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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.

lalitk
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,187 posts
 

I made that suggestion months ago! 

noromance
12-04-2024 at 12:16am 
I haven’t heard an amp that hasn’t been improved by rolling in old production Telefunken ECC83/12AX7.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,796 posts
 

@noromance 

Indeed you did and I ordered the NOS Telefunken based on your initial suggestion but then I completely forgot about them….lol! 

@macg19 post reminded me that I had NOS Telefunken’s sitting in my closet.

noromance's avatar
noromance
10,187 posts
 

@lalitk Great. Give them a few days to settle in before judging. 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,796 posts
 

@noromance, @macg19 

I have been listening to Telefunken NOS 12AX7 since yesterday after 4 days of break-in. Let me first say JJ 12AX7 are excellent tubes for the money. My biggest concern was noise with Tele NOS. Fortunately, they turned out to be dead quiet. 

Now the differences, JJ pair in contrast were slightly darker and bit forward in mid-range. Tele NOS definitely has more refined mids, slightly sweet and smoother top end. If I may say so, excellent layering and microdynamics too and very  emotionally engaging. 

They are allowing me to fully appreciate Ben Webster’s velvety and breathy tenor saxophone fully bodied sound at another level. I own several recordings of Ben’s music and every one of them giving me goosebumps :-) 

I can’t praise enough my Model 4 phono…what an amazing bargain! I may order another one for my 2nd tonearm. 

Thank again! 

macg19
1,045 posts
 

@noromance Lalit - funny, I was literally just wondering how you were getting along with the tele's. Also Ben Webster was one of my go-to's for testing the Softone.

Glad you like the tele's.

I had a chance to warm up and test the Sovtek LPS variant and tried it in the Model 4 and my tube DAC and it is surprisingly good. I think I like it best in the DAC, but at $60 a pair these are the best new issue tubes I've heard so far and easily best the Gold Lion reissue's that were included by the seller with the model 4.

btw, I ordered a new Model 4 from Mr. Yoshimoto - it will ship early next month, then I'll get the used one repaired (if cost is reasonable) and put it up for sale.

Lastly, I did some more a/b testing between the Model 4 and my Gold Note PH-10 with PSU-10 (3 x the price), and it's not even close. My "busted" Model 4 really is remarkable - can't wait to hear what a properly functioning one sounds like!

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