Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — European Audio Team (EAT) FORTISSIMO S

The FORTISSIMO S is a belt-drive turntable from European Audio Team (EAT) in the Czech Republic, introduced to North America in July 2024 as a smaller and less costly derivative of the Fortissimo. It was priced at USD 8,000 without tonearm or cartridge, and EAT's own instructions describe it fitted with the company's C-Note 12-inch arm. Finishes listed are black, Makassar and leather black.

Key specs that matter

Two speeds, 33 and 45 rpm, are selected electronically, with 45.11 rpm quoted for the upper setting. Speed variance is under 0.07 percent at 33 rpm and under 0.08 percent at 45 rpm, while both speeds hold wow and flutter under 0.008 percent. Electrical signal-to-noise is given as -73 dB. The platter alone weighs about 23 kg and measures 400 mm across. Width, height and depth are 550, 250 and 440 mm, and the deck weighs 47 kg unpacked, or 83 kg in its shipping box. Power draw peaks at 8.5 W and falls to 0.5 W in standby.

Engineering and use context

Two motors drive the platter through separate front and rear belts, and the front belt is fitted first because that motor sits lower. A microprocessor governs speed, controlled from a panel with lighted buttons for 33, 45 and standby. The platter is built up from aluminium, brass and vinyl, with a vinyl mat bonded to its surface, and opposing magnets carry part of its weight so the main bearing is less loaded. That bearing is an inverted ceramic ball running in a steel alloy block, and a graphene-based coating cuts its friction to one sixth of the figure for the Forte S. The chassis is a two-part structure that mixes mass loading with suspension, using a top section of high-density MDF with a metal-filled centre. Four height-adjustable feet with magnetic support and damping level the deck, checked with a supplied spirit level, and a record clamp is included. Power arrives from a universal switch-mode adapter delivering 15 V DC at 1.6 A from 90 to 264 V AC mains at 47 to 63 Hz. The tonearm connection is a 5-pin socket under the arm.

Pairing

With the C-Note 12-inch fitted, the supplied counterweight covers cartridges from 5 to 13 g, and tracking force can be set between 0 and 3 g. EAT also lists its S-shaped F-Note MkII arm as an option. A separate phono preamplifier is needed, and EAT's own E-Glo units keep the whole analogue chain within one brand.

Alternatives

The EAT Fortissimo is the larger turntable from which the S version was derived, with pricing starting at USD 12,000.