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EAT E-Glo I – New tube integrated amplifier… The first of its kind

It is not only the first stereo integrated amplifier based on tube technology from the European Audio Team, the new EAT E-Glo I is even said to be a high-end integrated amplifier. The new EAT E-Glo I is the result of all the experience EAT has gained so far in the field of tube technology, and can therefore fully meet even the highest demands.


The Czech company European Audio Team, often referred to as EAT for short, started several years ago as a proven specialist for record players. The record players were aimed at a very ambitious clientele, in short, it was mainly turntables in the premium and high-end segments. Gradually, the range of products was expanded to include electronic solutions directly related to record players, namely phono preamplifiers. Since company founder Jozefina Lichtenegger has a direct relationship with tubes, not least for family reasons – her entry into the world of hi-fi began with a Czech tube manufacturer – tube technology was of course the first choice.

Due to the great success EAT has had not only with record players but also with phono preamplifiers in recent years, the company has ventured a further step and presents the new EAT E-Glo I, the first stereo integrated amplifier. Due to the company’s history, it is hardly surprising that the company consistently relies on tubes, while at the same time relying on a completely newly designed circuit topology and other sophisticated equipment details.

The new EAT E-Glo I is designed as an “all-tube” and is based on pure Class A. As already mentioned, it is based on a completely redesigned circuit topology with a focus on high-power output tubes of the KT-88 type. The customer can choose whether his amplifier will be equipped with KT-88 Electro Harmonix or KT-88 EAT.

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The EAT E-Glo I is also equipped with the finest components such as coupling capacitors from Mundorf or Obbligato. Particular attention was paid to the output transformer, one of the most important components of a tube amplifier, as EAT states on record. A very high bandwidth model was chosen, with several bifilar windings arranged in sections to maximize the power bandwidth. In detail, permalloy, a nickel-iron magnetic alloy containing about 80 percent nickel and 20 percent iron, was chosen. This ensures that even at very low signal levels, high inductance is ensured, while at the same time low losses due to eddy currents are to be expected, so that even at low volumes, a balanced performance is achieved over the entire frequency range, and the frequency range is extended overall, right up to the highest frequencies. In addition, the choice of a special material reduces the number of windings in the output transformer, resulting in lower impedance and higher damping factor, so the EAT E-Glo I can be used with a wide variety of speaker systems.

Even when controlling volume, the EAT E-Glo I relies on a relay circuit based on two channel-independent blocks to ensure maximum channel separation. In addition, there should only be a minimal deviation between the channels. The manufacturer states a deviation of less than 0.05 dB between the right and left channels.

In order to be able to fully exploit the advantages of the high-quality components described above, EAT decided to use a special manufacturing technology for the circuit boards. This is referred to as PCB technology in the quality of “direct wiring”. The aim here is to combine the advantages of pure wire-to-wire with those of conventional PCBs by milling out the signal paths on the carrier material, thus achieving the shortest possible signal paths.

The new EAT E-Glo I features instant switching between triode and ultra-linear mode, with two 18-watt outputs into 4.8 ohms in the first case and two 35-watt outputs into 4.8 ohms in the second. The amplifier features an autobias function with cathode feedback.

Five pairs of RCA sockets are available at the inputs, all hard gold plated, and massive screw terminals are located at the rear for connecting the speakers.

It should be clear that an amplifier in this power class is certainly not a lightweight. The new EAT E-Glo I weighs 26 kg and measures 435 x 170 x 485 mm. The simple design of the brushed aluminium chassis ensures that it still has a very elegant appearance, with the tubes naturally enthroned on the top, hidden from the transformers in chrome covers. The controls are also located directly on the top, while the status LEDs are located directly on the front. The side panels are flanked by fine wooden strips.

Of course, a matching infrared remote control is included in the scope of delivery, which fortunately is of the same high quality as the housing of the amplifier itself.

The recommended retail price for the new EAT E-Glo I is € 8,990, using KT-88 Electro Harmonix. If you wish to use the KT-88 EAT instead, you have to budget € 9.995,- for the new EAT E-Glo I. It is available from specialist dealers with immediate effect.

Getting to the Point

Due to the great success EAT has had not only with record players but also with phono preamplifiers in recent years, the company has taken another step forward and presents the new EAT E-Glo I, the first stereo integrated amplifier. Due to the company’s history, it is hardly surprising that the company consistently relies on tubes, while at the same time relying on a completely newly designed circuit topology and other sophisticated equipment details.

Manufacturer:European Audio Team
Distribution:Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Price:EAT E-Glo I KT-88 Electro Harmonix € 8.990,-
EAT E-Glo I KT-88 EAT € 9.995,-
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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