Garrard 301 - Project

When setting up support structure for a Stylus to perform at its optimised / close to  optimised. My experiences had, has discovered that 2mm (1/16) in a thickness of a materials used under the Stylus can make a major difference.

The TT is not up and running at present, but because I was very impressed by the AT 677 Mat, I have a Micro Seiki Copy of a Mat made in very similar metal to the AT 677, but at a 10mm, approx' (3/8) thickness.

Forex Foam Mats used as 5mm Thick Mat, are in my set up extremely attractive in use on both ID TT and DD TT's. Take the same material mat in less than 5mm, when used in my system on a DD TT, the outcome is the usage is very short lived. This material type at lesser thicknesses does not perform attractively. 

The same outcome occurred on a system in another Home on a BD TT, the system owner was so impressed with the 5mm Mat I gifted it to them.     

@pindac 

Good point! Platter mats is something I’ve not experimented with yet. I went with Herbies Audio Lab ~ Way Excellent II Turntable Mat in 4mm thickness. They make good stuff so it was an easy choice without driving myself insane over plethora of available options. 

https://herbiesaudiolab.com/products/way-excellent-ii-turntable-mat?variant=12654105919543

@lalitk 

Excellent news.  So where are you with respect to your various decision trees (cartridge, SUT, etc.)?

@mdalton

I am very happy with Etsuro Bordeaux. I do need a mono cartridge, thinking about recently released Hana SL Mono MK II. I also upgraded my phono board with Accuphase Integrated to AD-60 and returned Allnic phono since it was not a day n night upgrade over my AD-60. Once AD-60 fully burn-in, I am going to pursue an SUT, very likely HM-7 or Etsuro. Too bad, SUT’s are not returnable, my decision would’ve been lot easier. Also looking at 301 spindle and platter combo but this looks like a late December or early January purchase.

Are you using an external PSU with your Garrard 401? I know there is a LDA option but then also found this on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204976080738?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=xwT6lKLYQXq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=LfCp7wcARee&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

@lalitk 

What specifically do you not like about the DAS plinth?  I believe yours is constructed with a slab of MDF on the top.  That's how he builds the plinths with the radiused edges because he can't wrap the radiused edges with veneer.  If it were plywood, you'd see the layers of ply at the radius.

Do you think the top MDF layer has any negatives?  Is the TT chassis coupled to the MDF layer or is it coupled to the next layer of plywood below the first layer of MDF?  I believe DAS mentioned to me that the TT chassis actually sets on the MDF layer, but it was a long time ago and I may be misremembering.