Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

Bundled with our F-Dur, for an additional £999, is EAT CEO Jozefina Lichtenegger’s second MC [HFN Dec ’18], after the costlier Yosegi [HFN Mar ’12]. With core components derived from Ortofon’s MC Quintet Bronze, the Jo N^o5’s bulbous mint-green carapace looks very bulky, but it’s the internal alloy frame, yoke, magnets and mounting plate that really contribute to this MC’s high 15g overall bodyweight. Now, bearing in mind the alloy-tubed version of the F-Note tonearm has a higher effective mass than its specified 22g [see PM's Lab Report], the Jo N^o5’s 11-12cu compliance brings the arm/cart resonance down to a low ~7Hz. Fortunately the supplied EAT record weight should squeeze out any offending LP warps against the felt mat, but lower-mass/lower compliance MC partners should also be entertained.

Otherwise, the Jo N^o5 offers a higher 450µV output than its rated 0.3mV (all re. 1kHz/5cm/sec) while its response is ‘tuned’ for a solid bass with a milder mid/presence and ‘brighter’, more forward aspect to central images than those at the periphery of the soundstage. Recommended downforce is a high 2.4g, sufficient to hold its 8x40µm line-contact diamond in grooves up to ~70µm while just breaching 1% THD at +16dB (re. 315Hz/5cm/sec). In or out of the F-Dur, the Jo N^o5 is a ‘classical sounding’ MC and a very fine sub-£1000 choice. PM