| Content | Turntable section
Type: Direct Drive Manual Turntable
Turntable Speeds: 33 1/3, 45, 78 rpm
Adjust Range: ±8%, ±16%
Starting Torque: 3.3 kg･cm (2.8 lb-in)
Build-up Characteristics: 0.7 s. from standstill to 33 1/3 r/min
Wow And Flutter: 0.025% W.R.M.S. (JIS C5521)
Rumble: 78dB (IEC 98A Weighted)
Turntable Platter:
- Brass and Aluminum diecast combined
- Diameter：332mm (13-5/64")
- Weight：About 3.6kg (7 15/16 lb) (Including rubber sheet)
Tonearm Section
Type: Universal Static Balance
Effective Length: 230mm (9-1/16")
Overhang: 15mm (19/32")
Tracking Error Angle:
- Within 2° 32' (at the outer groove of 30cm(12") record)
- Within 0° 32' (at the inner groove of 30cm(12") record)
Offset Angle: 22°
Arm-height Adjustment Range: 0 - 6 mm
Stylus Pressure Adjustment Range: 0 - 4 g (direct reading)
Terminals
Audio Output PHONO (Pin Jack) x 1
EARTH TERMINAL x 1 | The C-Major is EAT's best value turntable, incorporating many of the design features of the more expensive C-Sharp. You'll get a heavy platter for great speed stability, a solid record clamp, and the C-Note 9" tonearm, which uses very precision bearings. Combine this with the included $500 Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge and fitted dustcover, and you will be getting a real value. This package will bring all your vinyl to life and give you many years of listening pleasure.
Design & Build Quality
The first time that we had a chance to play with the EAT turntables there were a couple of things that really impressed us right off the bat. Their striking appearance will obviously catch your attention. We’ve even had several happy EAT customers tell us that when they first got their table out of the box they just stared at it in awe. Once you start to put the table together, however, you will immediately get a great sense of the superb craftsmanship.
The EAT C-Major has a very similar look to the C-Sharp -- the same low slung body and mix of high gloss black, carbon fiber, and brushed aluminum which make many of the other tables on the market look chunky in comparison. The plinth is made of carbon fiber and is nestled on some floating isolators inside a thin, high-gloss black base. The C-Major’s 9” tonearm features a carbon fiber arm tube and the heavy platter supports a special mat that is made from recycled LPs. It’s then topped off with a substantial record clamp. The whole combination just looks fantastic!
Like all great turntables, the C-Major is a fully manual turntable. You might think that a high-end table like this would be difficult to use, but we were pleasantly surprised to discover that it’s just the opposite! You simply turn it on, move the tonearm over the record, lower it down, and enjoy the tunes!
Features & Technology
We’ll start from the bottom of the table and work our way up. The sleek and slim base is made out of a super dense MDF material. Inside, the low-noise motor is mounted to the lower sub-chassis which is isolated from the upper plinth with eight cone-shaped pieces of a high tech damping material called Thermoplastic Elastomer, or TPE. These provide great isolation from the motor and really do a great job damping out external vibrations. If you want to feel the damping effect, simply push down gently on the plinth.
The plinth is made from an outer shell of carbon fiber sandwiched over MDF. The C-Major has three adjustable feet which make leveling everything a snap. The feet are also internally damped to reduce any external noise from getting up to the table. The EAT also includes a low profile dust cover with the C-Major, which not only protects it, but also matches up with its sleek appearance.
The bearing for the inner platter is pretty similar to what you find in most turntables in this category. The inner platter has a shaft that drops into a bronze bearing well where its tip spins on a special plate made of a near friction-free, teflon-like material.
The outer platter weighs in at a stout 4 lbs and has a great design. The top part that touches the record is made out of recycled vinyl, while the rest of the platter is a sandwich design of an aluminum/magnesium alloy with TPE in the center. EAT puts more mass on the outer edge of the platter, which helps to give it a great flywheel effect. This combination of bearing and platter is one reason the EAT tables all have great speed consistency. Like the more expensive C-Sharp, the C-major also comes with an aluminum record clamp.
While there are lots of things we love about this table, one of our favorite aspects is the carbon fiber tonearm that we mentioned earlier. It’s incredibly adjustable, allowing you to use a wide range of phono cartridges on it. These adjustments exude European precision.
The design of the tonearm is a combination of a uni-pivot and a more conventional Carden type.
Uni-pivot arms can move freely, not only across the record and up and down, but also rotating on the horizontal plane. Imagine an airplane coming in for a landing when you see the wings move up and down on each side in relation to the ground. The theory is there is some movement like this in the record grooves and being able to have freedom of movement allows the cartridge to track better.
The downside of uni-pivots is they are a royal pain to adjust. EAT came up with a brilliant solution that gives you the best of both worlds and we can attest to the fact that it works great! You get a small amount of movement where the arm can tip left to right, but it behaves more like a traditional pivoted arm.
The rear counterweight has an additional weighted insert that you can install for cartridges that are heavier than normal. The counterweight doesn’t have any markings like a lot of high end tonearms, so you will need a stylus pressure gauge to set the right force, but luckily EAT includes one in the box.
You also have azimuth adjustment which allows you to adjust the tonearm left and right. When you look at your tonearm from the front while sitting on a record, the headshell should be parallel to the record surface. EAT lets you really fine tune this if you desire. Finally, you can even adjust the height of the tonearm rest and the cueing cylinder, allowing you to really dial things in for your cartridge.
For anti-skating, EAT uses a gravity-based system which we really like. It is a little bit of a pain to set up, but we’ve been able to help everyone through it, so if you purchase one and have any trouble, just give us a call.
Finally, to change from 33 to 45, like a lot of tables out there, you simply lift off the outer platter and move the belt on the motor pulley.
Please don’t let all of these adjustments make you think this table is finicky or hard to set up. The best way to buy it is with the deal EAT has on the Ortofon Blue, Black MC, or their own JO5. These all come preset up and you save quite a bit with the package -- $250 or $500, which makes the table an amazing deal!
Performance
To test out the EAT C-Major, we set up what we thought might be a typical rig. We used the Cambridge CXA80 integrated amp, a Sutherland KC Vibe phono stage and a pair of Paradigm’s new Premier 800F towers. The table used the Ortofon Blue, which we think is probably the best way to go for the money with the C-Major.
First up was the classic Landside from Fleetwood Mac. When you have a great system that is well set up Stevie Nick’s voice should be dead center while the guitars float in between the speakers. This combo aced this test!
Next up was Robbie Robertson’s Somewhere Down the Crazy River from his first solo album in 1987. We look for two things on this one. First, there are some very dynamic bass attacks as the track begins. Then later on, you can hear lots of emotion in his voice when he says "Why do you always end up down at Nick's Cafe?" , "I don't know, the wind just kind of pushed me this way." It’s in the first “why” and “pushed me this way” on a great system you’ll hear all kinds of subtle inflections in his voice. While we have heard more on much more expensive rigs, this combination once again, really drew us into the music. Plus, it nailed the bass attacks.
After hearing this, we wanted to pull out our favorite cut for testing speed stability. This is Pink Houses from John Cougar's Uh-Huh album. If the table has great speed stability, you’ll be tapping your foot to the music. Once again, the EAT was very impressive.
This is one very special table. It has the ability with its precision tonearm to track really well and its isolation system helps it provide that great bass impact. EAT designs are also winning us over for their speed purity. Finally, with its jewel of a tonearm, it's just fun to use!
- The C-Note tonearm on the C-Major is 9" in length instead of 10" on the C-Sharp
- There is no separate speed control
- The main chassis has a more compact footprint
- The platter clamp is smaller
- The platter is smaller
|
In 1991 Pro-Ject started a revolution in HiFi with the introduction of the Pro-Ject 1 turntable. A new high-end, low budget turntable at a time when CD was king. Against all odds, we were creating interest in analog audio at a time when others were turning their backs, and the success was only down to three critical philosophies: Simple yet technically correct design, High-quality valuable materials, and Fully handcrafted, expert engineers, made in the EU.
The design is carefully tuned to offer the most critical features for the best price and everything is put together with Pro-Ject‘s decade long experience in making the best performing turntables without blowing the budget: MDF is 2-3 times more expensive than standard particle boards, not to mention a plastic chassis, but sounds and feels way better.
The X1‘s luxury 8 layers of painting and the hand-polished finish are 3-4 times more expensive than simple foils.
Inside, it houses a sophisticated DC/AC generator board which, combined with the convenient speed control board, delivers clean and stable power to the quiet-running motor. This adds additional cost but performs many times better than a simple, direct powered AC motor. For even further improved performance, the motor is decoupled from the main plinth using a new motor suspension system.
In the X1, the motor drives a new, heavy, non-resonant Acryl platter via a sub-platter drive system and a premium grade main bearing for liquid smooth rotation. This is the perfect platform on which to place your precious vinyl records, guaranteeing absolute reliability in its performance and sonic character. The X1 is also better than its predecessors thanks to the super-stiff, perfectly tempered Carbon/Alu sandwich construction tonearm. This new 8.6” tonearm design is incredibly light and stiff, with improved resistance to external interference. Finished as a one-piece, with no resonance-inducing headshell, the X1 can also be set for azimuth and VTA adjustment, offering the flexibility that so many people are asking for, especially in this and even lower price ranges.
The tonearm is then supplied with a TPE-damped counterweight, further reducing cartridge-tonearm resonances.
Lastly, height-adjustable feet in their Alu/ TPE sandwich construction are a very exclusive but necessary feature to level up the turntable and effectively isolate it from the surface it is place on.
The X1 has all the high-end features of modern turntable designs to maximize the music and listening experience. All these features can in fact be done at a reasonable cost. Due to our extensive experience and meticulous manufacturing processes, we put resources, time and effort into giving music lovers the best sound for their money, rather than cutting corners to save on costs. It is a statement and a counterpoint against other upcoming turntable designs, which go the way of offering more features but less performance.
- Speed control with electronic speed switch for ultimate speed stability
- Carefully isolated motor for less vibration and noise
- Sub-platter with extremely low 0.001mm bearing tolerances
- Stainless steel platter-bearing with soft brass bushing and teflon mirrors for lowest rumble and noise, and a stable, accurate speed transmission
- Resonance free, 1.5 kg heavy acryl platter
- 8,6” carbon/alu sandwich tonearm with best internal damping and TPE damped counterweight
- Kardan ultra-low friction 4 pin point precision tonearm bearing
- Sumiko Rainier cartridge newly developed with Sumiko for highly dynamic and full sound
- Massive and heavy, precision CNC‘d MDF chassis
- Luxury 8 layers of painting and hand-polished finish or real-wood, satin-waxed veneer
- Super shielded, semi-symmetrical, low-capacitance phono cables - purpose designed by Pro-Ject
- Height adjustable, aluminum feet for massively reduced risk
of acoustical feedback
- Handmade in Europe
| The word "Ultra" is synonymous with Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's philosophy. It represents their extreme pursuit of the highest level of reproduction of recorded sound-beyond the status quo-to provide music lovers with the experience of hearing the Original Master Recording in their home. Whether you're enjoying a standard LP or one of our UltraDisc One-Step limited-edition records, UltraDeck will deliver faithful playback of what's in the grooves.
Ultra Tonearm
Custom-developed and manufactured in the USA, the 10-inch Ultra tonearm uses smooth, high-quality ball bearings for low friction in the vertical and horizontal plane so all you hear is what is in the grooves. Cardas Audio wiring maintains signal purity from the headshell leads all the way through to the high-quality, gold-plated RCA connectors.
Isolated AC Synchronous Motor
Their stepped-pulley AC motor provides excellent speed stability for pitch accuracy and rhythmic drive. The Delrin pulley has two positions for 33 1/3 and 45 RPM speed selection. Motor vibrations are kept away from the platter and stylus by using advanced dampening materials that decouple the motor from the rest of the turntable.
Constrained Layer Dampening
UltraDeck features three aluminum plates carefully bonded to an MDF body to add mass and eliminate tonal coloration, maintaining the true sound found on the record.
Anti-Vibration Feet by HRS
Any vibration of the stylus that is not created by the grooves in the record is a distortion that will mask musical detail. Developed in conjunction with the engineering team at Harmonic Resolution Systems, the world leader in vibration isolation for audio equipment, the included MoFi anti-vibration feet isolate your turntable from bad vibrations.
1.3-Inch Derlin Platter
UltraDeck features a massive 1.3-inch Delrin platter. The increased mass creates blacker sonic backgrounds and a lower noise floor. Delrin is a next-generation polymer developed by Dupont. In the world of audio, Delrin's highly crystalline structure presents a wonderful impedance match to vinyl records, effectively grounding unwanted noise and keeping it away from the stylus.
Hardened Steel Inverted Bearing
Our hardened-steel inverted bearing system is designed for smooth, quiet rotational stability. The extremely low tolerance combination of steel, bronze, and sapphire-found in much more expensive turntables-will provide you many years of high-performance playback.
|
The B-Sharp sheds all of the non-essential cosmetic adornments of the C-Major without compromising performance or mechanical integrity, providing vinyl enthusiasts with a superb playback option at a more affordable price.
- Features the new B-Note tonearm, made from a carbon fiber alloy that is light yet rigid with a black anodized aluminum headshell. The B-Note tonearm provides all of the key features for cartridge alignment and adjustability: VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle), SRA (Stylus Rake Angle), VTF (Vertical Tracking Force), azimuth and a slotted headshell for overhang / offset angle.
- The anti-skate mechanism has been engineered for more intuitive calibration, making setup of the B-Sharp notably easier than competitive products.
- A proprietary low noise motor, floating chassis, aluminum platter and a high-density MDF low profile base are included as standard features of the B-Sharp. Like the C-Major, the B-Sharp uses a high-tech TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) suspension system that works in concert with adjustable feet that provide levelling ability for the table.
- Comes equipped with a factory installed Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, hinged dustcover, low mass aluminum record clamp, and a felt platter mat-all included.
| Thanks to extensive research and development, we have now elevated our classic RPM design to an even higher level. The RPM 10 Carbon uses a new extra-heavy chassis which features a special CNC-machined MDF base with resin-coated steel pellets to form an extra-heavy and precise sandwich construction. A special, complex heat treatment and carbon surface coating ensures superior low resonance levels. The mass-loaded chassis is effectively decoupled from its surface using magnetic feet. Combined with a new special polished aluminum platter with internal TPE damping and a vinyl layer on top, the inverted ceramic main bearing delivers an absolutely stable turntable speed with extra-low rumble due to the magnetic suspension of the platter. The heavy outboard motor unit is equipped with precise motor control and features a built-in switch between 33 & 45 rpm. Last but not least, the no-compromise 10" EVO tonearm with conical carbon-fiber arm tube and inverted bearing design ensures perfect tracking, even with demanding cartridges. Highly flexible, top-grade copper internal wiring is used. The RPM 10 Carbon is delivered with Ground it Carbon equipment base and top-grade 5P phono cable "Connect It CC" with RCA plugs (XLR as an option). An acrylic dust cover, "Cover it 1", is also available.
Specifications
Speed: 33, 45 rpm (electronic speed change)
Drive: Belt drive
Platter: 10.4 kg aluminum (300mm diameter)
Main Bearing: inverted stainless steel with ceramic ball/plate
Wow & Flutter: 33 +/- 0.11% 45: +/- 0.10%
Speed Drift: 33: +/- 0.01% 45: +/- 0.01%
Signal to Noise: -75dB
Tonearm: 10" Carbon EVO
Effective Arm Length: 254 mm
Effective Arm Mass: 8.5 g
Overhang: 16mm
Tracking Force: 10 - 35mN
Supplied Counterweights: 5 - 7.5g / 7 - 10g / 9 - 11g / 10 - 14g
External Power Supply: 15 volts DC / 1.6A
Power Connection: 110/120 or 230/240 Volt - 50 or 60 Hz
Power Consumption: 15 watts max |
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.