Hi

This thread is to audition the EAT Jo No5 in my system.

The system consists of:

Lenco PTP in slate
Origin Live Illustrious
His Master's Noise Phono Stage
Audio Note M3 line preamp (modded)
Behringer CX3400 (modified)
3 X Topping 80w amps
World Audio Design KLS3 Mark 3

Interconnects: Self-built IBM Type 6 cable with WBT connectors
Speaker Cables: Self Built TNT tripleT with WBT connectors.

Setup tools
Feickert Universal Protractor
Stylus Force Gauge
Additional Tools as supplied with the cartridge

A much shorter set up time or so I thought, I'm on my 3rd and best attempt to set up properly... This thing requires patience and a steady hand  and a good eye to set up. It is demanding!

Because it doesn't have obvious square edges to align to?

The Jo, as supplied by Terry Humphries of www.audioreference.co.nz/, came in a large wooden box! There are two versions, an ordinary cardboard box and this luxury version - it's madly impressive.



So on opening it, I ended up with some tools, and the cartridge! I could not find the instruction leaflet, though Terry assures me it is there. It did not matter in the end anyway as all the information I required was freely available on the net.



The cartridge was bolted firmly to its base plate. Removing the plate showed me some setup tools. so I ended up with this:



Just for fun I took a pic of the two cartridge boxes side by side...



Size is everything...

I took the decision to go with the recommended tracking weight of 2.3grammes, the setting of which was much easier to do this time, perhaps it's true practice makes perfect.

So I had to do the setup procedure three times as I found that the cart was very fussy about setup - it's that attention to detail thing (not my strong point). Finally I had her mounted and set up correctly.



This shot was done with the TT not on, which is why things are a little dusty

I shall blame my camera for any weird looking pictures... I know the cartridge is set up correctly, however I shall not be detailing my selection of test records as they are the same as the Hana review.

Dec 9, 2019 19:13:13 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Because it doesn't have obvious square edges to align to?

You're not wrong there...

You may find a higher load impedance then recommended sounds better as well, I have mine set to 200 ohms.

Dec 9, 2019 19:34:48 GMT 12 Mike A said:

You may find a higher load impedance then recommended sounds better as well, I have mine set to 200 ohms.

No can do, His Master's Noise features a SUT as the first thing the cart sees.

Or at least I'm not willing to change things...

Dec 9, 2019 19:38:05 GMT 12 jon said:

Ah, that would complicate changing things things a little

Exciting times.
Is recommended VTF not 2.4g?

What is the ratio (gain) of the HMN SUT?

Typical low output MC, 5 ohms coil impedance - 100 ohms loading is traditional starting point.
ie, 1:20 SUT (26dB).

Looks a nightmare to align, a bit like my Miyajima, all curves & a shrouded cantilever - I sometimes rule a pencil line on the top of such cartridges.

Did you get the full 'Chanel' packaging?

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Dec 9, 2019 20:35:04 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Exciting times.
Is recommended VTF not 2.4g?

It's in the range 2.2 - 2.5g, so as I just remeasured it I am at 2.36g.

Dec 9, 2019 20:35:04 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

What is the ratio (gain) of the HMN SUT?

Typical low output MC, 5 ohms coil impedance - 100 ohms loading is traditional starting point.
ie, 1:20 SUT (26dB).

I have Sowter 1:10s, and I think that gives a 470Ohm impedance.

Dec 9, 2019 20:35:04 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Looks a nightmare to align, a bit like my Miyajima, all curves & a shrouded cantilever - I sometimes rule a pencil line on the top of such cartridges.

Did you get the full 'Chanel' packaging?

Wooden box version of that. So no to the fancy package as you have it, yes to a lovely 'jewel' box

Round one to the EAT for the bling

There’s been a fair bit written about the the EAT Jo No 5, which I shall call Jo hereafter, so what follows is my view on the cart in the context of my system and the Denon 103.

The Jo, just like the Hana, picked up the Denon 103 and blew it away in terms of performance and musicality – as it should, given the price differential and the change in stylus shape.

It took three attempts to get the overhang and alignment correct mainly due to the size and awkward shape of the cartridge. I highly recommend the Feickert Protractor for set up.

I put Eartha Kitt on first as always! There was the expected large improvement in sound quality that had happened; the image was dead centre across my speakers and her voice was clearly audible and projected well.

Dvorak’s Wind Serenade was also good, all the wind instruments were very clear with ample evidence of articulation and single and double tonguing. What impressed most was that the cello and double bass were clearly discernible from each other.

Other pieces I played also showed this trait of allowing space for instruments and of displaying the internal rhythms in a piece. I like this a lot!

The Rodrigo y Gabriela also showed this trait of giving space to instruments! The 103 had done a credible job of reproducing the recording but after listening to the EAT I realised that it felt compressed and the notes were blurred into each other. With the Jo the notes were much more separated, meaning that the individual notes were much clearer! This internal display resulted in a much higher appreciation of the piece as a whole. Their second side piece, Echoes, an interpretation of Pink Floyd’s Echoes (from Meddle) was stunning, notes placed into their proper place without any sense of being rushed.

This highly musical trait continued into Fat Freddy’s Drop Dr Boondigga, especially track one BIG_BW. Here you can very clearly hear the bass guitarist sliding up the frets. The resulting bass slide was held for longer and just went on and on with the Jo. Again, I turned the volume up, however I got complaints from my teenage kids it was too loud – modern youth!

Perfumed Genius No Shape displayed this same inner framework and nuanced music. ‘Other Side’ exploded into this amazing piece which clearly showed what the artist intended.

The Coltrane was divine giving me real insight into the music.

Summary

With its wide frequency extremes, sheer power and unhurried demeanour the Jo is a beautifully musical and amazing cartridge, articulate, capable of playing everything well and with clear insight into the music and as stated has blown the Denon 103 away.


Just like the Hana I’ll close by saying this is a must have in your system, you will not regret it.

Vendor Comments

Very good, thank you, we couldn’t ask for better than that and along the lines I would have expected.

The $ question, which one gets your readies?

There's no 'right' answer with all this stuff, just what suits your tastes & system.
And budget

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

I'm talking to both parties and once I have confirmation from them both, I'll announce. Only fair.

Nice that you got the chance to do a back to back audition at home. Major plus.

So, do tell... which cartridge did you end up going home with? 😬

I’m going to be in the market for something similar in the early new year, after swiftly removing the stylus from my shelter 501 during recent festive revelries.
Hana seems to be the popular girl, but that Jo has a certain quirky retro charm I can’t seem to resist!

He bought the EAT!

darklantern.proboards.com/thread/1953/new-cartridge-needed-advice-wanted?page=2

Thanks Citroen... I totally missed this.

From memory, Delos didn’t even get a look in!

Yeah. His loss

Disclaimer, I love the Delos cart.

I totally missed this as well. Shame you never got to hear an Ortofon as I understand the EAT is ortofon related (OEM?)

But congratulations on your choice, may you be very happy together.

Thanks for the comments! Much appreciated. I bought the Jo mainly because on my copy of the Dvorak Wind Serenade I could clearly hear the cello and double bass at work, not so much with the Hana. I'll admit to having regrets about not buying the Hana as it had it's own strengths and charm.

The Jo is made by Ortofon and there is some speculation on which cartridge it is based on.

As I said in an earlier post, my phono stage is specifically designed for very low output cartridges and so one of the requirements was the need to audition any prospective cart in my system. Terry and Simon were willing and those where the ones I selected between, I could not find a dealer willing to let me audition a Delos in this country and that led me to drop the cartridge.

I am indeed well pleased with my selection.