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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
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,437 posts
 

@mdalton 

Thank you. I have used Gaia’s under my B&W 800D2..good stuff. 

@dover 

Thank you for chiming in….you have given me lot of insight to digest and I really appreciate it. For starters, I am considering a mat from Herbie’s that is made from open-cell silicone foam so I should be ok with slightly concave platter. The other mat under consideration is Stein Music Carbon Signature. 

The 3mm CTC platter is what I had in mind along with their updated Brass Spindle. And thank you for sharing your experience on replacing the spindle…I thought it would be bit cumbersome to tackle this job once motor and tonearm is mounted so I wanted to see if I should do this upgrade now and be done with it 😊

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
461 posts
 

@lalitk 

I have the Herbie’s mat on my 401.  Honestly, didn’t do A/B with stock mat, but I love overall balance of my setup.  The Audiophile Man just did a review of the new Origin Live Stratas mat - - compares it to at least 6 other mats. Worth checking out.

 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,437 posts
 

@mdalton 

Thank you for the endorsement on Herbie’s mat. I received a bare platter so I need to start somewhere; given reasonable cost of the Herbie’s mat, I said why not. I have bought Herbie’s products in the past and they offer good value and performance.  I will read up on the review! 

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
461 posts
 

I used 285mm, 4mm thick, recommended by Herbie’s.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,437 posts
 

@mdalton 

Thanks for sharing. I was considering Herbie’s Way Excellent II 4mm thick, 280mm (diameter). The 301 strobe platter is 11-3/4” which roughly translates to 279.4mm. Does your matt over hangs the platter? This is bit confusing as Herbie’s recommends the following, 

  • 292mm (11.5") diameter. For tables using an 11.5" mat like Technics SP10, SL-1300, and bevelled-platter Garrard turntables.Great for Luxman PD–series turntables.
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