EAT C-Dur Concrete Turntable Review: Premium Audio with Concrete Chassis

Experience unmatched sound clarity and style with the EAT C-Dur Concrete turntable, featuring a robust concrete plinth and a high-output Jo No.8 cartridge.

Unpacking the EAT C-Dur Concrete Turntable

There’s a lot to take in before even spinning a record, starting with the sheer packaging weight — a hefty 42kg. This turntable’s name alone tells a story: European Audio Team, or EAT, might sound like a serious acronym, but it’s a valid brand. "C-Dur" translates to "C major" in German, a neat musical nod, while "Concrete" tells you immediately about the core material of the plinth.

The concrete plinth is indeed heavy, tipping the scales at 32kg. It adds significant mass and durability, pushing the price well beyond its MDF-plinth sibling. This design decision screams premium quality and serious engineering investment.

Pricing and Components

The EAT C-Dur Concrete turntable with the C-Note unipivot tonearm comes with a price tag of around £6,499 (about $7,490). My review unit came fitted with the company’s Jo No.8 high-output moving coil cartridge, which adds £1,599 (~$1,850) if bought bundled or £1,999 (~$2,300) if purchased separately.

There’s also an optional linear power supply available for around £1,349 ($1,560), which reduces electrical noise even further compared to the standard power cable. If you opt to purchase it alongside the turntable, the price drops to £1,079 (~$1,250). This power supply is designed to provide an ultra-clean AC signal to the motor, improving performance slightly but noticeably.

EAT C-Dur Concrete turntable with Jo No.8 cartridge and tonearm – a striking industrial design.

Aesthetics and Build: Industrial Chic Meets Precision

The C-Dur Concrete is undeniably glamorous and oozes sophistication. Its industrial-chic concrete plinth is supported on three aggressively conical, adjustable aluminum feet that dig firmly into wooden shelving — a testament to how solid this setup is. The combination of aluminum and carbon fiber in the C-Tone arm looks sleek and catches the light beautifully.

The Jo No.8 cartridge, while bulky (measuring 19.2 x 25.1 x 28.3 mm), sports a stylish chestnut body that fits perfectly with the overall premium feel.

Not Just a Pretty Face: Technical Excellence

This isn’t a vanity project; the C-Dur Concrete delivers serious technical performance to back up its looks.

• Platter: Weighing 5.2kg, the platter is internally damped with thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), giving it density and stability.
• Sub-Platter: A 900g aluminum sub-platter isolates the main platter from motor vibrations.
• Bearing: Inverted ceramic ball bearing with a Teflon plate underneath ensures smooth, stable rotation.
• Drive System: The motor is isolated in a steel ring within the chassis to reduce resonance. The turntable uses two anti-static rubber belts for speed control — one for 33.3 and 45 rpm, the other for 78 rpm.
• Speed Controls: Three buttons on top control speed selection and standby mode.

Close-up showcasing the precision platter and motor system.

C-Note Tonearm and Jo No.8 Cartridge: A Perfect Pair

At 254mm long, the C-Note tonearm is engineered for optimal rigidity, crucial for handling the substantial Jo No.8 cartridge. The unipivot design ensures the Cardan bearing remains balanced, reducing friction and enhancing stability. Silicon grease inside the tonearm further dampens unwanted resonance.

The Jo No.8 cartridge features a nude Shibata stylus mounted on a boron cantilever, offering high output and excellent tracking force at 2 grams. It comes with a semi-balanced five-pin DIN-to-RCA cable; however, a fully balanced cable is a pricey upgrade.

Sound Quality: Immediate, Detailed, and True to Life

Paired with a Chord Huei phono stage, Cambridge Audio W Edge amplifier, and Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Signature speakers, the C-Dur Concrete makes a quick impression. It doesn’t keep you waiting to reveal its character — it lays everything bare right away.

Whether spinning a heavyweight 2025 reissue of Kevin Ayers’ Bananamour or a well-loved original pressing of Pere Ubu’s The Modern Dance, the turntable treats all records equally, with no bias.

Detail shot of the concrete plinth and tonearm.

“It’s a staggeringly clean and uncolored listen, able to keep the spaces and silences in a recording as dark as any record player I’ve ever heard.” – Reviewer

The turntable excels in:

• Clean and uncolored sound reproduction.
• Precise detail retrieval and harmonic distinction.
• Balanced dynamics from soft whispers to loud crescendos.
• Tight low-frequency control and natural rhythmic flow.
• Neutral tonality with an even frequency response from bass to treble.

Vocals sound alive — full of character, motivation, and attitude — whether it’s David Thomas’s unique style or Kevin Ayers’s laid-back tones.

The One Drawback: Soundstage Size

If there’s a minor downside, it’s the somewhat constrained soundstage. While the depth and layout between the speakers are clear and detailed, the overall sound doesn't extend much beyond the edges of the speakers. This can feel a bit confined compared to other turntables in this price range.

That said, the excellent resolution and detail largely compensate, and the visual impact of the concrete plinth might just make you overlook this slight auditory limitation.

Specs & Pricing Overview

C-Dur Concrete Turntable

• Type: Full size
• Speeds: 33.3, 45, 78 RPM
• Tonearm Length: 254mm
• Drive: Belt
• Speed Control: Automatic
• Platter Weight: 5.2kg (Aluminium, TPE damped)
• Bearing: Inverted ceramic ball with Teflon plate
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 170 x 496 x 396 mm
• Weight: 32kg
• Price: £6,499 / $7,490 / €7,490

C-Tone Tonearm

• Type: Unipivot
• Length: 254mm
• Effective Mass: 16.5g
• Offset Angle: 21.4°
• Weight: 16.5g
• Price: Included

Jo No.8 Cartridge

• Type: High-output moving coil
• Stylus: Nude Shibata
• Tracking Force: 2g
• Load: >15 ohms
• Compliance: 15 μm/mN
• Output: 0.3mV at 1 kHz @ 3.45 cm/s
• Weight: 12.5g
• Price: £1,999 ($2,699) standalone; £1,599 bundled

Final Thoughts: Is the EAT C-Dur Concrete Turntable Worth It?

The EAT C-Dur Concrete turntable is a statement piece that delivers serious sound quality. Its industrial design and hefty concrete chassis aren’t just for show—they enhance the listening experience with solid build and low resonance. The sound is remarkably clean, detailed, and true to the music, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles who value both aesthetics and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How heavy is the EAT C-Dur Concrete turntable?
  The turntable weighs 32kg, and the packaging adds an additional 42kg.
• What speeds does the turntable support?
  It supports 33.3, 45, and 78 RPM.
• Can I purchase the Jo No.8 cartridge separately?
  Yes, it costs about £1,999 (~$2,699) if purchased separately, or £1,599 (~$2,150) when bundled with the turntable.
• Does the turntable come with a power supply?
  It comes with a standard power cable, but an optional linear power supply can be purchased to improve sound quality.
• What is unique about the plinth material?
  The plinth is made from concrete, which provides excellent mass and vibration damping compared to traditional MDF.

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