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

@noromance Similar experiments have been done with naked chassis on numerous TT's, even when my friend got their SP10 R, there was a range of Prop's trialed to eke the sound from it that was a betterment.

My continuous experiences of using Plinth Materials and experiencing Plith Matrilas has been run in conjunction with working with the overall supporting structure for the support of the Source and System.  

I have worked from the Floor Upwards and also having industrial type Gallows Bracket fastened to the Walls as a Suspended Structure.

The Gallows Brackets has served as a Shelve Support and also an anchor point to suspend shelves from on O Rings, Chain, and Rope.

The Suspended Set Up nor the Shelve Support was an attractive option to be used with the Vinyl Source, but complimented CDP > DAC very well. 

The Vinyl Source from my experiences works at it very best in my listening environment when mounted on a Multi Tier Support Structure, inclusive of Highly Compressed Foam, Steel Plates, Granite as the Sub Base and this is then built of as the mount for the Bespoke Produced Hard Wood Rack that has spring suspension as footers, with a variety of Isolation devices used for under each Shelve.

The Racks support for the Vinyl Source is a further multi tier support structure that has been optimised over the years to suit a variety of TT's in varying Plinth Materials. I do believe I got a very attractive sonic from Granite when it was a preferred material, especially when I found materials that was able to keep it in a state of suspension and not compressing to become hard.

I found a 40m Diameter dense closed cell round Backing Rod used for Silicone Applications ideal for this role as a Footer for a 9 Stone of Granite Plinth. It is trimmable as well to assist with the bulk of the leveling requirement.  

The individual who now owns the 401 and Granite Plinth has not got the same from it as I did, even though it sits on the Backing Rod I gave the owner. As for the reason who knows. It might be there is not a understructure like mine used to support it, or the new environment needs different structure very different from mine and the one presently in use ?

The 401 owner has done much better with various designs of Wood Board as a Plinth Structure.

On one occasion I informed the 401 owner, but in relation to their GL 75's that there is a colouration detectable that is most likely caused by the Sub Support in use.

I know how tidy a GL75 can sound as a typical GL75 and as a PTP Design, as I have experience with both through ownership.

The 401 owner invited me back to show me how much their TT's had been tidied up, on this occasion I took my Sub Plinth and Stacked Footer assembly with me to give them a demo' and loan.

Following their new under TT support demo' the items were swapped out for my own, in this environment they worked superbly, the System owners Jaw was agape😦. During the loan, my devices were plagiarised for their own continued use.

The Environment for a TT set up and the Support Structure in use are extremely important to having the Vinyl Source optimised for performance as a set up.

A TT will produce a sound and music that is a enjoyable experience in any environment, think of all the Parties a TT has been the source for the music being danced or head banged to.

As an audio enthusiast and having learned over many years, things worthy of consideration, I have adopted an active approach, that attempts to address some of the things that are best avoided. I do think I have removed or at worst diminished unwanted influences to the place they are not detected as detrimental to the signal being produced by the styli's interface within the groove.   

As it is known, Densified Wood as a Support Structure, is where my attention is now  placed.

My Bespoke Produced Rack, which is very long time owned will most likely become a Hybrid with this material, especially as a Cap attached to the Base of the Legs to house the Spring Suspension and as replacement for the used Ash Wood for Frame Bracing / Shelve Supports.  

@pindac It would be wonderful to see photos. Please consider setting up an entry in Virtual Systems, or by the utilization of a preferred photographic sharing utility. One can describe beauty in endless prose but beholding the vision is the revelation.

Update: Plinth has been ordered and it comes with M6 threaded nuts, no feet. I got one recommendation so far for Stillpoints footers. Are there any other footers that I should consider that would help decouple and drain any unwanted energy. I would love to install the TT on a wall mounted shelf but that is not an option. 

I am also considering Seismic Pods from Townshend Audio. Any other suggestions are welcomed! 

@lalitk ,

I use Nordost Sortfut under my 301. I had Stillpoints but needed more clearance for the Shindo bearing. Can’t comment on the sound difference because Nordost and Shindo were installed at the same time 

@jperry 

Thank you for the recommendation. I haven’t thought of height clearance if I ever go down the route of replacing the bearing.