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.

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“I just think they nailed it….
@hoytis 

I agree with your assessment. This is a very special phono at a screaming bargain. I have been listening to records two straight days…lol. Have you done any tube rolling? My unit came with JJ ECC803S, they are breaking in nicely and have whet my appetite for more. 

I haven’t heard an amp that hasn’t been improved by rolling in old production Telefunken ECC83/12AX7. Failing that, Grant Fidelity have a Black Treasure 12AX7 that is wonderful.

Dover, who else besides Sovtek make “long plate spiral” 12AX7s and also market those tubes as LPS? But of course you can use any 12AX7/ECC83 in your phono stages.

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