European Audio Team (EAT) E-Glo SB Phono Stage

European Audio Team (EAT) E-Glo SB Phono Stage

E-Glo SB is a high-end, balanced and fully discrete tube phono stage, built with highly selected electrical components and an improved tube stage design. It extends the design philosophy of EAT's flagship E-Glo F B — the first all-tube, fully balanced phono stage on the market — to a more accessible price point, alongside its sibling the E-Glo C B. Compared to the C B, the SB uses a higher selection of polypropylene film capacitors in the gain and RIAA stages and steps up to a fully tube-based second amplifier stage, delivering more of the effortless musicality and tonal richness the F B pioneered. As an authorized EAT dealer in Buffalo, NY, Vinyl Sound can help you match this phono stage to your turntable and cartridge.

Key Features

• Balanced XLR input for MM and MC cartridges, plus balanced XLR output
• Fully symmetrical and discrete gain stage
• 2x ECC83S and 2x E88CC tubes, fully tube-based second amplifier stage
• Fully discrete circuitry — no IC op-amps
• Semi-crystalline hydrocarbon polypropylene film capacitors in gain and RIAA stages, for ultra-low loss and high temperature/frequency stability
• Precise split passive/active RIAA equalisation
• Dual mono design
• Advanced external power supply
• Two turntables connectable simultaneously, with per-input settings stored in memory
• Switchable subsonic filter
• Dimmable, colour-changeable tube LED backlighting
• Optional magnetic side panels: high-gloss Makassar wood or piano black
• Available in Black or Silver
• Handmade in Europe

Fully Balanced Signal Path

The balanced gain stage uses three discrete semiconductor operational amplifiers to process the + and - signal paths symmetrically before combining them into the first of two discrete RIAA equalisation stages, optimizing signal-to-noise ratio ahead of the EQ section. The second stage is now fully tube-based, using two ECC83S and two E88CC triodes (no transistor, unlike the C B), including the second RIAA EQ stage and the subsonic filter. The output stage uses a dual discrete semiconductor op-amp to convert the unbalanced internal signal to balanced, maintaining low output impedance and low DC offset via dedicated DC servo circuits.

MC and Balanced MM Cartridge Compatibility

Connecting your turntable to the XLR input takes advantage of the balanced signal path, but requires an MC cartridge or a specially modified balanced-compatible MM cartridge — a typical unbalanced MM cartridge will show increased noise in the right channel if used on a balanced input, due to how its internal generator is grounded. Any MM cartridge, balanced or unbalanced, can be used on the standard single-ended RCA inputs. Ask Vinyl Sound if you're unsure which input matches your cartridge.

Discrete Circuitry

E-Glo SB uses fully discrete audio circuitry throughout, rather than integrated IC op-amps. EAT states that, based on extensive listening tests, even the best IC op-amps don't achieve the same neutral, natural, dynamic sound as a discrete design — a standard IC-based phono preamp uses a few tens or hundreds of components, while a fully discrete design like this uses hundreds or thousands.

External Power Supply

E-Glo SB is powered by an external advanced power supply, keeping electromagnetic-field-radiating components away from the sensitive phono circuitry. For further improvement, the separately sold EAT LPS 2 linear power supply upgrade uses a low-core-saturation, vacuum-impregnated transformer with shielding between windings and a DC-blocker, in its own matching enclosure — bringing E-Glo SB's performance a step closer to the flagship E-Glo F B, which ships with its own LPS by default. The LPS 2 also includes a second output to power a compatible EAT turntable.

Cartridge Loading Options

Gain ranges from 40dB up to 70dB (with a +6dB option via the XLR outputs), handled cleanly thanks to the fully balanced design. Two load impedance ranges are available — "low" for standard MC cartridges, and an unusual "high" setting that lets you fine-tune MM cartridge loading beyond the typical fixed 47kΩ found on most phono stages. RCA and XLR outputs can be used simultaneously for extra flexibility when connecting to multiple systems.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my existing MM cartridge on the balanced XLR input?
Only if it's a specially modified balanced-compatible MM cartridge. Standard unbalanced MM cartridges will show increased noise on the right channel if used on the XLR input — use the RCA inputs instead, which work with any MM cartridge.

Can I connect two turntables at once?
Yes, two turntables can be connected simultaneously, with each input's settings stored in memory.

Is there an upgrade path for the power supply?
Yes, the separately sold EAT LPS 2 linear power supply improves noise performance further and also powers a compatible EAT turntable from its second output.

How does this compare to the E-Glo C B and E-Glo F B?
E-Glo C B uses a transistor in its second amplifier stage and standard-grade capacitors. E-Glo SB steps up to a fully tube-based second stage and higher-grade polypropylene capacitors. E-Glo F B remains the flagship, shipping with its own dedicated LPS power supply as standard.