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Garrard 301 - Project

I have been contemplating for a while which turntable to pursue given so many choices. Every time I look around, I just can’t help drooling over a fully restored Garrard 301 or 401. Aside from being an idler-drive, I keep reading and hearing about their unique ability to reproduce music with its sense of drive and impact thus making them very desirable to own. And with available meticulous restoration services and gorgeous plinth options, what’s not to like, right!

Would you please share your experience, good and pitfalls (if any) with a restored Garrard 301 to avoid before I go down this path.

And what about the IEC inlet and power cord, would they be of any significance. My two choices would be Furutech FI-09 NCF or FI-06 (G) inlets.

I have already purchased a Reed 3P Cocobolo 10.5” with Finewire C37+Cryo tonearm/interconnect phono cable with KLEI RCA plugs option.

Still exploring Cart Options, so please feel free to share your choice of cart with Garrard 301 or 401.

And lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to @fsonicsmith, @noromance ​​​​@mdalton for the inspiration.

128x128lalitk
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

To have the most attractive aesthetic does add cost, especially if a professional Cabinet Maker Service is to supply fascia materials and carry out the finishing. Spray Paint Coating as a Fascia Finishing can be much more cost effective.

I am today more Wed to a aesthetic that has Honesty, the structure is not masked.

Mass Plinth and Idler Drives are from an era, when not too much was known about materials that are with an intrinsic property for Damping/Dissipation. 

There are extra options today for selecting a Plinths function. Where Mass is a Sink to absorb motor energy, reducing energies transferred through the Platter to the Stylus. Damping/Dissipation, where energies are canned through the material and substantially reduced in their impact on other local materials. 

There is plenty to be read on a forum like Lenco Heaven, to produce a basic idea for how each in use are perceived. 

My recollections are those who moved on from a Mass Plinth have not returned to the structure. Damping/Dissipation has its attractions.

I am also in the prefer Damp/Diss Camp. 

 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,561 posts
 

I have been enjoying analog bliss for past month or so. There is something very endearing about Garrard 301. Is it the timeless classic design or the toe tapping musical engagement…maybe little bit of both. 301 is a keeper!

I believe it’s time to further explore and maximize my investment. So, I ordered a heavier/thicker aluminum platter (topped with gun metal matt) and brass oil bearing to try it out. And more importantly, a custom plinth with dual arm boards. Opted for much sought after Hawaiian Koa in Satin finish with Brass arm-boards. The plinth weighs about 85lbs and arguably his best work off late. I can’t wait to experience it in my Man Cave…expected delivery around April 2025.

Cheers!

@mdalton 

SUT will be here after Capitol Audio for further exploration :-) 

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
481 posts
 

@lalitk 

who’s doing your plinth?  Re SUT, is that the Etsuro?  And I’ll be at CAF - let me know if you’re coming.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,561 posts
 

@mdalton 

Plinth - Same source as yours :-) As far as SUT, very likely EMIA as a test case and then I will decide between Hashimoto or Etsuro. I won’t be at CAF but plan on going to AXPONA 2025. 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,561 posts
 

@mdalton 

I took a slight detour and bought Softone Model4 Equalizer. It appears to mate well with LOMC carts. Since I already own few NOS 12AX7/ECC803S tubes so it should be fun tweaking this little gem. Will know how good this thing sounds by end of the month.

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