Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — European Audio Team (EAT) C-MAJOR

The C-MAJOR is a fully manual, belt driven deck from European Audio Team (EAT). It was introduced as an entry level model for listeners who want more than a budget deck at a price below the C-Sharp. EAT built it on C-Sharp technology and reduced cost through a shorter tonearm, manual speed change without a separate speed control unit, a more compact chassis and a smaller platter and clamp. It ships with a dust cover and a moving coil pickup, the Ortofon Quintet Blue, and its US launch price was USD 2,495.

Key specs that matter

Speeds are 33 and 45 rpm, switched by hand. Speed variance is below 0.09 percent at 33 rpm and below 0.10 percent at 45 rpm, while wow and flutter is held below 0.05 percent at either speed. EAT gives a mechanical signal to noise ratio of 40 dB and an electrical figure of 68 dB. Without the cover the deck measures 460 x 352 x 125 mm, rising to 142 mm tall when closed and 435 mm tall with the lid open, when its depth grows to 380 mm. The turntable alone weighs 9 kg.

Engineering and use context

The aluminium platter weighs 1.8 kg and rides on a 0.7 kg sub platter, and it is damped with inserts of thermoplastic elastomer. The chassis uses optimised high density MDF, which gives a solid base that absorbs unwanted vibrations. The tonearm is the C-Note in a carbon alloy, using a hybrid cardan and unipivot bearing that combines low friction with stability. Effective length is 230 mm, effective mass is 14.5 g and the overhang is 18 mm. Downforce adjusts from 0 to 30 mN. A 110 g counterweight covers cartridges of 5 to 9 g, and a 148 g version with insert covers 9 to 17 g, so the arm accepts pickups from 5 to 17 g in total. The DC motor is fed at 15 V and 1.6 A from a universal supply accepting 90 to 264 V AC at 47 to 63 Hz, and it draws 5 W at most in use and 0.5 W in standby.

Pairing

Because the bundled Quintet Blue works on the moving coil principle, the chosen phono stage needs a moving coil input or a step-up transformer. The universal power supply lets the deck run on mains anywhere in the world. The deck has no phono stage of its own, so a separate MC capable preamp is part of the system budget. The counterweight options leave room to fit a different pickup later covered by the two weights.

Alternatives

The EAT C-Sharp sits above the C-MAJOR with a 254 mm tonearm, a 13.5 kg body and a separate 0.5 kg control panel.