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

@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.

Softone Model 4 is here. Its breaking-in and sounding promising. It’s dead quiet (uses a pair of 12AX7 variant), clarity, bass response and imaging seems to be spot on.

Thanks to @hoytis for the mention.

12AX7LPS is not a variant of 12AX7; the LPS suffix is a Sovtek code for low noise. So it’s a Sovtek 12AX7 that was presumably tested and selected for low noise. It’s well regarded, at least for having low noise. A randomly chosen NOS 12AX7/ECC83 is unlikely to be as quiet.

Cheers! I've been really happy with mine. What it lacks in load options makes up in fidelity. I just think they nailed it – in my system anyway. Hope it works out for ya.