The current resurgence of the LP has a new champion! Amid the many new
turntables gracing the market, few if any offer as many novel features as la Platine. But this is not novelty for the sake of it, and we are proud to announce a new raising of standards. Most striking perhaps is the all-new ‘no contact’ drive
system. The need to transfer power to the platter of a turntable has always been a source of trouble, as any system with the capacity to transfer power can by the very same means transfer vibration too. Flexible rubber belts have proved a fairly satisfactory solution, but suffer problems of slip and hence slightly uncertain speed, and they also pull the platter sideways which can result in stability problems.

Now Tim de Paravicini, the renowned designer of EAR amplifiers, has come up with an ingenious solution that solves all these problems. A low-noise motor, controlled by a carefully optimised servo loop, drives a sub-platter via a toothed belt. This immediately eliminates slip and ensures that speed is absolutely controlled. The sub-platter drives the main platter via a clever arrangement of opposing magnets. Again, this cannot slip, but it allows just enough compliance to filter out any remaining vibration from the motor and belt, while applying a fully symmetric driving force.

Bearings are another problem for any turntable designer. We have solved this by using precision Swiss angular contact bearings which are at least as quiet as the more common ‘point contact’ types but wear much more slowly, so that performance after years of use will be as good as on initial purchase.
The platter is made of an ultra-low resonance composite of resin and inorganic filler, accurately machined and supported on an instrument-grade aluminium chassis. Adjustable, damped feet support the assembly and all the usual arm types can be mounted and adjusted with ease.

For the ultimate in flexibility all three speeds – 33, 45 and 78 - are offered, with a fine adjustment control for 78 to accommodate discs cut at non-standard speeds. Truly a turntable for the connoisseur!

Yoshino’s latest model, the 834T is the company’s first solid-state Hybrid Integrated amplifier. It draws both on the original all-valve 834 and the spectacular M100 transistor mono-block power amps, and in true EAR style breaks definitively with convention.

Backed by designer Tim de Paravicini’s unrivalled expertise in audio transformers, the 834T offers100W of transformer-coupled MOSFET power per channel. A valve-like output configuration gives the noted virtues of valve sound together with bullet-proof stability and reliability not always associated with MOSFETs. Input stages use both valves and transistors, drawing on the unique strengths of each to make this one of the most sophisticated-sounding amps in its class and fully realising the traditional EAR/Yoshino virtues of transparency, complete assurance and, quite simply, accuracy.

6 line-level inputs and tape output complete the specification, with the utter simplicity of two controlsmaking a welcome contrast to the trend for over complicated user interfaces. What more could you want?

EAR 834P was one of the very first standalone phono stages and has become one of our best-selling products.
Now the continuing popularity of vinyl has encouraged us to develop an upmarket phono preamp, the 88PB.
Drawing on designer Tim de Paravicini’s vast knowledge of audio electronics, and employing several of the innovations he incorporated in the class-leading The Paravicini 312 Control Centre, a fully-featured preamp and 324 phono stage (both solid state), the 88PB is a definitive statement in valve electronics.

Its specification is a perfect match of essential flexibility with cost-conscious simplicity. Two inputs cater for the growing number of vinyl-lovers with more than one turntable or arm. Both inputs accept moving magnet cartridge inputs, while one is also switchable for moving coil types - naturally using de Paravicini’s famed input transformers for lowest noise and highest fidelity. MC input impedance is adjustable internally.

The inclusion of a volume control allows for direct connection to a power amp in one-source systems. To avoid cable-dependent high frequency response, a highly linear buffer stage follows the volume control, using an output transformer which provides balanced or single-ended output at a low impedance which can effortlessly drive long cables.

Other exclusive design details include a unique high stability circuit for achieving the RIAA equalisation curve demanded by discs, and of course the superb all-round sound quality of all EAR amps is guaranteed.
The 88PB: you never realised your vinyl sounded this good.