Turntables — European Audio Team (EAT) FORTE S

European Audio Team built the Forte S as a more compact, single-chassis belt-drive turntable on the Forte platform. The standard Forte and the Fortissimo sit above it in this family.

Key specs that matter

Playback speeds are 33 and 45 rpm. Its belt is pulled by a DC motor, where the standard Forte uses AC motors. Wow and flutter is 0.009% and signal-to-noise is -73 dB, figures close to those of the larger Forte. The deck measures 550 x 250 x 440 mm and weighs 44 kg.

Engineering and use context

Unlike the Forte, which places its motors in a separate housing beside the plinth, the Forte S has the motor drive built into the main chassis. This brings the width down to 55 cm and the weight down from the Forte's 65 kg.

Pairing

No tonearm or cartridge is specified for the Forte S, so the choice of arm and phono stage stays open.

Alternatives

EAT's Forte is the larger two-chassis version with an outboard motor unit and a heavier plinth.