Dandy
Addicted Member
An interesting little promotional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9cuvxiqFpE
Garrard 301/401 owners club!
- Thread starter jeremyjustic
- Start date
shelby1420
Enjoying the music.....
Wow, looks pretty thorough!!!
jeremyjustic
Analog
man I would love to build up a full blown 301 like that. what a beautiful table , I bet it sounds amazing!
mad shadows
Super Member
Bought a Garrard 401 a month ago. I just go it up and running in a heavy mdf-plinth. My first impressions are that it is a little bit better than my previous Lenco L75. I´m using the same tonearm and pick-up (SME 3009 mk II improved and Denon DL103). The 401 doesn’t have quite the same slam as the Lenco but it´s more musical. But I´m still in the process of tweaking the 401.
Dandy
Addicted Member
This is very interesting as I would expect the 401 to slam the L75 out of the water because of the much bigger motor.
I've got both but never done a proper A-B test, so I will look forward to hearing how you get on with your tweaking. Can you post some pics?
jeremyjustic
Analog
how do you like the sme 3009 / denon dl103 combo? from what I have read they are not supposed to be a good match, the dl103 needing a heavier /higher mass tonearm. just curious what your thoughts were:scratch2:
mad shadows
Super Member
I have modified the 3009 for improved weight. The extra weight did wonders for the sound of the 3009+dl 103.
jeremyjustic
Analog
how did you modify the arm? I bought a heavy headshell for mine but it was too heavy to balance. from what I have read you need to change out the knife edge bearing to a bronze one and add a heavier counter weight. could you detail your modifications and maybe post some pics? thanks!!
I have finally put up my 401 so time for a photo. The plinth is solid Zebra wood. I like the original pale colour, but I have started oiling it to bring out the wood colour more. The arm is a blonde FR64fx and the Cartridge a Kiseki Purpleheart. I will post more when the oiling of the plinth is done.
Cheers,
Soren
Cheers,
Soren
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jeremyjustic
Analog
oh yeah Jessor!! that is one great looking table! also awesome to see someone else running a fidelity research tonearm. did you build the plinth yourself?
jeremyjustic
Analog
here's a larger pic for you
Thanks. I actually had it made for me in Tehran, Iran. I lived there until last year. It was made by one of my friends who owns a factory where they have CNC machinery. You may note some scaring on the bottom layer. That is the first attempt where they got it wrong and gave me the cut out and cut up the actual plinth. Luckily they managed to glue it back together. The layers are 7cm each and at the moment the top layer is being finished with oil and I'm working on using the second layer with an Audiocraft 4400 arm. That will take some time though as I have not found good wood workers where I am now, Lagos Nigeria.
mad shadows
Super Member
My modification are very simple. I used blue tack to "glue" a number of coins together and then i "glued" them to the counter weight with blue tack. I increased the weight of the arm tube by using heat shrink tubing.
The sound of the dl 103 on the Garrard table was lacking top end. So I removed the modifications and installed a Ortofon Bronze. The sound is now more open and dynamic.
English is not my first language so my English can be a little crude.
The sound of the dl 103 on the Garrard table was lacking top end. So I removed the modifications and installed a Ortofon Bronze. The sound is now more open and dynamic.
English is not my first language so my English can be a little crude.
Dandy
Addicted Member
Thanks for posting and sharing. :thmbsp:
Dandy
Addicted Member
Ouch! Actually the joints give it a unique look. And you can always said that these irregular cuts were "made very precisely to cancel out LF microphonic resonances" or something.
Thanks. I might just do that. At least the sizing of the wooden pieces are totally random which should help break up or cancel resonances. I'm trying to find good wood for the armboard for the second plinth. I had some made today but the carpenter followed my drawing by line, not by measurement so it came back quite a bit too small. I have to make a full scale model for him to work on. He is a nice guy though and we are both learning. Unfortunately I can't get Zebra wood here so will have to use another kind.
jgordon
Super Member
Why not sacrifice the sub-plinth for an arm board and other accessories? You can barely see it under there. Unless it really does help with isolation.
Thanks for the suggestion. I thought of that, but the upper layer is cut out for a FR arm without the use of an armboard. I like the clean cut look of that. Also I want to use the lower layer as a plinth for an Audiocraft arm, with an armboard, while keeping the option to combine the two if desired. Actually i have the cut out from that but I would have to cut it into thinner layers and I don't have the tools to do that well and safely. I need to find a skilled wood worker before trusting him with the Zebra wood.
mad shadows
Super Member
The 401 is now up and running. It´s a little sweeter and the sound stage is more precise than compared to my Lenco L75. It was the money and effort.
My system:
Garrard 401/SME 3009 imp mkII/Ortofon 2M Bronze
Kenwood Supreme 700 C
Yamaha PC2002
Tannoy Arden
My system:
Garrard 401/SME 3009 imp mkII/Ortofon 2M Bronze
Kenwood Supreme 700 C
Yamaha PC2002
Tannoy Arden
Here's a new photo of the 401, now with one layer plinth. The plinth has been oiled and sanded four times and hand rubbed after the last oiling had dried. A few blemishes shows up in the furface after finishing which were not visible before I started. Lesson learned is to make sure to prepare the wood fully before starting the finishing process. I many redo at a later state, but for now will apply on the second plinth.
Cheers
Soren
Cheers
Soren
