Prelude

EAT is acclaimed for true high-end turntables that drive physics to the theoretical maximum. With the considered use of mass, EAT has waged a war on unwanted vibration, resonance and colouration of the sound. Now EAT offers for the first time a deck which is genuinely affordable but able to provide neutral sound.

To reach the price target, there have to be compromises, but the basic principles remain the same: Only a heavy-weight platter can give you the correct speed and precision. We use a low tolerance (0.01) polished stainless steel bearing in a soft bronze bushing, to ensure a super silent and smooth movement. This is the same base material as in our high-end designs. Supplied with the turntable is a pre-fitted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge as well as an acrylic lid for protection from dust.

The elegant piano lacquer finish fits into every home or type of decor. We also offer the Prelude with the EAT iconic green motor and belt.

Our plinth is made out of dense MDF, protected by eight layers of lacquer which produce a luxurious look and finish. This is a first in a price category where the norm is a particle board chassis with glued-on veneer. For the motor, we avoid a mass-loaded design. Instead, we have a free-standing motor with no connection to the board; this is the only way to ensure no motor vibrations are passed on.

Most of our customers making purchases in this price range will use an MM (moving-magnet) cartridge. To address this, we went chose a lightweight, ultra-stiff and resonance-free carbon tonearm tube, which is cast in a single piece. We deliberately avoided a heavier metal headshell, as a lightweight design simply creates more ideal resonant frequencies with an MM cartridge.

Equally unusual at this price is the bearing block for the tonearm and the counterweight. The mass bearing block behaves like an energy sink for all resonances from the cartridge, as well as the low frequencies from the deck. The counterweight implements an anti-resonator damper to reduce the amplitude of the natural tonearm/cartridge resonance.

We have chosen one of the "best buy" cartridges available today, a perfect partner for Prelude. The discerning listener will recognise that the Prelude tonearm elevates the 2M Red to a completely new level of performance.

We know that all low mass turntables tend to sound boomy because of the stored energy and vibrations, especially when compared to costlier, more massive designs. The Prelude will surprise listeners through its astonishing lack of colouration and exceptional dynamics. It is the perfect starting point for assembling a true audiophile hi-fi system.