of this flat chassis is made of very high-density MDF. Due to its size, this chassis rests with perfect stability on any surface. The base supports a very low-noise motor as well as 10 damping pads made of TPE, an energy-absorbing material (this elastomer is a high-tech material with the property of effectively absorbing energy and thus providing excellent damping). The conical part of these TPE columns supports the platter made of MDF and carbon fiber composite, giving it very high rigidity.

Stiffness is important in order to be a rigid base for the arm/cartridge and bearing/platter couples, as there must be no variation in distance between the groove and the reading cartridge during rotation. The background noise of the bearing/platter assembly is totally directed towards the TPE columns. The TPE also prevents unwanted energy from the motor and vibrations from surrounding elements from being transmitted to the platter or even to the arm and cartridge.

The bearing is inverted with a ceramic ball, inert and without resonance, placed at the top. Around the bearing is a 700g mass crown which absorbs all the surrounding energy. Vibrations are thus transformed into heat. The platter, made of a particularly inert aluminum alloy, is also damped by TPE inserts. The platter and sub-platter form a thin assembly while having a high mass and kinetic energy.

The belt is made of a special antistatic rubber. It is coated with glue and then polished.

The tonearm is totally original and combines the advantages of the unipivot with the gimbal principle. The unipivot is central and relieves the bearing of excessive load. The bearing of the traditional gimbal ensures very high stability and freedom of movement through its very low friction. The arm is damped by silicone-based grease to halve the resonances of the arm/cartridge couple.

The arm tube is made of carbon, chosen for its stiffness and high rigidity. The headshell is made of aluminum for its lightness and rigidity in order to optimize the advantages of the carbon tube and the damping of the aluminum as well as the firm fixing of the best MC cartridges.

An external DC power supply with an AC generator provides totally clean energy to the motor. The electronic selection of the 33/45 rotation speed is of course available.

• Rotation speeds: 33 / 45 revolutions per minute
• Controlled by microprocessor on separate unit
• Platter: Aluminum alloy with TPE inserts

Measurements

• Speed variation: 33 rpm ± < 0.08% or 45 rpm ± < 0.09%
• Signal-to-noise ratio
  • Mechanical: - 40 dB
  • Electrical: - 70 dB
• Tracking force: 0 to 30 mN
• Counterweights provided:
  • Cartridges from 5 g to 9 g (125 g) without additional insert
  • Cartridges from 8.5 g to 13 g (142 g) with additional insert
• Effective tonearm mass: 16.5 g
• Effective tonearm length: 254 mm
• Overhang: 16 mm

General

• Aluminum record clamp, felt turntable mat
• Power consumption: 8.5 W max / 0.5 W standby
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 500 x 115 x 400 mm
  • Turntable with dust cover measures 14.7 - 15 cm in height, 50W x 40D cm.
  • External control unit 9W x 17D x 4.5H cm.
  • Depth 435 mm with rear panel connectors
• Weight: 13.5 kg + 0.5 kg external control unit