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What You Need to Know
What is the Forte S, and what does it do?
The Forte S is European Audio Team’s “small brother” to their flagship Forte turntable — though the only thing “small” about it is the platter diameter (14.2” instead of the Forte’s 15.75”). Everything else is serious high-end: dual AC motors, a 33-pound damped platter floating on neodymium magnets, an inverted ceramic-ball bearing, and EAT’s 10” C-Note carbon-fiber tonearm.
This is the kind of turntable built around mass and isolation. The huge platter stores rotational energy and rejects motor vibration; the magnetic suspension lightens the load on the bearing; the dual motors share the work for clean, symmetrical drive. The Forte S is for the listener who has invested in a high-resolution system and wants the source to keep up.
The Forte S is available in two high-gloss finishes: Piano Black or Macassar (a deep ebony wood look). Either one is a statement piece.
Belt drive, in plain English — with two motors
The Forte S is a belt-drive turntable, but with a twist: it uses two AC motors positioned symmetrically on one side of the platter, each driving the platter with its own equal-length belt. Two motors share the load equally, deliver symmetrical drive force, and run quieter than a single, harder-working motor.
Magnetically-suspended, damped 33-lb. platter
The Forte S platter is huge for a reason: most of its mass is concentrated at the outer edge, where it stabilizes rotation most effectively. The inner side is damped with sorbothane; the outer side is damped by a black mat made from recycled vinyl. The result is a platter that simply doesn’t ring or chatter. Two enormous neodymium magnets float the platter and take most of the load off the bearing, leaving only what the bearing needs to keep the platter centered.
Electronic 3-button speed control
Speed is selected from a display panel with three settings: 33-1/3 RPM, 45 RPM, and on/off. No belt-swapping or pulley fiddling.
What about the cartridge?
A phono cartridge is the tiny generator at the end of the tonearm that turns the wiggles in a record groove into an electrical signal. The Forte S is offered three ways: with no cartridge, with the EAT Jo No. 5, or with the EAT Jo No. 8.
Both Jo cartridges are moving-coil (MC) designs. MC cartridges generally need a phono stage that supports MC. The Jo No. 5 uses a nude Fine Line stylus on an aluminum cantilever in a mint-green polyamide body. The Jo No. 8 moves up to a nude Shibata stylus, boron cantilever, and solid chestnut wood body for even more detail and dynamics.
Does it have a phono preamp built in?
No — the Forte S is a pure turntable. You’ll need an external phono preamp (phono stage) between it and your amp. A phono stage is a small amplifier that boosts the very quiet signal from a record cartridge up to the level your amp expects. If you choose a Jo cartridge, your phono stage needs to be MC-capable. EAT’s own E-Glo series is a natural match for the Forte S.
What are reviewers saying?
The Forte S has been praised in the audio press since its launch — including a “Best Multimedia” award from Esquire magazine and a favorable review in Hi-Fi World. See the reviews section below for details.
Who is the Forte S for?
- Serious audiophiles who want flagship-level performance in a more manageable size than the full-size Forte.
- Listeners with high-resolution systems who want a source component that reveals what their amp and speakers can do.
- Owners of fine MC cartridges who want a near-silent, massively-built platform that lets the cartridge shine.
- Buyers who want a turntable that looks as striking as it sounds — Macassar wood or piano-finish black.
What the Reviewers Are Saying
Pairs Well With
Building your vinyl system? Here are some great companions for the Forte S:
- An MC-capable phono preamp. Both Jo cartridges are moving-coil. EAT’s own E-Glo series is voiced to complement the Forte S. Browse phono preamps.
- A high-end MC cartridge. Beyond the Jo cartridges, we carry a full range of MC options if you’d like to bring your own. Browse cartridges.
- An audiophile rack. A turntable this resolving belongs on a stable platform. Browse audio racks.
- Record cleaning gear. Cleaner records reveal more of what the Forte S can do. Browse record cleaning machines and accessories.
- An integrated amplifier. Pair with an amp that does justice to the source. Browse integrated amplifiers.
Features & Specifications
14.2” / 33-lb. damped aluminum platter
The platter measures 14.2 inches across and weighs 33 pounds — smaller than the flagship Forte (15.75” / 44 lbs.) but with the same engineering intent: concentrate the mass at the outer edge of the radius for maximum rotational stability. EAT calls this “double size of diameter and four times more effective sound” — their way of saying that platter mass at the edge does the most acoustic work.
Sorbothane inner damping, recycled-vinyl outer mat
The inner side of the platter is damped with sorbothane — a viscoelastic material engineered to absorb vibration. The outer side carries a damping mat made from recycled vinyl. Together they suppress resonance from the platter and the record itself, for a quieter, more focused presentation.
Inverted bearing with ceramic ball and magnetic suspension
The Forte S uses an inverted bearing — the ceramic ball sits on top, facing a Teflon plate. Ceramic is hard and inert; Teflon is slick and quiet. The pressure on the ceramic ball is reduced by two enormous neodymium magnets that suspend the heavy platter and take over most of the load. The result is a bearing that runs cool, quiet, and stable.
Dual AC motor design
The Forte S has two AC motors mounted symmetrically on the right side of the chassis, both adjacent to the platter. Each motor drives the platter via its own belt, and because the motors share the same position relative to the platter, the belts are the same length (unlike the flagship Forte, which uses two belts of different lengths). The dual-motor design distributes drive force evenly and reduces motor stress.
Four magnetic, height-adjustable feet
The Forte S sits on four massive magnetic feet that act as a sub-chassis. They’re height-adjustable so you can level the table precisely, and they decouple the chassis from your shelf or rack for impressively low resonance.
10” carbon-fiber EAT C-Note tonearm
The Forte S ships with the 10” C-Note tonearm — a uni-pivot/Cardan hybrid with a carbon-fiber arm tube and a lightweight, rigid aluminum headshell. A silicon-based internal lubricant damps tonearm and cartridge resonance by more than 50%. The headshell accepts high-end MC cartridges precisely and securely.
Cartridge options: EAT Jo No. 5 or Jo No. 8
- EAT Jo No. 5 (MC): Nude Fine Line stylus on aluminum cantilever; polyamide ceramic body produced by Selective Laser Sintering (SLS); 4N pure copper coils; 0.3 mV output; recommended tracking force 2.3 g; recommended load 20 ohms.
- EAT Jo No. 8 (MC): Nude Shibata stylus on a boron cantilever in a solid chestnut wood body; “8-Nines” pure copper coils; 0.3 mV output; recommended tracking force 2.0 g; recommended load > 15 ohms.
Electronic speed change and outboard power supply
Speed is selected from a display panel with three settings: 33-1/3, 45, and on/off. An outboard 16 V AC power supply, suitable for your country’s mains, supplies clean power to the motors.
Quick-Reference Specifications
| Drive System | |
|---|---|
| Drive Type | Belt drive with dual AC motors (same-length belts) |
| Speeds | 33-1/3 and 45 RPM (electronic, 3-button panel) |
| Speed Variance | ± 0.09% |
| Wow & Flutter | ± 0.009% |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | −73 dB |
| Platter & Bearing | |
| Platter Diameter | 14.2” (360 mm) |
| Platter Weight | 33 lbs. (15 kg) |
| Platter Damping | Sorbothane (inner) + recycled vinyl mat (outer) |
| Bearing | Inverted, ceramic ball on Teflon plate |
| Suspension | Two neodymium magnets supporting the platter |
| Tonearm | |
| Type | EAT C-Note, uni-pivot with Cardan bearing, carbon-fiber arm tube |
| Effective Length | 10” (254 mm) |
| Headshell | Lightweight rigid aluminum |
| Cartridge | |
| Included / Optional | EAT Jo No. 5 (MC), EAT Jo No. 8 (MC), or no cartridge |
| Cartridge Type | Moving Coil (both Jo options) |
| Recommended Tracking Force | Jo No. 5: 2.3 g · Jo No. 8: 2.0 g |
| Phono Stage | |
| Built-in? | No — external MC-capable phono stage required for Jo cartridges |
| Build & Isolation | |
| Chassis | Single-piece mass-loaded chassis |
| Feet | Four magnetic, height-adjustable feet |
| Power | |
| Power Supply | Outboard 16 V / 1000 mA AC, region-specific |
| Power Consumption | 4 W |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 21.7” × 17.7” × 9.8” (551 × 450 × 249 mm) |
| Total Weight | 97 lbs. (44 kg) |
| Finish | |
| Available Finishes | Piano Black (high gloss), Macassar (high gloss) |
What’s in the Box
- EAT Forte S turntable (Piano Black or Macassar) with 10” C-Note tonearm pre-fitted
- 14.2” / 33-lb. damped aluminum platter
- Two drive belts (dual-motor configuration)
- Outboard 16 V AC power supply
- Four magnetic, height-adjustable feet
- Recycled-vinyl outer mat
- RCA tonearm cable with ground wire
- EAT Jo No. 5 or Jo No. 8 cartridge (if ordered with one of those configurations)
- User manual
- 2-year manufacturer warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Forte S come with a cartridge?
It can — you choose. The Forte S is sold three ways: without a cartridge, with the EAT Jo No. 5 MC, or with the EAT Jo No. 8 MC. If your preferred option isn’t shown on the product page, call us at 800-942-0220 and we’ll quote it.
Do I need a phono preamp?
Yes. The Forte S doesn’t have a built-in phono stage, so you’ll need an external phono preamp between the turntable and your amp. If you choose a Jo cartridge, your phono stage needs MC support. We can help you match one to your system.
Which finish should I pick — Piano Black or Macassar?
Both finishes are identical in performance. Piano Black is a deep, glossy black that recedes into a system. Macassar is a high-gloss ebony wood look that draws the eye and warms a room. Pick the one that fits your space.
How hard is it to set up?
The Forte S is heavy (97 pounds total) and takes a little planning to position, but the setup itself is straightforward: place the platter, route both belts, level it with the magnetic feet, balance the tonearm, and align the cartridge. If you order with a Jo cartridge factory-installed, alignment is done for you. Give us a call — we’ll walk you through it.
Can I upgrade the cartridge later?
Absolutely. The C-Note tonearm’s aluminum headshell accepts a wide range of MC and MM cartridges. Many Forte S owners start with one configuration and step up later.
What’s the difference between the Forte S and the full-size Forte?
The Forte S is smaller and lighter than the original Forte: 14.2” platter (vs. 15.75”), 33-lb. platter (vs. 44 lbs.), single-piece chassis (vs. dual-chassis), and two same-length belts (vs. two belts of different lengths). The Forte S brings the design philosophy into a more manageable footprint.
What’s the difference between the Forte S and the C-Sharp or C-Dur?
The Forte S is the heavyweight of EAT’s lineup — massive platter, magnetic suspension, dual motors. The C-Sharp is a slim “super-flat” design built around carbon-fiber subchassis and ten TPE feet. The C-Dur sits between them: mass-loaded MDF plinth, single motor, conventional tonearm geometry. Forte S is the most resolving and the most imposing.
Will it work with my receiver or amp?
If your amp has an MC-capable phono input, yes — just plug in. If it has only line-level or MM-only phono inputs, you’ll add an external MC-capable phono stage between the turntable and the amp. Call us if you’d like help confirming compatibility.
What’s the warranty?
The Forte S is covered by a 2-year parts-and-labor manufacturer warranty from European Audio Team.
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