EAT C-Dur Turntable - Satin Black - Jo No. 5 Cartridge

A Compact Flagship, Matched to EAT's Own Cartridge

The EAT C-Dur brings the concept behind EAT's larger Forte turntables into a smaller, more affordable chassis. A high-mass aluminum platter, an isolated belt-drive motor, an oversized inverted bearing, and a 10-inch carbon-fiber C-Note tonearm form a quiet, stable platform for your records.

This package includes EAT's own Jo No. 5 moving-coil cartridge, factory-mounted on the C-Note tonearm. Its nude fine-line stylus is built to retrieve fine detail while keeping the sound natural and engaging — a pairing EAT designed the C-Dur and Jo No. 5 to complement.

A dust cover is included to keep the platter and tonearm clean between sessions. A semi-balanced 5-pin DIN-to-RCA cable comes standard, with a balanced upgrade cable available separately for phono preamps that support it.

A Heavyweight Platter and a 10-Inch Tonearm

Mass Where It Matters

The 11.5-pound aluminum platter rides on its own 2-pound aluminum sub-platter, adding rotational inertia that helps hold speed steady through a record side. A polished stainless-steel spindle and ceramic ball ride against a Teflon bearing mirror inside a 4-pound mass-loaded bearing block.

An anti-static rubber belt connects an isolated, low-noise motor to the sub-platter. The motor sits inside its own steel ring, and an external DC power supply with an AC generator keeps electrical noise away from the drive.

The EAT Jo No. 5 Moving-Coil Cartridge

Jo No. 5 uses a nude fine-line stylus on an aluminum cantilever, wired with pure 4N copper coils, in a mint-green polyamide body built by selective laser sintering. It outputs 0.33mV into a recommended load above 20 ohms, with tracking force set to 2.4 grams (2.2–2.5 gram range).

Because Jo No. 5 is a moving-coil cartridge, it needs a phono preamp with MC gain rather than a standard MM-only stage — verify your amplifier or preamp supports it before ordering.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ken Kessler reviewed the C-Dur for Hi-Fi News, awarding it Outstanding Product status with an 87% sound-quality score and writing, "What a joy! ... I love it."

Ken Micallef, AnalogPlanet, named the C-Dur a 2023 Gruvy Award winner for Best Reviewed Products, writing that "the E.A.T. C-Dur turntable played by rules of its own making, and it came up golden."

Kessler's one setup complaint was a fiddly anti-skating thread — a one-time nuisance during initial setup, not an ongoing issue once the table is dialed in.

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want a cartridge already matched and mounted — Jo No. 5 arrives factory-fitted on the C-Note tonearm
• You want EAT's own reference-tuned pairing — EAT designed the C-Dur and Jo No. 5 to work together
• You want the Forte concept in a smaller footprint — the C-Dur borrows its bigger sibling's playback philosophy at a lower price and size
• You have (or plan to add) a moving-coil-capable phono preamp — Jo No. 5's low output needs one
• You value push-button speed selection — 33⅓ and 45rpm at a touch

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The C-Dur has no built-in phono preamp. Because Jo No. 5 is a moving-coil cartridge, its RCA output needs a phono stage with MC gain, or a step-up transformer feeding a standard MM input.

The included semi-balanced 5-pin DIN-to-RCA cable handles most setups; an optional balanced cable is available if your phono preamp accepts a balanced connection. Jo No. 5 ships mounted, but its tracking force and alignment should still be checked before your first record.

Pairs Well With

Where the C-Dur goes from here:

• Phono preamplifiers — required for playback, with moving-coil gain to suit Jo No. 5
• Integrated amplifiers — look for a built-in MC phono stage to skip a separate box
• Turntable accessories — a stylus brush and cleaner keep Jo No. 5's fine-line tip performing its best
• Audio racks — a rigid, level shelf lets the high-mass platter and bearing do their job

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this package include a cartridge?

Yes, EAT's own Jo No. 5 moving-coil cartridge, factory-mounted on the C-Note tonearm.

Does the C-Dur have a built-in phono preamp?

Jo No. 5's low 0.33mV output needs an external phono stage with moving-coil gain, or a step-up transformer into an MM input — there is no phono stage built in.

How do I change from 33⅓ to 45 rpm?

Push a button. Speed changes electronically, with no need to reposition the drive belt.

Can I install a different cartridge later?

Yes. The C-Note tonearm's adjustable tracking force, anti-skating, VTA, and azimuth accept a wide range of cartridges.

Is a dust cover included?

Yes, a dust cover ships with every C-Dur.

See It in Action

Lite Magazin presents the E.A.T. C-Dur turntable platform:

See the E.A.T. C-Dur turntable playing in a listening system:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about turntable setup, moving-coil phono preamps, or cartridge care? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.