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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
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
6,176 posts
 

@fsonicsmith 

Appreciate your feedback. The idler wheel “upgrade” is on hold until I can get one from Artisan Fidelity. For now, I’m quite happy with the stock idler wheel — it still has plenty of life left. The Artisan Fidelity bearing and hybrid platter were a major step in the right direction. 

I hear you on isolation and the external power supply. Among the options, I’m considering the LDA Quartz power supply from the UK. As for isolation, the Woodsong plinth weighs over 85 lbs and supplied with IsoAcoustics feet. I’ll need to hear how this combination performs before exploring solutions from SRA or something similar.

Almost to the finish line before I sit back and enjoy my 301. 

noromance's avatar
noromance
10,473 posts
 

@lalitk Looks great. Congrats. Will it accommodate 12" arms? Have a good listen to a reference record before you change to the new plinth. Then play it again. Getting the plinth wrong will affect the SQ forever and you want to be certain it's an improvement. (I've no doubt but it's nice to be sure. I record before and afters for reference)

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
6,176 posts
 

@noromance 

Thank you! The arm boards can accommodate 9.5” to 12” tonearms. That’s the plan - listen with existing plinth before switching to Woodsong plinth. 

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
810 posts
 

Beautiful plinth!  Chris does beautiful work.  Looking forward to hearing how it sounds.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
6,176 posts
 

Thank you! Chris truly outdid himself on this one, I can’t wait to get everything set up and hear what this upgrade brings to the equation. 

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