Тонармы — European Audio Team (EAT) E-GO

The E-Go is a 12-inch unipivot tonearm from European Audio Team, the Prague company known as EAT that builds turntables and also produces 300B and KT88 valves, developed together with tonearm designer Bob Graham. It is derived from his Phantom II Supreme and was customised for the EAT Forte turntables, which is why it comes in the 12-inch length only. Unlike the Graham original, which is black with chrome highlights, the EAT version wears a matt chrome finish.

Key specs that matter

EAT quotes an effective mass of 14 g, a moderate figure for such a long wand. It pivots on one point resting in a cup, both parts precision-made in Switzerland from tungsten carbide, and the point faces downward from a strong square shank in the latest version of the design. The arm wand is titanium and carries new internal wiring. Anti-skate force can be set from almost zero to more than 3 g, either by turning a thumb-wheel or by sliding the bias weight. The counterweight is sized to take a wide span of cartridge weights. In the UK the E-Go was listed at GBP 6,300.

Engineering and use context

A plain unipivot is free in every direction, which also lets it rock sideways on the point. Graham's answer is the patented Magneglide system - neodymium magnets placed horizontally from the pivot, one of them centred at the same height as the pivot itself, that hold the arm laterally without touching the bearing assembly. According to the maker this adds lateral stability, makes azimuth easy to set, raises lateral inertia, adds damping to the system and keeps the stylus pivoting purely vertically with no rotation as the arm is lifted. The same magnetic field is also used for the anti-skate adjustment. The arm tube is interchangeable and lifts off the base easily, so owners of several cartridges can keep each one mounted on its own wand. A patented alignment system lets the cartridge be installed and aligned away from the turntable.

Pairing

This moderate effective mass sits between very light arms meant for high compliance moving magnet designs and heavy arms for stiff moving coil types, so the choice of cartridge is wide, and the counterweight range backs that up. Since the arm was tailored to the EAT Forte decks, those turntables and later EAT models with a 12-inch arm position are the natural hosts, and owners who switch between several cartridges gain most from the removable wand and the off-deck alignment tool.

Alternatives

The EAT F-Note is the brand's gimbal alternative, a 12-inch arm with four pinpoint bearings in a cardanic frame and an effective mass of 21.4 g.