View Full Version : Garrard 301 restoration project
Just watched a great video on future of vinyl playback Andy and vibration elimination is a priority as it has been found to deliver even more information from those grooves than has ever been thought.
check this discussion out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTGzoYlgxjM&t=86s
I have watched it. The designers/scientists involved in the discussion have access to some very specialised equipment, to be honest it made me question if I was fooling myself to think I can build a turntable that is even close to the high-end products. I've recovered now but it is a humbling conversation.
I have watched it. The designers/scientists involved in the discussion have access to some very specialised equipment, to be honest it made me question if I was fooling myself to think I can build a turntable that is even close to the high-end products. I've recovered now but it is a humbling conversation.
Having listened to the second half of their discussion again ( I wasn't giving it my full attention first time around) I found it very positive. Well worth a listen.
Now i'm off to look at my tonearm vector angles... :)
Having listened to the second half of their discussion again ( I wasn't giving it my full attention first time around) I found it very positive. Well worth a listen.
Now i'm off to look at my tonearm vector angles... :)
What got me interested was the fact that they have still someway to go before everything in the groove can be recovered. It certainly motivates me to try and implement as much vibration control that I possibly can without resorting to huge expense. Yes a great discussion for sure and quite inspiring.
Wakefield Turntables
24-06-2024, 19:44
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XXXXVII - Brain Wave :hmm:
Wee update! So, it looks like I might have the very rough idea of making a bearing clamp for the Garrard bearing. I've ordered some threaded rod of various sizes, now just need to hunt around the garage for a decent piece of steel and my drill bits. Short and sweet chaps, stay tuned......
Wakefield Turntables
24-06-2024, 19:46
What got me interested was the fact that they have still someway to go before everything in the groove can be recovered. It certainly motivates me to try and implement as much vibration control that I possibly can without resorting to huge expense. Yes a great discussion for sure and quite inspiring.
That's why I've been messing around with Townshend gear for a while. Not perfect but better than nothing unless you want to spend silly money on a platform to house an electron microscope away from vibration.
That's why I've been messing around with Townshend gear for a while. Not perfect but better than nothing unless you want to spend silly money on a platform to house an electron microscope away from vibration.
I will take a look at the Townshend gear as I think I could improve on my Vibrapods!
Wakefield Turntables
24-06-2024, 20:08
Expensive but it’s end stage it’s stops spending loads of money on countless products and it holds its value
Wakefield Turntables
26-06-2024, 18:52
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XXXXVIII - I can feel a rant a 'comin.
Not an update as such but maybe some hints and tips on how you could save yourself £51K by not buying the new Garrard 301 Advance, and maybe an uodate on my bearing modifcation (if the materials arrive).
Stay tuned.
Wakefield Turntables
30-06-2024, 17:53
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XXXXIX - An unexpected twist.... Well two actually
TWIST ONE
Firstly, no pictures tonight. I can't be bothered. :ner: So, first unexpected twist. SME release a re-worked for £51000 :wowzer: I'm happy for SME and wish them every bit of luck shifting them. At first I was a little disgusted with the sheer amount of money that you'd have to spend to get one of these reworked decks and then, as usual, I gave the situation some thought and wondered how I could use this to my advantage. It's really rather very good having the reviewer as a forum member, you get some interesting pieces of information which could be used in ways to improve ones own 301 :eyebrows:. Firstly the motor in these new decks got a rebuild and service and from what's known so far has been left to its original design. Well, my motor has undergone the same process, a complete rebuild, service, and where needed old parts replaced with new. The bearing is new, well there is bugger all I can do about getting a brand new SME Garrard 301 bearing, I have a Bastin Modified Garrard 401 bearing running in my Garrard 301. It's works a treat and to my ears sounds excellent. The new bearings have phosphor bronze sleeve and new ball bearing/thrust pads. It would be interesting to see if any of the after market upgrades (ball bearing/thrust pad) sound anything similar to the SME equivalent. I could. I suppose have a play around with my original Garrard 301 bearing and see if things can be improved messing around with some of the after market stuff.
SME have also decided to keep the original platter mat. I remember at the very start of this project assessing numerous platter mats and sticking with the original Garrard until I heard the Tenuto mat. The fact that SME with stuck with the original has vindicated my initial feelings towards the Garrard original. Interestingly the new SME 301 has been tested and the new platter mats have quite a profund impact on bearing noise. I would love to know the bearing noise figures using a Tenuto mat. Through grove noise was -70.9db with the new rubber mat and the new SME bearing. I would love to have my 401 bearing with the original Garrard mat assessed, then with the Tenuto and finally pitched against the SME offerings, of course this will never happen.
The Idler wheel also appears to have been left alone. Well that makes me feel better as well. I remember ages ago having my Idler wheel checked by Martin Bastin for flat spots and I asked him to re-rebuild my work. I went to the trouble of replacing and refurbishing everything on the idler wheel and it's housing. Yes, OCD kicked in. The end result of all this fettling was a completely silent functioning idler wheel. So, I'm also happy with this bit of my 301 with respects to introducing noise into the platter or flat spots on the wheel producing speed variations of the platter, altough this is largely irrelevant with the Pheonix Engineering system installed.
The HIFI news review also highlighted some important information regarding two sources of noise getting into the platter and these (already known) sources being the bearing (already discussed) and the motor via coupling of the high speed pulley and idler wheel to the inside of the platter. The rubber mat mitigates the bearing noise but only a decoupling of the motor would help reduce some of the noise getting into the platter. So what has this taught me? Well firstly I'm happy so far with my efforts at damping noise getting into the platter from the bearing with the Tenuto mat and secondly I really do need to get my arse into gear and decouple the motor to the 301. I suppose having an excellent running motor on the 301 will mitigate some of the noise getting into the platter. It appears I have gone down the same route as SME and replaced and rebuilt the motor with all new parts. So, again, I'm happy I've done what I can do help my 301 be the best it can
Finally, the plinth. We may never know what SME used as an "advanced polymer" but my thoughts turn to the fact that SME have gone down the this route and also the feet for the plinth are made from the same stuff. My first homemade plinth was a Bamboo prototype which is still a work-in- progress. I did a small experiment a while ago replacing my original bamboo feet with some ball-bearing height adjustable feet. The jury is still out with respects to the bamboo or bearing based feet but I do have my doubts about the bearing based feet. Maybe SME was onto something with using all one material. My deck is sitting on a Townshend Seismic platform so maybe this argument is pointless and maybe material of the feet on my deck is irrelevant :confused:. The tonearm on the new plinth is further isolated from the plinth, yep I've tried that with a Panzerholz SME tonearm mount and finally the 301 chassis has been isolated from the plinth as well. I have made no provision for this apart from the usual rubber rings around the mounting bolts located in the chassis itself.
The things I have learned and need to implement :-
1. Decouple the motor.
2. Provide improved provision for isolation between the 301 and the plinth.
3. Remake my plinth from Panzerholz or Permali
4. Maybe experiment with some of the newer ball bearing after market bearing upgrades with a donour 301 bearing.
So, this is how I've used the new 301 release to my advantage, I realise my 301 will probably never be as good as the SME release but I can see where SME have been working and concentrate so of my own efforts to some extents its already what I had planned but it's nice to see someone with SME's experience and knowledge vindicating some of my ideas I had for my 301.
TWIST TWO
This happened whilst walking the woofer (sorry for the speaker pun). I have been thinking about a bearing collar mount for sometime and did intend using bamboo and I may still go down this route. I did also want to install a bearing clamp to try and stiffen up the mounting on the bearing to the chassis. Well the collar is still a work in progress but the clamp took another step forward today. I will use tensioned threaded rod to a apply a downward pull on the bearing to better improve coupling of the bearing to the chassis instead of a clamp attached at the bearings base, this will then attach to a stiffened stainless steel plate which will live under the plinth. This system is very simple and negates the need to mess around producing a custom shaped clamp. So, the bearing clamp has been designed, the collar is still in the works. I just need some 5mm bamboo to play around with. These little experiments will hopefully address (to some extent) the known problem of flex in the 301 chassis. My early experiments with the USA stiffening plate appear to have worked well so I wonder if I can push things a little further with my bearing experiments :).
So, thanks to SME for validating some of my work on the 301 and showing me a clear path forward for the 301. Stay tuned.
Very good comparison and analysis of your 301 pathway to the future based on the SME work. I like your logical approach and thinking process to try achieve even greater performance from your 301. It's always a wise thing, as I have found, to look a what others have done (no matter what the cost!) in order to see if you are on the right path and if there are things to learn in order to improve your gear and hopefully listening experience.
Obviously we don't all have the resources or time the specialists companies have but through our endeavours there are always economical and "home brew" technology that can be used to raise the bar. I know your efforts in this area for all your turntables has been very thorough and realised great improvements.
What would be most interesting would be a back to back listening session comparing your TT with the SME and to see/hear what differences there are and which one you prefer however I suppose determining which parts contribute to those differences could be tricky?
Great post Andy.
Are we comparing 'like with like' here?
I think your 301 has an oil lubricated bearing, whereas the SME offering uses a grease lubricated bearing. The two are different acoustically.
Are we comparing 'like with like' here?
I think your 301 has an oil lubricated bearing, whereas the SME offering uses a grease lubricated bearing. The two are different acoustically.
If you can hear that difference is another matter.
I have just been advised by Beobloke that the new SME 301s have oil lubricated bearings, so my post above is irrelevant.
That said, there can be an audible difference between the two types. Shortly after the introduction of stereo LPs, the BBC reported that the rumble of some of their grease bearing 301s was noticeable and asked Garrard if something could be done about it. Garrard's response was the introduction of the oil lubricated bearing (as indicated by the "Schedule II" designation on the name plate). Some of the Schedule I versions were OK, which was probably down to machining tolerance issues attainable at the time.
Wakefield Turntables
01-07-2024, 19:13
I have just been advised by Beobloke that the new SME 301s have oil lubricated bearings, so my post above is irrelevant.
That said, there can be an audible difference between the two types. Shortly after the introduction of stereo LPs, the BBC reported that the rumble of some of their grease bearing 301s was noticeable and asked Garrard if something could be done about it. Garrard's response was the introduction of the oil lubricated bearing (as indicated by the "Schedule II" designation on the name plate). Some of the Schedule I versions were OK, which was probably down to machining tolerance issues attainable at the time.
The problem with modification (of any component) on the 301 is that it costs and arm and a leg! I've tried several bearing The original 301, original 401, Bastin modified 401 amd the SPH bearing. To my ears the Bastin modified 401 bearing sounded the best. The chassis has been modded as well, CTC now make a one piece super beefy example that eliminates chasis flex. I've attempted to rid mine with the stiffening plate from the USA. Platters are another topic which could be covered. The list goes on. All these "mods" can change the sound of a 301. I'll try and detail how I've attempted to "emulate" some of these mods with my 301 in the next post.
Wakefield Turntables
07-07-2024, 18:30
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT L (50) - MONO-TONE-OUS
Hopefully the log for this project is not monotonous. So, the rather rubbish pun should give a clue about what I've been musing over for the last few days. It's MONO playback time again. My 301 is equipped with two tonearm, both from SME. The 3009 sports a Ortofon SPU MONO with a little modification it just about runs the MONO SPU I have had to have a custom counterweight made and the SPU just about tracks at it's lower end tracker weight, approx 3g. I can get 3.1g with my current setup, 4g is recommended. My MONO SPU is not a true MONO cartridge. I'm hoping to try a true mono cartridge alongside a MONO step up through my Croft Musicmaker Phonostage. It's early in the process and nothing has been organised yet but my 3009 should be able to at least track the new cartridge better and deliver true MONO delivery. Presently MONO is delivered through my Wardrobe like 15" Tannoy MG'S and things do sound amazing but I also have a single Quad ESL57 sitting three feet away just for MONO delivery so if things happen I can only say that I'll be taking a few days away from work to listen to this setup. Looks like my bank balance might be a bit lighter!
Tonearm clearence seems to have been an issue with the 3009 playing MONO records. I've been experimenting with various platter mats and I think I might have cracked this problem as well. The old Garrard platter mat has made an appearence after reading the rather complimentary through bearing noise damping levels. I have no idea at all if the Tenuto and Garrard platter mat combo produce superior or inferior results, I suppose it's all about the sonic presentation. I can certainly say that presently things do sound rather nice with the not quite well so matched Mono SPU. I have John Coltrane playing at the minute on MONO pressing and it sounds great!
Feeling Blue, I note that John's on...... Sorry!!!!
https://i.ibb.co/sw9byzG/IMG-1376.jpg
Monty Python moment, and now for something completely different. The bearing SAGA. I'm in the envious position of owning a spare Garrard 301 bearing so as a consequence can mess around and try different things when designing a new mounting system. I've finally managed to get together a few bits and pieces which will make a bearing base clamp and for once a little thought has gone into how things should go forwards. Things are still not quite properly finished and further tweaking is needed.
No it's not a bloody imitation of Sputnik! :eek:
https://i.ibb.co/k4j2kqm/IMG-1377.jpg
In true bodge fashion I found something made from bamboo sitting in my spares box. The bamboo will be cut down and fashioned into something lovely which will sit under my plinth. So, where's the thought process? Well I did intend trying to find something which was metal based and non-magnetic, I do have a stash of Aluminium but nothing suitable. So, I had a rummage and found the bamboo. Bamboo has two great advantages, firstly it won't introduce a ground loop hum and secondly it has damping properties. Again, no ideas if using bambo to damp the mounting rods coming from the bearing will help, hinder, or do bugger all. :lol:
Right you lot, I'm chilling with a nice bottle of Malbac so as ever, stay tuned.......
Wakefield Turntables
07-07-2024, 18:37
A quick one for Mr. Audiograil, I've got around to fixing the on/off switch! ;)
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT L (50) - MONO-TONE-OUS
Hopefully the log for this project is not monotonous. So, the rather rubbish pun should give a clue about what I've been musing over for the last few days. It's MONO playback time again. My 301 is equipped with two tonearm, both from SME. The 3009 sports a Ortofon SPU MONO with a little modification it just about runs the MONO SPU I have had to have a custom counterweight made and the SPU just about tracks at it's lower end tracker weight, approx 3g. I can get 3.1g with my current setup, 4g is recommended. My MONO SPU is not a true MONO cartridge. I'm hoping to try a true mono cartridge alongside a MONO step up through my Croft Musicmaker Phonostage. It's early in the process and nothing has been organised yet but my 3009 should be able to at least track the new cartridge better and deliver true MONO delivery. Presently MONO is delivered through my Wardrobe like 15" Tannoy MG'S and things do sound amazing but I also have a single Quad ESL57 sitting three feet away just for MONO delivery so if things happen I can only say that I'll be taking a few days away from work to listen to this setup. Looks like my bank balance might be a bit lighter!
Tonearm clearence seems to have been an issue with the 3009 playing MONO records. I've been experimenting with various platter mats and I think I might have cracked this problem as well. The old Garrard platter mat has made an appearence after reading the rather complimentary through bearing noise damping levels. I have no idea at all if the Tenuto and Garrard platter mat combo produce superior or inferior results, I suppose it's all about the sonic presentation. I can certainly say that presently things do sound rather nice with the not quite well so matched Mono SPU. I have John Coltrane playing at the minute on MONO pressing and it sounds great!
Feeling Blue, I note that John's on...... Sorry!!!!
https://i.ibb.co/sw9byzG/IMG-1376.jpg
Monty Python moment, and now for something completely different. The bearing SAGA. I'm in the envious position of owning a spare Garrard 301 bearing so as a consequence can mess around and try different things when designing a new mounting system. I've finally managed to get together a few bits and pieces which will make a bearing base clamp and for once a little thought has gone into how things should go forwards. Things are still not quite properly finished and further tweaking is needed.
No it's not a bloody imitation of Sputnik! :eek:
https://i.ibb.co/k4j2kqm/IMG-1377.jpg
In true bodge fashion I found something made from bamboo sitting in my spares box. The bamboo will be cut down and fashioned into something lovely which will sit under my plinth. So, where's the thought process? Well I did intend trying to find something which was metal based and non-magnetic, I do have a stash of Aluminium but nothing suitable. So, I had a rummage and found the bamboo. Bamboo has two great advantages, firstly it won't introduce a ground loop hum and secondly it has damping properties. Again, no ideas if using bambo to damp the mounting rods coming from the bearing will help, hinder, or do bugger all. :lol:
Right you lot, I'm chilling with a nice bottle of Malbac so as ever, stay tuned.......
Great picture, hope the bearing clamp works out - you may need to patent it!:)
Wakefield Turntables
09-07-2024, 18:48
Great picture, hope the bearing clamp works out - you may need to patent it!:)
Might be some time before I get this installed. I'm hoping for this weekend, or could be the next! As always I will do some pics, thoughts, etc on an update at some point in the future.
Wakefield Turntables
12-07-2024, 19:34
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LI - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt II (Complex:eek:)Hi, welcome, how you doing? Part 51 of this ongoing saga is here tonight. So what's been going on? Well the adventures of the 301 and its infrastructure continues to plod on. The MONO playback aspect of the deck is stil under development and the bearing modification hasn't had a look in yet, maybe this weekend, and maybe not! So, I've been playing around with different methods of MONO reproduction on the 301. Presently, I've tried valve phonostage playback with the Croft MusicMaker and Belden cables with Duelund pure copper RCA's, it sounds good but weirdly same belden cable with Switchcraft brass/gold plated RCA's sounds better https://compassaudio.co.uk/product/switchcraft-3502abau-black-gold-rca-phono-plug/ how, why? I have no idea. Output from the SME 3009 has been ported down via a Y splitter into the phonostage and output to a single Quad ESL 57.
https://compassaudio.co.uk/product/switchcraft-3502abau-black-gold-rca-phono-plug/https://compassaudio.co.uk/product/switchcraft-3502abau-black-gold-rca-phono-plug/https://i.ibb.co/LNV3wLM/IMG-1385.jpg
I will have a play with the paradise phonostage tomorrow with a one channel output into the Quad ESL 57 and see how things sound. I'll also have a play around with the cables again and see if we can get a clear winner. It's all good fun. Now, weirdly, I may have stumbled across a platter mat pairing which appears to give superior results compared to just using the Tenuto mat on it's own. It's the original 301 mat sitting on top of the Tenuto. Perhaps I'm hearing better damping, less noise through the bearing, improved VTA, perhaps one or maybe all three variables at once. All I know is that things sound better. OK, stay tuned....
What amplifier are you using to power the Quad ESL? And what is serial number of the speaker - early models (SN < 800) were designed for mono reproduction.
Wakefield Turntables
12-07-2024, 20:31
I'm just using single channel output from the Sondex S100 is dual mono so works well. The ESL is SN>800. I don't think I'll find a sub 800 single Quad ESL any time today, this year or probably even decade. Saying that, the Tannoy's do a great job reproducing MONO when played as a pair.
Wakefield Turntables
21-07-2024, 19:03
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LII - Big Boy Pants!
Another sunday and another few lines about the journey of the 301. Tweaking (not twerking) still continues on the 301 and this time it's been with platter mats. I started messing around by adding the original 301 mat onto my Tenuto platter mat to try and improve the VTA for the SME 3009 MONO only tonearm. I'd forgot about the mat only to play a few records and realise that something quite nice was happening to the soundstage. I was hearing a slightly improved presentation from the 301 so after a few days of making sure I wasn't hearing things I decided to put the 301 mat under the Tenuto mat and then sit back play some vinyl and compare the results. Well, the original mat is now sitting back on top of the Tenuto, presentation seemed a wee bit sluggish and less forensic in end note detail, loss of definition, more blunt and nicey-nicey. I suppose that's ok if you like that sort of thing but not me. :( So, 301 platter mat sits on top of the Tenuto and cosmic karma has been restored.
The Garrard 401 has been a bit of a distraction and I still haven't got the bearing brace installed on the 301. I did get my old Nigels Speed Controller installed on the 401, can you tell the inspiration for the design.
https://i.ibb.co/VvLx6s8/IMG-1398.jpg
The 401 now has the holy trinity of have the motor decoupled and the ability to control motor Hz and Voltage, the 301 only has motor Hz and Voltage control, one day I'll upgrade the bamboo plinth and decouple the motor, first I have to install the bearing brace, so the old big boy pants will have to come out and the 301 gets dismantled again! The 401 makes a worthy back-up turntable but it just dosen't have the boogie factor of the 301 even though technically it has the better plinth, motor control, and tonearm. Ah well, horses for courses I suppose. I can't see myself ever linking up the NSC to see if it sounds better than the Pheonix Engineering set-up, it wouldn't be that difficult but I just can't be bothered. It will be interesting to see how the baring brace sounds and I think I really do need to get a weekend booked in where I can just mess around with the 301 over a full day and get everything set-up properly and then simply leave the thing alone. Mods are getting short on the ground again so the blog might not be updated as often as I'd like :(.
Stay tuned.......
That speed controller looks serious piece of kit compared to the Phoenix. Has an Audio Research look about it?
Wakefield Turntables
21-07-2024, 19:13
That speed controller looks serious piece of kit compared to the Phoenix. Has an Audio Research look about it?
You guessed correctly! I wanted a Audio Research / 1960's NASA space lab look. I just needed some grab handles at the time.
Wakefield Turntables
22-07-2024, 18:21
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LIII - Another plinth?
Yep, looks like it, one of my own design. I've learned a lot since making the bamboo plinth and have decided to really go down the route of "end-stage" plinth construction. I intend to make something that might have 3 arms or certainly the ability to accept three arms. It will have a decoupled motor, a bearing brace and collar and more importantly will be made from Permali. I shall still be developing and prototyping my current bamboo plinth in which the 301 lives. I shall than make the Permali plinth as my end-game plinth once I'm happy with the final design. I will soon be loosing my current office address and with this the safety of packages being safely stored and delivered 6 days a week. So, my hand has been forced :eek:. My only concern is that the plinth may over damp the 301 but I have only heard good things from people who have dabbled with Panzerholz or Permali. My current plinth incorperates Panzerholz SME tonearm mounts and I'm convinced they have helped to elevate the sonic performance of the 301. The only downside to this folly is that the plinth weight will increase quite markedly, this means that I will probably have to buy 4 new pods for my Townshend Seismic plinth :doh::doh::doh::doh:. I just hope that my supplier comes through with the order.
As an aside I have just come up with a new small project to upgrade my REFFC external XO for my Tannoy 15" MG's, again it's going to complete Tom Tweekery but it should be fun and hopefully improve the sonic's of the 301.
As ever my friends stay tuned (it should be fun)........
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LIII - Another plinth?
Yep, looks like it, one of my own design. I've learned a lot since making the bamboo plinth and have decided to really go down the route of "end-stage" plinth construction. I intend to make something that might have 3 arms or certainly the ability to accept three arms. It will have a decoupled motor, a bearing brace and collar and more importantly will be made from Permali. I shall still be developing and prototyping my current bamboo plinth in which the 301 lives. I shall than make the Permali plinth as my end-game plinth once I'm happy with the final design. I will soon be loosing my current office address and with this the safety of packages being safely stored and delivered 6 days a week. So, my hand has been forced :eek:. My only concern is that the plinth may over damp the 301 but I have only heard good things from people who have dabbled with Panzerholz or Permali. My current plinth incorperates Panzerholz SME tonearm mounts and I'm convinced they have helped to elevate the sonic performance of the 301. The only downside to this folly is that the plinth weight will increase quite markedly, this means that I will probably have to buy 4 new pods for my Townshend Seismic plinth :doh::doh::doh::doh:. I just hope that my supplier comes through with the order.
As an aside I have just come up with a new small project to upgrade my REFFC external XO for my Tannoy 15" MG's, again it's going to complete Tom Tweekery but it should be fun and hopefully improve the sonic's of the 301.
As ever my friends stay tuned (it should be fun)........
A Permali plinth will be interesting, I have ply and slate plinths and hope to try Permali one day. I have recently obtained a small piece which I will use for an armboard on my stacked ply plinth/301. Will an armboard make a noticeable difference, time will tell...
Wakefield Turntables
22-07-2024, 19:15
See post #517 both my SME's have been mounted on Panzerholz tonearm boards. To my ears it makes a lot of difference, YMMV.
Wakefield Turntables
24-07-2024, 19:15
A week away from work and quite a few things planned for the 301 and it's infrastructure! Stay tuned...
Wakefield Turntables
26-07-2024, 18:54
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LIV (54) - XO mini project
My Garrard 301 is just one infrastructure component of a system where everything is designed to try and work together and get the best possible sound through my big Tannoy wardrobes :eek:! Indeed, it's part of the Tannoy wardrobes which are getting a little TLC, mainly the cross-overs are sometimes known as the XO's. My XO's have been designed by Paul @ RFC components and they are excellent but I got around to thinking that things could be improved again but using up some spare parts which are sitting around in my spares bin in my garage. I installed some WBT speaker terminals and I originally thought that they were solid copper, NOPE! I'm afraid they are "copper alloy" which means brass which has been gold coated. I now have some lovely Cardas solid Copper binding posts https://www.cardas.com/binding-posts (have a look down the link you will find them). The locking nut is brass which is non-magnetic amd I have replaced all the plastic spacers and spacing washers with custom made spacers and washers from 7mm bamboo. The idea is to try and damp the binding posts, probably complete foo but who cares it's a small fun project to while away some of the time whilst I'm away from work. :lolsign:. I have managed to find some solid 3mm silver in teflon which will also form part of the signal path in the XO, this will replace a small piece of copper wire which currently does the job. Finally, I will also be getting rid of two pairs of spades which the speaker cable to the bing post, the Cardas binding posts accpet my SAEC speaker cable very nice, so, that's one less component in the audio signal chain.
Now, sometime ago I had my external XO's upgraded to Paul's highest spec and I also asked Paul to make my cabinets smaller so that they could fit under my Tannoys and be out of sight. Previously I had the XO's mounted to the underside of the speaker cabinet so thety took up less space in my listening room. The Tannoy speaker cabinets are massive probably weigh 75Kg each but they still resonate and this would be going straight into my XO's. Now, I have decoupled the XO's and they sit on the floor so less resonance going into the XO's and hopefully less into the turntable. I might make something for them to sit on so they are further isolated from resonance travelling into them from the floor. I'll have to have another rummage in the spares box.
Finally, a we update on the Permali plinth for the 301. I'm in talks with a supplier to ship over some pre-cut sections so that I can assemble and cut the plinth to my design and measurements, this is still very much a work in progress and totally depends upon cost. OK, I think that's it for now. I will take some photo's of the updated XO's when they are finished. Stay tuned.....
Wakefield Turntables
27-07-2024, 17:16
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LV (55) - XO mini project Pt II (Surgery). :chainsaw:
Just completely ignore Part 54 the XO has undergone a bit of surgery. I've just soldered my speaker cable directly onto the XO, nothing new at all but I have managed to remove several levels of components from the signal path. These components are the banana plugs coming from the power amp, the banana plugs attached to the binding posts of the XO, the binding posts of the XO and a small wire soldered from the binding posts onto the XO circuit board alongside several layers of solder. So, all my hard work yesterday came to nought! I can laugh now :lol:, I've only modded one XO and one speaker channel to see if this would work and I'm pleased to say that it's singing nicely with some Mingus. I have another day off tomorrow so I will probably manage to get all the new mods installed and have a good listen. I do have one problem, and that's my SuperTweeters, they work very well with my binding posts but are now defunct unless I solder them directly onto the XO. Let's do one thing at a time. I'll get all the XO mods done tomorrow so I can have a good listen. Stay tuned...
Removing as many connections / plugs as possible can only be a good thing. I think Glenn tried this with a few of his amps and found there was a definite sound improvement but he could not sell them with that wiring arrangement - something to do with EU regs I think?
Wakefield Turntables
28-07-2024, 18:12
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LVI (56) - XO mini project Pt III (Patient on the mend)
Just for fun whilst drinking a cup of tea I thought I'd create this post. So, here is a picture of all the components that have come out of the signal chain.
https://i.ibb.co/7Cb2LD4/IMG-1403.jpg
And here is one of the external XO boxes that just needs a little TLC, notice no binding posts! I need to resolder the speaker cable onto the XO again and smarten that box up a little. The Tannoy's will need to be remeasured to get exact distance from walls, toe-in distance etc etc and then I can start to have a listen and see how things sound. I still have no super-tweeters installed but it might make for an interesting listening experience to see how the 301 sounds with the new mods to the speakers and then again with the super tweeters installed.
https://i.ibb.co/Wf9HL5L/IMG-1411.jpg
As ever stay tuned......
Thought you were using that 'manky'-looking Duelund cable - bog standard tin-plated copper wire with an oil-impregnated cotton insulation.
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/sites/default/files/duelund-dca12ga-close-up-350.jpg
Wakefield Turntables
30-07-2024, 13:18
Thought you were using that 'manky'-looking Duelund cable - bog standard tin-plated copper wire with an oil-impregnated cotton insulation.
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/sites/default/files/duelund-dca12ga-close-up-350.jpg
Yes, Barry, that's in the REAL-SOUND system, yet another system I own which from time to times makes a guest appearence in the listening room. It may look "manky" but it actually sounds very nice. Perhaps you should try some and then make a judgement.
I am sure this stuff sounds great if it anything like the Western Electric cable I used to own and in fact I use it still for jumpers on my speaker crossover! Nothing bettered them in this position on my speakers.
I am sure this stuff sounds great if it anything like the Western Electric cable I used to own and in fact I use it still for jumpers on my speaker crossover! Nothing bettered them in this position on my speakers.
Not even solid copper bus bars, or 30A cooker cable?
Not even solid copper bus bars, or 30A cooker cable?
Maybe black and decker lawn mower cable?
No, it's highly directional - hence the stripes the lawnmower makes. :lol:
Wakefield Turntables
30-07-2024, 19:01
Not even solid copper bus bars, or 30A cooker cable?
I suppose you would get better impedance!
Wakefield Turntables
02-08-2024, 18:56
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project Pt LVII - XO mini project Pt IV (Post operative results)
Hello everyone, hope your all ok. I've had an expensive month this month so my wallet has taken a bashing and so has my aspirations to do stuff with my varioys systems, but this does allow me to do some stuff for free and enjoy this most excellent hobby of ours. I've done some modding to the 301 recently and it's all stuff that I've been going to do for years but never ever seemed to find time. So, the speaker XO project was honestly something that had been in the pipeline for years and it was one of those projects that probably took no more than a couple of hours from start to finish. The benefits have been immense. I initially started listening critically about 2-3 days ago and I really thought I'd made a massive error and was very close to restoring back the old setup. So, what changed? Well, er, nothing really apart from not using the Garrard 301 mat. Now this is weird, I used the Garrard 301 mat with the Tenuto mat and things did improve, it was a setup I was happy to keep because I noted a few improvements with the soundstage but things changed when I modded the XO's. Let's start a new paragraph! ;)
The soundstage presentation, initially, sounded very dull and drained, to be honest it sounded like it was at death's door. This may sound a little dramatic but I'm not used to hearing a soundstage that had lost all it's vim, no swagger, no detail, no attack just plain old meh! Everything had suddenly narrowed, instrument seperation had all but merged into one. This to say the least was very alarming. :eek: I don't know why I decided to remove the Garrard 301 mat but I'm glad that I did because things were not only restored but also improved. I honestly cannot explain the differences in how the soundstage changed it really was one of those :wow: moments where things just got better. My system has never been short of portraying detail but now it's digs even deeper, just small things like timbre sounds extended on most instruments and notes seem to hang around a little longer in the soundstage, TBH I'm still learning how exactly this new soundstage is presenting information. Now, interestingly I still haven't put the supertweeters back into the mix. I have learned that the supertweeters seem to add to the high end detail it will be really interesting to see how they add to this new soundstage. I still think there is more to come from this XO modification. I will also be soldering the supertweeters straight onto the XO board, again bypassing all these components.
https://i.ibb.co/7Cb2LD4/IMG-1403.jpg
I originally thought that I might have to buy more silver to modify these SuperTweeters but it looks like I've just about got enough so I can save some money. Maybe that could be this weekend's fun and games. So, for me, this experiment has worked well. I can't recommend this for everyone and you may get differing results.
As ever, stay tuned....
I always enjoy reading about your idler adventures Andy. Amazing how set-ups change dramatically with one small alteration isn't it? I think for me it's part of the fascination I have with analogue sources. I've recently moved to a new home with a bigger living room, possibly twice the size of my old one. I thought my 12" HPDs would work really well in the extra space but it's been a challenge getting things to sound right again, making progress though!:)
First piece of advice I ever had when messing about with HIFI was :--
"Everything Matters":)
Wakefield Turntables
03-08-2024, 18:22
I always enjoy reading about your idler adventures Andy. Amazing how set-ups change dramatically with one small alteration isn't it? I think for me it's part of the fascination I have with analogue sources. I've recently moved to a new home with a bigger living room, possibly twice the size of my old one. I thought my 12" HPDs would work really well in the extra space but it's been a challenge getting things to sound right again, making progress though!:)
Thanks! I love mucking around, sometimes it's intuition that's propels things foward for me, sometimes it's a tweak that's been mentioned, sometimes it's an old modification that's been tried and tested (this is true for the stiffening plate I installed), sometimes an idea is tried and then things go very wrong. At least many things can be easily reversed with no harm done. My listening room is quite small but I have huge Tannoys which work quite well. Sorry to hear about your problems with your HPS's, Paul at RFC is an expert with Tannoy speakers, he's a wealth of infomation and might be able to help with some setup suggestions.
First piece of advice I ever had when messing about with HIFI was :--
"Everything Matters":)
Yep! I agree. I've even put some Sorbothane under my Super Tweeters to try and stop cabinet vibration getting into them, probably does nothing!!!!
Wakefield Turntables
03-08-2024, 18:50
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project Pt LVIII - XO mini project Pt V (Patient Recovered and Discharged)
Hello people! And so ends the XO mini project I have soldered the Super Tweeters back into place and it's still an open verdict with respects to see how they sound, I've only just done them so I need to get some vinyl listening done (hard life)! I did listen to some Cal Tjader the other night and there are some vocal perfomances with quite a bit of sibilance, well, things seemed to have improved on that note. I would say the latest mods give me a touch more detail and insight into the soundstage, timbral and note decay have also improved again not a massive amount but enough for me to notice and make a smile on my face. I think I'm also beginning to notice the ability of these modifications to give better spatial awareness of where everyone is whilst playing and also the sense of instrument overlap, a good example being a can hear a distinct depth going backward between drum cymbals and a big double bass sitting in front of me. Decay from the cymbals and double bass is easily defined and seperated but in a 3D environment, my system has always had the ability to do this but now it appears better. I'm hoping it's not a psychological trick where I'm hoping for things to be improved when actually it's mi'old bonce playing silly buggers :wheniwasaboy:.
Now just a couple of snippets of information regarding the infrastructure of the 301. Firstly, the plinth, I've had word back from my importer of Permali and it's going to be around £480 to get the pieces cut to size and sent over from a far away land. So, with my wallet in flatline mode at the moment, I shall be waiting until probably back end of September/October before we go ahead with that. Secondly, there is a faint chance that the phonostage might be going away for some modifications, this is a very faint chance so let's just wait and see to see if these mods actually come to fruition. Thirdly, I will at some point have to get that bearing clamp modification installed onto the plinth of the 301. Again, it looks like it might be a weekend thing but I do have a problem in that I'm designing this thing as I go along and I honestly don't know if it will help at all, anecdotal evidence from the Lenco community seems to think that it will. As ever stay tuned....
Which phono maybe getting worked on?
Wakefield Turntables
03-08-2024, 19:03
Possibly the Paradise but it's only whispers on the forums at the moment about potential mods. Probably won't occur.
Possibly the Paradise but it's only whispers on the forums at the moment about potential mods. Probably won't occur.
I have heard iterations of the Paradise phono stage over the years and been very impressed but never heard the 4 box version. I expect it's rather good?
If Glenn was around I would certainly have had some work done on my phono/preamp. I might still pick up and RIAA R sometime and get the pre altered to line only.
Wakefield Turntables
03-08-2024, 19:35
The 4 box paradise is quite simply the best phonostage I have ever heard. I have my each PSU sitting directly on top of each box which controls each channel, not ideal and it does (I think) sound better when the phonostage box and the PSU sit on differing shelves, but then I wouldn't have room for my stand alone Glenn Croft MM phonostage I bought from the Len Gregory estate. I suppose I can't have everything! I did want the RIAA RS but that simply won't happen, I have 5 MM phonostages sitting in my listening room! I think the EAR 834 sounds amazing and trumps the Croft's! The Len Gregory phonostage seems to perform the best with MONO recordings and is indeed the phonostage I used just for that purpose.
Wakefield Turntables
06-08-2024, 20:32
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LIX - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt IIIm - Skint!
Well, technically I'm not skint but just careful with the pennies until the bank balance has chance to recover. It's amazing how much fun and new stuff you can do with your set-up when your finances are grounded for a wee-while. So, I have been slowly been buying MONO records on the quite, my local charity shop selling off many DECCA ace-of-clubs recordings for 20p each :eek:. I think I now have around twenty such records, some in better condition than others. My ultrasonic cleaner and MOTH record cleaner haven't worked as hard in ages. The 301 is sounding excellent and I'm extremely lucky, I already have an excellenty MONO replay system but I think it could be improved. Presently, I'm experiencing a little low level hum over the soundstage when I listen through the Croft MM phonostage but things sound excellent and quite when using the Paradise, so in a bid to improve things I'll be going on a hunt to see if I can track down the offending wiring causing the hum. I also need to get my Rek-o-Kut Re-Equaliser III hooked up, currently it's doing an excellent job collecting dust, probably would win Gold at Paris. I'm slowly getting more records from the older record labels and as a consequence some of them are not all the same RIAA so the Rek-o-Kut does an excellent job of emulating hundreds of known RIAA setups. This flexibility is great for some of my older Jazz and Classical records. I can have a play around and see what sounds the best. I have a few pairs of interconnects with which to experiment, so all good fun and maybe I can improve my MONO play back experience. As ever, stay tuned.....
Some of those old Mono recordings sound superb if not better than a lot of stereo stuff released soon after especially where they panned the recording to the extreme left and right.
Which ultrasonic record cleaner are you using? It will be the way forward for me when I upgrade my VPI 16.5.
Wakefield Turntables
11-08-2024, 18:01
Which ultrasonic record cleaner are you using?
Just a generic one from eBay and a motor kit I found which was available.
Wakefield Turntables
11-08-2024, 19:48
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LX - More Skint Musings.....
Well the wallet is slowly recovering, but not enough to be messing around with new gear, gadgets or gizmo's. So, I decided to visit an old subject which I'd dipped my toes into some time ago, that of room treatment. Presently I have two corner traps at the back of my speakers and a couple of absorbing frames right next door to my speaker cabinets and these do indeed make things sound very nice, they add to the presentation of the 301 but I've been left with some doubt if I did enough to truly get the synergy bewteen the room, the speakers, and the 301.
My room is far from ideal in that I have a large windiw, a radiator and a large equipment rack full of gear between the two Tannoy speakers, unfortunately this can't change so it's a case of trying to make the very best of what I've got. In the past I have seen many setups with some room treatment sitting directly behind the speakers so in true bodgit fashion I decided to raid the guest bedroom where many pillows and duvets dwell. Currently I have a winter duvet draped across the width of the window ledge in a bid to try and damp any reflections from my window. It's all new to me, I do not have a microphone so cannot mess around with REW, I'm listening and tuning the room by ear which in my case fits my bargain budget system improvement experiments perfectly.
The only two downsides to this experimentation are that the listening room looks like a students digs and secondly I'll have the expense of buying and making some new panels if I should get a sonic leg up the ladder :doh:. It is fun and really does show what can be achieved with a little experimentation and messing around with stuff already floating around the house. I will of course have to leave things in place and do lots of critical listening but then that's how you learn how things have changed, either positively or negatively. As ever, stay tuned........
Always worth returning to Andy as it can make such a huge difference. I have only scratched the surface and need to do more but even the small amount I have done has vastly improved the listening experience. I think it's good to almost load the room with stuff and take away material slowly until you get the sound you want. Adding acoustic material is far better than DSP or trying to match kit to an untreated room. Did you watch this series of videos from New Record Day? They demonstrate effectively how treatment works and you can certainly hear it with headphones on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTgW2hZYn08
Best to listen to the whole series.
Wakefield Turntables
11-08-2024, 20:15
Yes, Jim, I've watched them all, I remember you recommending them ages ago and I learned a lot, thanks! It was mainly you that spiked my interest in the subject.
I thought it was night and day stuff and certainly made you question the relative tiny differences changes bits of kit can make in a. listening room.
Far better to unleash the full potential of the kit you already own?
Wakefield Turntables
17-08-2024, 19:29
Far better to unleash the full potential of the kit you already own?
Yes, that's been the whole ethos of this thread. The 301 has been tweaked and tweaked. I'm sure there is more to be had but that probably means either new tonearm/cartridge combo or new speakers, or possibly all three :eek:. Anyway, it's funny what can be achieved with a couple of old pillows.
Yes, that's been the whole ethos of this thread. The 301 has been tweaked and tweaked. I'm sure there is more to be had but that probably means either new tonearm/cartridge combo or new speakers, or possibly all three :eek:. Anyway, it's funny what can be achieved with a couple of old pillows.
I even had rolled up duvets in my room at one stage!:doh::lol:
I thought it was night and day stuff and certainly made you question the relative tiny differences changes bits of kit can make in a. listening room.
Far better to unleash the full potential of the kit you already own?
Assuming it's got any potential! But seriously you're absolutely right. Room acoustics is make or break.
Assuming it's got any potential! But seriously you're absolutely right. Room acoustics is make or break.
Have you started making some bass traps yet to cope with the Huge Bass your going to have from those Beasts your buying:lol:
Rolls of Insulation left in their bags are superb, just stack em up in the corner. That is all my mate uses in his state of the art listening room in the corners.!
Have you started making some bass traps yet to cope with the Huge Bass your going to have from those Beasts your buying:lol:
Rolls of Insulation left in their bags are superb, just stack em up in the corner. That is all my mate uses in his state of the art listening room in the corners.!
Not worried about that, I've had IMF TLS50 work fine in here and they go very low. I already have a roll of insulation in one corner, yes - it works.
Wakefield Turntables
19-08-2024, 18:21
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXI - Big boy pants revisted.
Gentlemen, I usually update my various blogs on Sunday just before the working week starts. No such update this week so I thought I'd something tonight. I have finally fitted my homebrew bearing clamp to the 301 plinth. I dosen't look pretty and it's still in prototype development but at least I have a working design which is easy to fit. It really does need to be smartened up but I think that this can wait until later on in the week. As always with these things it didn't actually take that long to build something in the garage and then execute said design. The idea is to try and stiffen the mounting of the bearing to the top plate in the vertical plane. This modification has been used by the Lenco bretheren for a number of years and by-and-large people agree that it improves the sonic output.
The 301 is in pieces again. The SME 3009 is taking a holiday upto Audio Origami for a check over and ( I think) an earthing problem with the tonearm, but I'll leave J7 to work that one out! I will probably use the 401 for vinyl duties or maybe even listen to something called a CD. :eek: Overall the 301 just needs the motor decoupling from the top plate and we are motoring on all cylinders with regards the mods available. I could of course go down the route of larger platter, a machined bespoke chassis but why bother I'm having fun again messing around with things. Stay tuned...
I can understand your theory with the bearing stiffening bracket. You can never be too stiff!?:eek:
I'll be very interested to see how you de-couple the motor. It seems quite simple, drop the motor cradle just enough to dis-engage it from the top plate and secure the bottom of the cradle to the bottom of the plinth... well, that's what I've thought about doing:)
Wakefield Turntables
20-08-2024, 19:57
I'll be very interested to see how you de-couple the motor. It seems quite simple, drop the motor cradle just enough to dis-engage it from the top plate and secure the bottom of the cradle to the bottom of the plinth... well, that's what I've thought about doing:)
Charlie, that's exactlty what you would do, just need a template designing so that we can all do it.
Wakefield Turntables
26-08-2024, 18:05
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXII - Big Boy Pants terminated.
It's been a while since I posted anything on the 301 and with good reason, I've been prototyping stuff, assessing, listening et al. It turns out that I've decided not to install a bearing base clamp as it did nothing to improve thinsg and added a whole lot of extra stuff onto the 301 which only complicates things should I need to repair / modify things in the future. All I can say is that things appeared a little too well damped for my liking, some of the punch and dynamics left the deck, so, I'm afraid the base clamp had to go. Now I know why they never get installed in any other 301 :doh:. It's not all doom and gloom. I did take the oppotunity to properly couple the SME 3012 tonearm mount onto the plinth by gluing the two sutfaces together, previously I'd bolted the tonearm to the plinth but it was prone to moving and the nuts/bolts would sometimes come loose which would mean tightening them up which whilst not a massive problem was a bit of a PITA. That problem is now gone. :eyebrows: It's hard to say if any improvement, sonically, can be heard with the improved coupling of the tonearm mount, it's certainly no worse.
I did take the oppotunity to improve the grounding / earthing wiring and I did notice slightly less hum going through the speakers which is something that I have always had an never impinges on a listening session. I've also ceased (for the time being) my experiments with room treatment. I do know that putting anything behind the speakers is a big no-no. I suffered from too much damping so lesson learned. It's interesting because I come back to this subject every so often and do try new things in new places. Sometimes I get a positive result and sometimes not. It's all good fun. I think I'd like to try some traps up in the ceiling corners and maybe some more on the walls.
Finally my SME 3009 has been to Audio Origami for a check over. It looks like it's in good order. I'm trying to get the best MONO setup I can and it's nice to know that the tonearm used for these duties is in good order. Right I think that's me done with the 301 for a while now and maybe updates as well. I'll probably update this blog with regards the MONO setup. Updates/tweaks/modifications are a little thin on the fround but I'll keep my eyes peeled. So, I'll be signing off, as ever, stay tuned.
Interesting and slightly disappointing that the bearing clamp didn't work for you but you don't know 'till you try :) It worked well on my Lenco but maybe I won't bother with my 301.
Good you made the effort to assess the effects of the clamp but as with all things in audio sometimes things don't work out as expected. It is one of the reasons my system has stayed similar for a very long time, if it aint broke why fix it? I have experimented in every area multiple times - different amps, cartridges, turntables, cables etc and found most of the time the presentation and performance of my system went sideways or sometimes backwards and certainly not too my liking.
However tweaking room acoustics and vibration control has simply bought out the best in my system and enhanced the listening experience so they are areas that should always be constantly evaluated.
I see on another forum their is great excitement over sound decoupling devices for speakers and possibly turntables that may have some efficacy so I may try that avenue sometime but vibration modification can be a double edged sword and not always guaranteed to give you a better result as you found with your bearing clamp ? Too much control and you end up in a place that may not be where you find sonic nirvana , yes more control but not always better. I experienced this with damping material in my amps.
One area however I think you can never have enough control is vibration getting through to your turntable/ cartridge. Here I think you can go on forever looking for solutions.
Wakefield Turntables
27-08-2024, 21:03
Interesting and slightly disappointing that the bearing clamp didn't work for you but you don't know 'till you try :) It worked well on my Lenco but maybe I won't bother with my 301.
Well I guess it could have been my implementation or design, I guess you win some and then lose some.
Good you made the effort to assess the effects of the clamp but as with all things in audio sometimes things don't work out as expected. It is one of the reasons my system has stayed similar for a very long time, if it aint broke why fix it? I have experimented in every area multiple times - different amps, cartridges, turntables, cables etc and found most of the time the presentation and performance of my system went sideways or sometimes backwards and certainly not too my liking.
However tweaking room acoustics and vibration control has simply bought out the best in my system and enhanced the listening experience so they are areas that should always be constantly evaluated.
I see on another forum their is great excitement over sound decoupling devices for speakers and possibly turntables that may have some efficacy so I may try that avenue sometime but vibration modification can be a double edged sword and not always guaranteed to give you a better result as you found with your bearing clamp ? Too much control and you end up in a place that may not be where you find sonic nirvana , yes more control but not always better. I experienced this with damping material in my amps.
One area however I think you can never have enough control is vibration getting through to your turntable/ cartridge. Here I think you can go on forever looking for solutions.
Well the damping aspect of things is always an on going experiment and it's fun just messing around. I've added another storage wrack for vinyl in my listening room directly behind my listening chair so I'm not quite sure what impact that might have. Well I'm pretty far down the road of vibration control, I'm out of ideas at the moment, I'm sure something will crop up.
Wakefield Turntables
01-09-2024, 18:34
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXIII - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt III
I swear you can't make this up. I was musing about the end or slowing down of this wee blog and a couple of new developments occur. The first development has been bugging me for a while and it was that the SME 3009 seemed to have a low volume hum over the speakers, I could still enjoy the sonics but I was in the knowledge that the soundfloor wasn't as low as it could be, this was something which really annoyed me. The 301 does from time to time get dismantled for various mods, upgrades or repairs so it's no great shakes to try and solve a few problems with the deck when I'm having one of these sessions. The 3009 went to Audio Origami and came back with a full clean bill of health. I also took the oppotunity to rewire the 301 and improve the earthing. The result was a complete cure of the low volume hum over the speakers. :champagne:
The plinth that I designed for the 301 has taken a few twists and turns. I aborted the bearing clamp mod last month and took on board complete coupling of the SME 3012 tonearm mount onto the plinth. The SME 3009 is presently bolted into place and the bolts can loosen over time so it's not ideal but it's OK for the time being as I mainly use the SME 3012 for listening purposes. So, this got me thinking. I can't seem to get a relevant sized piece of Panzerholz and nobody seems to want to sell any scraps so I need an alternative. Well I'd never heard of IPE before reading a thread about a tonearm made from the stuff. I have no technical details about IPE but it is said to have a damping factor near that of Panzerholz. I currently have a tonearm mount made from Panzerholz for the 3009 but it's not really the correct height. I'd like to get something made which means I don't have to mess around with an additional platter mat so that I can play MONO records properly at the correct VTA :doh:. Again, it's not really a massive problem. I just hate being in the knowledge that the tonearm isn't optimally set. Yes i'm being picky and yes I great an amazing soundstage, but could it be better???
Now the second thing which "MIGHT" happen is a new set of experimental feet for the 301. These things are supposed to sound better than a Townshend Seismic platform. I have no idea how this all works but I've heard nothing but very good things about this product. I'll write some more about these feet if they turn up in the post. It could be fun experimenting with both these new feet and my Townshend Seismic podium togther or some other variations. This will be my third footer type for the the 301 plinth, presently we have CNC machined aluminium feet using a ball bearing as isolation. The deck sounds very good in it's current guise.
I still lust after a "true" MONO cartridge for the SME 3009 but I fear I'd probably need to change tonearm for the current contenders. I think MIYAJIMA sits at the top of the tree. I've been persuaded not to go for the denon 102 but I would still like to try one if a specimen comes along at a cheap enough price. I might be able to get the best from the 102 with a heavier head shell. I'm still have quite a few things going on so all this experimentation will probably start next year. On that thought, stay tuned.....
Wakefield Turntables
08-09-2024, 18:19
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXIV - Tom tweakery part, err, not sure!
Greetings all vinyl spinners. Another update in the ever evolving story of a vintage Garrard 301. This time I have stripped away a lot of stuff from the Garrard 301 and have installed some Stack Audio Auva EQ isolators to the underside of the Bamboo plinth. Here is what they look like.
https://i.ibb.co/0r7NwX4/IMG-1470.jpg
Probably better to show you what they look like when they arrive. Here's a quick pictire of the Stack Audio Project and some of the Townshend gear that they have temporarily replaced.
https://i.ibb.co/y6q0R9h/IMG-1468.jpg
And finally heres a picture of a load of stuff sitting on my window sill including my CNC machined footers that I removed from the 301, these live on a large ball bearing it's interesting to hear the differences in presentation. I will produce a write up at some point.
https://i.ibb.co/LJBVhTQ/IMG-1469.jpg
I'm now on the third type of footer for the bamboo plinth. So far I've had bamboo footers which were quite good, I had the CNC aluminium ball bearing footers which I'm quite so sure about compared to the bamboo and now we have Stack Audio. TBH the reviews of the Stack Audio products have been very positive so I'm hoping to hear good things. I've been a little sneaky in that I still have my Townshend platform under the 301, well I thought I'd have a little experiment and see if an additional layer of isolation for the 301 would work better than just the Stack Audio footers sitting on the Bamboo shelf of my hifi rack. So, presently we have the damping of a bamboo shelf, a Townshend seismic podium and then the Stack Audio footers. It makes for an interesting experiment. As ever, stay tuned...
I look forward to reading your impressions regarding the footers Andrew. On another forum a chap is using the AT 612 air bladder type footers under his DD table which he thinks are very good. I've been tempted to try air suspension/isolation myself but maintaining pressure could become a chore.
Here's a link to the most OTT implementation of the 301 I have seen!
https://audioexotics.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/13172/akasu-the-making-of-a-legend-by-lee-paul-dalby?fbclid=IwY2xjawFTfB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQCFRr8 0uDDlEcUeeKVA6dTtch5DA6fAyiZ7e-0sHANP_kU2vXc6zAYmOw_aem_eo6sxTw-II3Jt9nWRU6k5A
I'm not sure how much science was involved but there is a lot of pretty CNC machining!
Here's a link to the most OTT implementation of the 301 I have seen!
https://audioexotics.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/13172/akasu-the-making-of-a-legend-by-lee-paul-dalby?fbclid=IwY2xjawFTfB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQCFRr8 0uDDlEcUeeKVA6dTtch5DA6fAyiZ7e-0sHANP_kU2vXc6zAYmOw_aem_eo6sxTw-II3Jt9nWRU6k5A
I'm not sure how much science was involved but there is a lot of pretty CNC machining!
Since only the motor and the control switches/levers remain of the original deck, it can hardly be called a 301. And despite the admirable dedication and perseverance shown, I'm sure he could have achieved an equal, if not better, performance from a more recent turntable design.
Wakefield Turntables
15-09-2024, 18:53
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXV - Twoddle! & MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt IV - Options and decisions.
I'm always really happy to see how other people do things and tonight I find a little action on my blog regarding an old Garrard rescued from a garage in Barnsley! Now this post got me interested. I must admit to not reading all of it, I'm still trying to get my head around some of the unproven technobabble in the article. This bit made me laugh :-
"When the sonic signature of materials is removed, a whole new world of music opens up. Tonal colour delivery has become exponentially more polychromatic. Depth of musical note elongates within a frameless holographical stage filled with energy and organic silence. Juxtaposition of musical themes amongst instrumental groups of any high quality symphonic recording is distinctly comprehensible. Superimposition of harmonics from violin over another layer of harmonics from viola/cello or wind/brass is immensely kaleidoscopic fathoming my auditory sense to uncharted area. Spatial resolution of the Z axis is interminable continuous. Radiation of pianissimo/fortissimo energy naturally elicits musicality poetically/thunderously to my senses. Replay of any symphonic score surrounds me with a whole range of tones that harmonise with a unique synchronicity I’ve never experienced before. "
Can you interpret that ? The whole article can be found here, incidently, thanks Chas B for taking time in sending me a link.
Here's a link to the most OTT implementation of the 301 I have seen!
https://audioexotics.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/13172/akasu-the-making-of-a-legend-by-lee-paul-dalby?fbclid=IwY2xjawFTfB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQCFRr8 0uDDlEcUeeKVA6dTtch5DA6fAyiZ7e-0sHANP_kU2vXc6zAYmOw_aem_eo6sxTw-II3Jt9nWRU6k5A
I'm not sure how much science was involved but there is a lot of pretty CNC machining!
The chap in the article has gone way beyond my humble musing in this thread, but then money dosen't seem to be a problem when your wearing a watch valued in the £30K price bracket, I have no idea how much the amplifiers cost in the article but I bet the whole system is well into the £100K's. I do see a lot of common themes in the article like decoupling the motor, changing the power supply, stiffening the chassis, etc etc. The only difference is that this guy has gone completely wild with his choice of materials, and fair play to him. I wish him the very best of luck with his project. As always I like to take away something from another individuals journey and in this instance I like his ideas regarding decoupling motor.
Since only the motor and the control switches/lev ers remain of the original deck, it can hardly be called a 301. And despite the admirable dedication and perseverance shown, I'm sure he could have achieved an equal, if not better, performance from a more recent turntable design.
https://theartofsound.net/images/smilies/smile.gif +1 I agree with you in so many areas!
Now, back to my journey. So, I was asked how the new Stack Audio footers sound.
I look forward to reading your impressions regarding the footers Andrew. On another forum a chap is using the AT 612 air bladder type footers under his DD table which he thinks are very good. I've been tempted to try air suspension/isolation myself but maintaining pressure could become a chore.
Well I;m pleased to say that my findings seems to mirror many other audiophiles that have used them. I won't waffle but in general the new footers dig deeper in the bass area and add an uplifted vibrancy to the soundstage, yes clarity does seem to improve with these footers. I do however detect is slight hint of blunting to the presentation of the leading edge to some of the notes and I guess that's the trade-off and whether it's worthwhile accepting this tradeoff as the new sonic presentation in my listening room. The 301 is now pretty isolated with respects to stuff entering it from the outside world. The 301 sits on a Townshend Seismic plateform which is tuned and specifically selected for the weight of the TT, the Townshend also has a CLD component. Stack Audio footers now sit under the 301, the 301 plinth is made from Bamboo and I have Panzerholz tonearm mounts. Yes, things could probably be improved but I'm very happy so far with the sonic presentation.
Now for some musings on my MONO setup. I decided to do some MONO stuff today. The first was to decide if I liked valve or SS presentation. Presently I have been using the Croft Music Maker phonostage, well, today, I have come to the conclusion that I'm ditching this in favour of the Paradise phonostage. I have the ability to run my MONO setup through a single boxed, single PSU paradise phonostage, it's a little time consuming setting this up but the effort is well wortwhile and carries quite a few positive benefits compared to running the Croft. Firstly, RIAA setup on the PAradise is extremely accurate. The Paradise is extremely quiet, which, when used with a freshly ultrasonically cleaned MONO pressing can result in near silent backgrounds. This is not so on the Croft. The Croft also means a shed load of additional cabling sitting around the back of my hifi wrack which can only mean mess and the potential for nasties getting into the system. I could further seperate Paradise PSU's and this may give further benefits :scratch:. So, the next big decision is the speaker, is it going to be A single Quad ESL 57, or is it going to be a single Tannoy 15" MG? This is probably next weeks dilema. I have a couple of interesting upgrades for the SME 3009 as well. I have potentially source some IPE to make a new tonearm mount which has all the properties of Panzerholz but might fetch something sonically to the table. I will also make this tonearm mouint the correct height so I no longer have to mess around with platter mat for correct VTA. I might also do a RCA conversion to the SME 3009 and do away with the SME cabling, this might sound radical but it opens up a whole range of possibilities and also removes a whole load of connections in the sonic chain.
As ever, stay tuned......
I used a Townshend podium for years, but have the Kridon Image feet under my 301. I find them very effective, but what really does it for me is a very solid structure underneath, made of welded tubular steel and a solid slate shelf on top. Sadly the Kridon Image feet are no longer available on eBay.
https://flic.kr/p/2pVnAdN
Lawrence001
19-09-2024, 22:41
I used a Townshend podium for years, but have the Kridon Image feet under my 301. I find them very effective, but what really does it for me is a very solid structure underneath, made of welded tubular steel and a solid slate shelf on top. Sadly the Kridon Image feet are no longer available on eBay.
https://flic.kr/p/2pVnAdNDo you know Kridon? I could ask him if he has any more feet available.
Sent from my HEY2-W09 using Tapatalk
I assume it is not these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145980295197?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ilXvvCGbQLO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Wakefield Turntables
21-09-2024, 18:19
I used a Townshend podium for years, but have the Kridon Image feet under my 301. I find them very effective, but what really does it for me is a very solid structure underneath, made of welded tubular steel and a solid slate shelf on top. Sadly the Kridon Image feet are no longer available on eBay.
https://flic.kr/p/2pVnAdN
Have you tried the feet sitting on top of the Seismic platform? If not then give them a whirl, it's the configuration I've been using for a couple of years and works very well. The Stack Audio work better than the Kridon feet. I've used the Stack Audio and Townshend products together and have noticed a nice improvement.
I assume it is not these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145980295197?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ilXvvCGbQLO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
These looks very very similar to the feet I use. The only difference is that my feet are height adjustable.
Wakefield Turntables
22-09-2024, 18:57
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXVI - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt V - Arm twisted....NO, not the Tonearm!!!!!
Weird how things turn out. One minutes I have a fully working Paradise phonostage and then I don't. I still have no idea what happened but one channel is down so this means the Paradise is being sent away for repair. My paradise is a 4 box monster, so I still have one channel to play around with.
This incident actually twsited my arm into doing an experiment that's been on the cards for a few weeks and this is the Tannoy v Quad ESL 57 single speaker bake off. Which is best? Which will sound better? Perhaps I could have one speaker for one type of music and the other for different genre's, no there's an idea! :eek: It can be a bit of a faff setting up a specific MONO only speaker in my listening room but then that's what this hobby is about, messing around and
having fun.
The MONO section of the 301 is proving to be quite fun. I've now been in contact with a fellow Lenco Heaven forum member and organised for several pieces of IPE to be delivered. I have no idea when this will arrive but it should solve the need to use an additional platter mat to give correct VTA for my MONO SPU on my SME 3009. I'm also considering designing my own RCA conversion kit. Have you seen the price of a RCA concersion kit on Ebay? Well, call me cheapskate but £30-40 for a single piece of material and a couple of RCA's is taking the PI$$. I have some RCA's kicking around in the spares box and I have some plastic that I can make into a more than acceptable mounting plate, so, this will be FREE! The RCA conversion opens up a whole new range of IC's which can be used instead of a tonearm cable. The capacitance can be dialled in to more exacting standards, this is useful for not only different MONO cartridges but also MM's should I decide I want to start playing around with some exotica from a far flung land (Grace??).
I do have a few more ideas for the MONO section but then that's for another update.
Stay tune....
Do you know Kridon? I could ask him if he has any more feet available.
Sent from my HEY2-W09 using Tapatalk
Carl Ellis told me he had a direct contact for Kridon. He does have a very few items still on eBay (per @cageyH link above) and you could ask him via one of those products if he still has any "Type 4" feet available.
Since only the motor and the control switches/levers remain of the original deck, it can hardly be called a 301. And despite the admirable dedication and perseverance shown, I'm sure he could have achieved an equal, if not better, performance from a more recent turntable design.
Mine is the same, from CTC, original motor rebuilt, levers reconditioned, new bearing, platter, etc. It's still a 301. It's a Classic Turntables 301 and whilst it works identically, it's better made and will probably last longer. I had a very good deck before, ultra-modern, I prefer the 301. I could have bought a Brinkman Bardo for the same money, but I prefer the look of the 301. The plinth has the same veneer as most of the furniture in my music room, where aesthetics matter - a lot.
Ray Clark was very concerned that the Hammerlite finish is as close to the original finish as possible. He had to change supplier to one in Northern Ireland and actually sent it down to me for prior approval before putting it together.
This was not the actual one supplied, this has the fixing holes on top. The CTC version has bolt fixings from underneath the plinth into the base of the deck. I put some sorbothane strip between the plate and the plinth and under the heads of the bolts, so the bolts and base are not in direct contact with the plinth.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54020467601_4e68672a9b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2qiB1Yr)
Personally I think it looks better without the 4 fixing holes, but you have the option.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53867693638_afca2a07b8_w.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2q571AA)
Incidentally, these two photos show the same veneer. The first one is a cupboard that has been sanded and sprayed with two coats of satin, once sanded ready the next day. The 301 plinth has 16 coats of lacquer, each fine polished, took 5 weeks. I'm not sure there is anyone in the UK who does that on a regular basis for plinths, you need a good spray booth, a special license as the stuff is toxic and a lot of experience.
Wakefield Turntables
29-09-2024, 18:57
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXVII - More skint ramblings and MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt VI - DOH!
It's Sunday evening and I'm chilling with some single malt (a wee drop) and some Mingus playing in the background. Things have taken a meandering path over the last few days. So, the Stack Audio footers are still in place and doing a good job. My Paradise has been sent away for repair and I've got a replacement borrowed unit from Si (Paradise Guru and general all round DIY good guy and boffin). This new Paradise has a few tweaks compared to my old faithful and knowing Si things will generally be better when he's tweaked things so he's been given 100% Cart-Blanche with respects to upgrades to my Paradise, so I'm hoping for a nice little uplift in sonic presentation. The loaner unit is quiter than mine and appears to give a smidge more detail and the RIAA has been tweaked to be flat, VERY flat! I've put out a request for a dead Garrard 301 motor to begin designs on my decoupled motor cradle for my plinth, very, very long shot but you never ever know!
Now, a few words about the MONO setup. So, the quandry over the Quad ESL and Tannoy Monitor gold 15" speakers was solved this weekend, I'm using both! Both speakers have good and bad points. The Quad having and amazing mid band and great with vocal and classical, the MG 15" being good with Jazz. So, the best of both worlds, I alternate the speakers and have two great setups! Yep, a real DOH moment! I'm still awaiting delivery of the IPE from Europe, it's been posted, talk about a slow boat from Europe :)! Anyway, the 3009 should have a nice new tonearm mount before the end of the year :lol:. Now, the 3009 will be undergoing a RCA conversion to get rid of the old SME tonearm cable. This conversion is actually very simple. I just need to make a new mount to fit into the base of the tonearm and dig out my Furutech RCA's that I have kicking around in my spares box in the garage, this should make for a nice upgrade in presentation.
Well, that's about it, as ever stay tuned.......
Wakefield Turntables
06-10-2024, 18:16
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXVIII - Stack Audio or Townshend? + MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt VII - SME 3009 upgrades
MONOBLOG
I usually do my updates on Sunday night, it's become a ritual that I enjoy. So, tonight, it's raining in my neck of the woods and I smell a garage project. I've been going to mod the 3009 for quite some time. I've had stuff to do and the 3009 is hardly top of my list of stuff to do. So, I hunted down what I needed in the garage and found some flexible plastic and some old WBT silver RCA's that I'd used on a previous project.
https://i.ibb.co/nCxs8Bv/IMG-E1507.jpg
And here we are after a bit of butchery. A proof of concept if you like to see if this will work.
https://i.ibb.co/RC7qxSG/IMG-1510.jpg
The WBT's are a bit big and will require some re-spacing. I need to re-cut and re-do the plastic mount but it's a slow-blow project so I'm happy with the way things are going. There is no turning back now as I de-soldered all the tonearm wiring from the old SME tonearm cable mount. I'm also going to get the 3009 rewired in silver. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve for the MONO setup, as always these things cost money but that's ok, it's a hobby and I get immense enjoyment from silly projects like this.
Now the 301 infrastructure has had the benefit of Stack Audio footers for a few weeks, I've managed to secure a little more time with these. I will at some point have to re-install all my Townshend stuff and then do a comparison to see if my original thoughts on the benefits of Stack footers actually stack up (sorry for that)! The Paradise is stilll having a holiday in Sheffield being repaired and upgraded. I must say that the Paradise that I borrowed is indeed better than the one I own and I've asked for the upgrades to go ahead. Well I think that's it, so STAY TUNED....
I have been tempted to get my croft RCA sockets changed to WBT's sometime in the near future.
Wakefield Turntables
06-10-2024, 18:49
I have been tempted to get my croft RCA sockets changed to WBT's sometime in the near future.
It's a 5 minute job with a soldering iron. I'd do this for you if you were close. :( Perhaps you could speak to Firebottle :eyebrows:
It's a 5 minute job with a soldering iron. I'd do this for you if you were close. :( Perhaps you could speak to Firebottle :eyebrows:
I should just order 10 WBT RCAs and get the job done. :)
Wakefield Turntables
06-10-2024, 20:04
Do you have a tape out on your Croft? You can gain big improvements having this taken out of your circuit. I'd only put the WBT's in the inputs you use, you'll save some dosh that way ;)
Do you have a tape out on your Croft? You can gain big improvements having this taken out of your circuit. I'd only put the WBT's in the inputs you use, you'll save some dosh that way ;)
I will take a look!:thumbsup:
Wakefield Turntables
13-10-2024, 17:04
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXIX- Dave Clarke 5.
Lazy update tonight. Things are in bits and pieces. My SME 3009 jorney continues at a very slow pace. I have now made my new IPE tonearm mount for my SME 3009 which means that the tracking angle can be better set, no more using several platter mats to get the correct VTA. My only issue with my SME is that it's a non-improved variant as this would have been better for SPU and vintage MM cartridge usage. I decided that it would be cheaper to do sympathetic modifications to the 3009 that I own. Presently I have problems with the tonearm cable and have to use a large blob of bluetac on the counter weight to balance the SPU which makes the 3009 look ugly but fully functional. So, the 3009 is having a few early Xmas presents, firstly a new silver rewire and secondly a new counter weight made of sufficient mass to replace the bluetac. Finally a nice new pair of Mark Grant Oyaide FTVA-510 cables. I will of course keep the original counter weight close at hand so that I can use vintage MM's. The 301 is forming into being a bit of a swiss army knife. I have one SME 3012 which is exclusive for SPU's. The 3009 will be MONO and vintage MM duties. I have decided to use my EAR 834P as MY MM reference. Yes, I understand there are many phonostages out there which are far better than the EAR834P clone that I own but it's the best sounding thing I have in my system. So far the 834P has outshone a Croft extrinsic special design, the intrinsic Croft MM stage on my Charisma Croft Pre-AMP and a ATC SCA2 MM module. My EAR834P clone is very flexible, it has two tonearm inputs, MONO, Earthlift and cartridge loading, all very good for using mulitple MM's.
I have also managed to purchase a very lightly used Grace F9e cartridge, the one with the ruby cantilever, again much cheaper than buying anything from JICO. This little beauty is coming from the land of Oz. I'm hoping for good things with this cart. I should then be set up for Xmas and hopefully have a very nice couple of weeks away from work relaxing to Jazz, classical, and any other lovely 12" vinyl purchases over the winter nights. My quest for a dead/alive Garrard 301 motor continues for the decoupling project that I have planned for the plinth. I think that just about it for tonight, so as ever, stay tuned.....
A "non improved" version of the SME 3009/II would be in keeping with the use of an SPU. The only worry is that with time the rubber decoupling bush of the counterweight stub can perish (not helped by the offset balance arrangement of the VTF adjustment yard-arm, used to equalise the pressure on the knife edge bearings). Also the knife edge bearings and yoke is made of steel, not the less desirable plastic offering of the "Improved" version and its successive variants.
You can use an improved version of the SME with an SPU if you use the heaviest after-market counterweight offered by SME, but they are rare.
If you can put up with a 4g VTF for the SPU, then the cartridge can be counterbalanced using the standard counterweight.
Wakefield Turntables
14-10-2024, 18:43
. Also the knife edge bearings and yoke is made of steel, not the less desirable plastic offering of the "Improved" version and its successive variants.
.
I never knew the "improved" variant had plastic bearings. I'll speak to J7 at Audio Origami to see if these can be replaced, he know's more than most about SME arms. I already have a supersized counter weight to balance the SPU and have also just ordered a super sized weight for tracking force. Next step is to make my RCA conversion mod and then send the whole thing upto J7 for a silver rewire and re-assembly.
The early samples of the 'Improved' arms were fitted with steel knife edge bearings so as to use up existing stock.
Later versions, which still retained the separate arm-mounted metal arm-lift arc, did use plastic bearings, but the bearing yoke was the same shape as that of the original metal version.
Later still, the counterweight decoupling mechanism was redesigned meaning the rear of the bearing yoke was shortened.
Finally, the separate arm-mounted metal arm-lift arc was replaced with a plastic one, integral with the bearing yoke.
Which version do you have?
Wakefield Turntables
14-10-2024, 20:43
I have no idea! I will post some pics tomorrow :scratch:
Wakefield Turntables
20-10-2024, 18:15
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXX - Coming together nicely.
Another week and another update. The 301 will be a slightly more versatile beast when the SME 3009 is fully modded. I shall have something very nice to play around with over the Xmas period. Presently, my custom made slider weight from Magna Audio is being made and should enable a very cosmetically enhanced experience versus a massive piece of bluetack giving extra mass. I have now found a light weight headshell for vintage MM's, it's not the one that I want but it's ok at the moment, it's the relevant mass and should enable for very good compatability for my Grace F9E which is currently on it's way as we speak from the land of Oz. I managed to find some silver cartridge leads and have also finished making my RCA conversion for the SME 3009, yep, Heath Robinson, it cost nothing and I already had the WBT silver RCA's in my spares box.
https://i.ibb.co/KKv4hZ9/IMG-1532.jpg
I will never sell my 301 and no-one is going to see this bit of the tonearm, so I'm happy with the cosmetics. I have a pair of Yannis Tome silver IC's that I shall borrow from another system and this completes all the bits I need. The 3009 will be sent to J7 at Audio Origami for a silver re-wire and I can also install the newly made IPE tonearm mount. That should be all the upgrades the 3009 needs. I'm on the lookout for a Magnesium head shell for the Grace MM but that's something that I can stalk on ebay or maybe buy one from a forum member.
Now finally one more update. I have ditched the Stack Audio footers that I had installed in my system. The footers did a great job of adding a little extra vim and loudness to the system, but I had to ask if that's what I really wanted. I have a technics 1210 if I want drama and forensic levels of detail. I mainly use my 301 as a tool of relaxation on an evening, jazz and whiskey are usually involved and it makes for a nice evening before the drudge of worklife. So, my Townshend products went back in the system and my preferred slightly darker, relaxed, detailed, wide soundstage with excellent instrument seperation came back into my life. I think my 3009 will provide my more vim and vigour than the Stack Audio products when fully modded and will also be considerably more flexiblility for vinyl replay.
As ever, stay tuned.....
Always suspected that footers of any type simply " tune" the speakers frequency response and shift then up or down? One thing to remember is that no speakers are ever designed with footers at all as they are developed for a very wide range of applications/situations.
I get why folk use them when they want to control certain issues they have and indeed the outcome may be preferential...fair enough but it was certainly not what the speaker designer had in mind.
A bit like using cables to tune preferred or none preferred aspects of your system by attenuating impedance and resistance.
Much harder but better to tune the room acoustics to allow you speakers to work at their optimum?
Wakefield Turntables
21-10-2024, 06:16
The footers lived under my amps not my speakers!!!!!!
Wakefield Turntables
02-11-2024, 19:19
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXI - New idler wheel.
The 301 project is stuck in limbo but plenty of progress has been made. The biggest problem has been finding the bits and pieces needed for the vision that I had for the 301. I will post some pictures tomorrow with some cool new bits and bobs. Presently my SME 3009 is having a holiday up in Glasgow and is been rewired with silver, having new uprated bearings fitted and, a RCA conversion and a lovely new tonearm ground wire made up. I can't reall do much more now until this arrives. I do have a modifcation to make to the plinth to accomodate the newly modded 3009 but that can wait until I get the arm back. My new slider counterweight has arrived from Steve, THANKS STEVE! Finally, this things crops up from Bulgaria.
https://i.ibb.co/fFd75cW/idler.jpg
A new idler wheel! I have an after market AudioSilente idler wheel fitted to my 401. I have tried the AudioSilente idler wheel in my 301 and it didn't sound as good as the original so out it came. Now, do I purchase this as a thing to play around with over Xmas? I'm not really sure. I will have a think about this over the weekend.
As ever stay tuned...
Where are the "uprated" bearings fitted on your SME arm: are they those for the vertical or horizontal plane?
Regarding replacement idler wheels for TTs, based on my experience with the Thorens TD124 and EMT 930 decks, I've never found any to better the original manufacturer's design. Even genuine items have to be 'run in'.
Wakefield Turntables
02-11-2024, 20:22
Where are the "uprated" bearings fitted on your SME arm: are they those for the vertical or horizontal plane?
Regarding replacement idler wheels for TTs, based on my experience with the Thorens TD124 and EMT 930 decks, I've never found any to better the original manufacturer's design. Even genuine items have to be 'run in'.
Barry, the 3009 is at Audio Origami. I asked John to simply make the 3009 as good as he could. So, anything which can be uprated will be uprated. I also agree with you about the Idler wheel, Garrard's original has always trumped anything that I've tried in the past. The 301 has had an Audiosilente and a replacement from either Peak HiFi or Perfect sound, I can't remember which. Suffice to say the original is still in the 301.
Wakefield Turntables
03-11-2024, 18:30
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXII - A taste of things to come.
Ah back to my old Sunday night routine of a little whiskey, a little Jazz and a 301 update :lol:. I've been wanting to get my 3009 properly setup for ages and after a little time I decided to get cracking. I've already detailed what's going to be done to the 301 but I thought I'd take a few pictures, so here goes.
https://i.ibb.co/7QJXDp5/IMG-1536.jpg
This picture shows the preferred silver litz rewire product. You can also see my custom made (by myself) IPE tonearm base. I found some silver litz cartridge wires and my new pride and joy a Grace F9E and a brace of head shells.
https://i.ibb.co/N22ty2Z/IMG-1537.jpg
This picture shows the 3009 with the Grace F9E mounted and the preferred head shell, the Orsonic, widely regarded as one of the best you can buy. Cartridge wires are fine silver to match the silver litz rewiring. Watch you can't see if the WBT RCA modification I also made for the 3009 :eyebrows:.
https://i.ibb.co/kcK9wd2/IMG-1573.jpg
The latest "stable" of carts. SPU's, DECCA's and MM's. The M55e sits in a magnesium and Panzerholz wooden body, I've never tried this combo before, I do have a JICO SAS/B stylus to play around with over Xmas, I also have MONO stylus (currently mounted in the M55e). So lots of
fun to be had over Xmas.
https://i.ibb.co/hX7M576/IMG-1574.jpg
Finally, two sets of weights, the original SME and a custom pair made by Steve of Magna audio. Having both sets should enable easy configuration bewteen vintage MM's and heavy SPU's.
Now, looking to the future, I'll probably bond the IPE tonearm mount to the bamboo plinth but that's a job for another day. Presently the tonearm board will be kept in place with four threaded rods with nuts and washer, not ideal but OK and sonically more than adequate. The future of the 301 will then be evaluated over the Xmas period. I may go down the route of a new Idler wheel in the new year, and then maybe I won't! I'll probably make a Ipe or Panzerholz plinth for the 301 but that's maybe the big project of 2025.
As ever stay tuned...
Wakefield Turntables
10-11-2024, 18:51
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXIII - Three's not a crowd.
No pictures tonight, just some thoughts. I've not recieved my 3009 back yet but my thoughts have already started to think about upgrades and possiblt a third tonearm for the 3001. I'm thinking maybe a dedicated valve mono phonostage and possibly a SUT for the MONO cartridges. I'd possibly go for a MONO 12" Bockrand tonearm but this is a big NO-NO for me due to the problems and amount of time it seems to purchase and deliver one of these tonearms. I also started to look at dedicated MONO phonostages and have probably opened a real can of worms. I don't know if I'm ever going to upgrade from Ortofon MONO as I think this seems to be the sweetspot for me, so potentially I might try another 3012 or even go for another tonearm altogether, maybe a different brand! I know that Ortofon produce a MONO SUT for the current MONO SPU's, so this might be worth a try as well. I will have to make a mountable outrigger for my latest plinth design, again, a bit of fun should I decide to go down the three arm route. Going down the three arm route means my 3009 could just be used for vintage MM's and this would also stop me having to faff around changing headshells. Expensive but you only live once! Another option is to forsake the option of a specific MONO only phonostage and just simply use the second input into my EAR 834 clone and a "Y" spliiter to create MONO. I have a MONO switch installed on the EAR834 so this could be a cheaper alternative. Decisions, decisions!
I'm thinking that there is probably (for the time being) not really a great deal left that I can do to this 301. A new idler wheel for the far east is a possibility. A new plinth design which will incorperate the decoupled motor design and maybe three tonearms. Each tonearm does something different, one for SPU'S, one for MONO duties and one for vintage MM experimentation. Plinth material is always a comical debate, I have considered by some Cherry wood and maybe trying something like a Shindo build but then you would also need the modded platter, bearing, tonearm and SPU for it to sound anything like a Shindo :doh:. IPE is probably going to be the way ahead should I undertake such a task. Working with IPE or Panzerholz isn't difficult but you do need specific tools which can handle the hardness of these materials, so you have to factor in the expense associated with this task. Such a task may results in a plinth which could be enstage with respects to material selection.
Stay tuned!
Wakefield Turntables
29-11-2024, 20:43
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXIV - Sensible Head!
It's Friday night and there's a little Jazz being played and a little whiskey (McCallum 12 year old) being sipped, time for a little reflection and an update on the 301. I've decided against a third arm on the 301 for vintage MM carts, instead I've pressed my Garrard 401/SME V-12 combo into action instead, I've been using my Grace F9E on the SME V-12 and it sounds excellent, so I guess that saves funds and more messing around with the 301. I've made one major change to the setup of the 301 and that's with the tonearm mounts, previously I'd been bolting these to the bamboo plinth and things sounds ok, things no sound better as I've glued both the 3009 and 3012 mounts into place and things seem (to these ears) sound a little better. So, here's the proof.....
https://i.ibb.co/vdL515Q/IMG-1586.jpg
MONO also sounds very good, I have shelved the idea of using IPE tonearm mounts on the bamboo plinth, the Panzerholz mounts work really well. Now I think it's time to stop messing around for the time being and just and the fruits of my labours, but this may be easier said than done :doh:. I;ve heard that Stack Audio have just produced a new record puck and platter mat, now the isolation footers worked TOO WELL in my system and I ended up sending them back as they made things too analytical and just like my Technics 1210 setup (what's the point in having two systems which sound very very similar) ? Well, that's about all I have to say this time around, so as ever stay tuned.........
https://ibb.co/KsVZ6ZL
Wakefield Turntables
05-01-2025, 17:02
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXV - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt VIII - MONO CARTS
It's been a while since I did anything on this Blog, so, here is a we update on the 301. Tonight's post was inspired by the cold winters nights and maybe too much time on my hands. I have been going through a process of equipment evaluation and thinning out the collection, partly to move on new gear, partly to make space, and partly to fund 2025's audio campaign. The Shure M55E which is part of my "not for sale" collection is a very versatile performer, it's by no means the best and easily bettered but in my system sounds just great. I decided to see how the M55 stacked up against my Ortofon MONO SPU. I purchased the MONO stylus for the M55 years ago as part of my very first leaps into the MONO world. It sounded OK but it was on a different deck and the M55 was still bodied in it's original plastic case. The M55 has been modded with a lovely Panzerholz body and lives on the Arsonic head shell (very sexy). The 3009 was placed into action and what can I say. Well, a very big disappointment. It took 10 minutes to realise why I was using the Ortofon MONO SPU as my reference (yes I know better carts exist). Despite really wanting the M55 to sound great, it just didn't.
https://i.ibb.co/ZNq4Z4K/IMG-1631.jpg
This hobby is full of experiments and this is what makes things fun because occasionally you'll hit audio paydirt but alas not this time. As ever stay tuned.....
I'm not really surprised. The SPU mono is a moving coil cartridge with a single coil orientated to only respond to transverse groove modulation. The Shure M55E is a mid quality fixed coil cartridge. You have fitted it with a stylus with, I assume, a pivot suspension that has a very low compliance for motion in the vertical plane.
On top of that the moving coil cartridge has a far lower output than that of the fixed coil cartridge, as well as having a different housing and mounting in the arm.
Given all that, I would expect the SPU to sound superior.
Wakefield Turntables
05-01-2025, 20:39
I'm not really surprised. The SPU mono is a moving coil cartridge with a single coil orientated to only respond to transverse groove modulation. The Shure M55E is a mid quality fixed coil cartridge. You have fitted it with a stylus with, I assume, a pivot suspension that has a very low compliance for motion in the vertical plane.
On top of that the moving coil cartridge has a far lower output than that of the fixed coil cartridge, as well as having a different housing and mounting in the arm.
Given all that, I would expect the SPU to sound superior.
Thing is Barry, you've got to have a bit of fun trying this stuff even if it's just to convince yourself your not missing out on something good.
Oh I understand - I used to be an inveterate 'fiddler', especially with vinyl playback. I still have at least 30 cartridges, 10
tonearms and four turntables.
But since the advent of CD, my interest in vinyl playback has diminished so that I'm happy with my current setup, which is either an EMT TSD FSL cartridge in an EMT arm, or an Ortofon MC200 in an SME 3009 (imp) arm, or a Van Den Hul MC10 in a Breuer Dynamic Type 5A arm. The last two combinations are mounted on Thorens TD124/II turntables.
Occasionally I use an Ikeda C3 cantileverless MC cartridge in an Ikeda-modified Ortofon 12" arm, or an Ortofon SPUGE in an SME M2-12R arm.
Wakefield Turntables
12-01-2025, 19:18
Oh I understand - I used to be an inveterate 'fiddler', especially with vinyl playback. I still have at least 30 cartridges, 10
tonearms and four turntables.
But since the advent of CD, my interest in vinyl playback has diminished so that I'm happy with my current setup, which is either an EMT TSD FSL cartridge in an EMT arm, or an Ortofon MC200 in an SME 3009 (imp) arm, or a Van Den Hul MC10 in a Breuer Dynamic Type 5A arm. The last two combinations are mounted on Thorens TD124/II turntables.
Occasionally I use an Ikeda C3 cantileverless MC cartridge in an Ikeda-modified Ortofon 12" arm, or an Ortofon SPUGE in an SME M2-12R arm.
That's some nice equipment you listed!
Thanks Andrew, that's kind of you to say, but I have been interested in Hi fi since 1969, so have had plenty of time to aquire some decent kit.
Incidently, much of it was bought second hand, as I wouldn't have been able to afford to buy some of the items new.
Wakefield Turntables
26-01-2025, 18:59
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXVI - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt IX - MONO Optimisation
It's been a while since I posted on here. Not much has really changed with the MONO setup. I thought I would just talk a little about some of the things which I'm experimenting with or would like to try in the MONO setup. I've been experimenting with platter mat's and in this instance the optimal thickness to get the best out of the cartridge alignment. I still need to do some tweaking but I think I'm within 0.5 to 1.0mm optimal platter mat thickness. I'm looking into trying a MONO SUT for the Ortofon MONO SPU that I currently run, this should be interesting and something that I'd really like to try. The only downside to a MONO SUT is yet another pair of IC leads in the chain. Oh, well, I suppose nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I'll be posting some thoughts on the experiment if it occurs. Ok, that's it for now stay tuned.... :thumbsup:
Nice to see you back Andrew, I always enjoy your posts. Fine-tuning vinyl playback gear is more fun than just buying new boxes!
Wakefield Turntables
30-01-2025, 20:58
Alright Charlie, I'll have a wee update, probably on Sunday about my exploits!
Wakefield Turntables
02-02-2025, 18:57
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXVII - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt X - More MONO Optimisation ...... :wowzer:
It's Sunday so it must mean another update for this never ending blog. The 301 MONO side of things has been at times something that has very nearly left me bald (I ain't got that much thatch as it is). Sometimes the MONO side of things would produce some amazing sonics, sometimes I'd hit a brick wall. I never doubted that I'd get to where I wanted to be. Presently I've been bugged with track distortion as I got to the end of the record. I of course knew that I had to mess around with anti-skate and tracking weight of the MONO SPU. These issues have now been fixed thanks to a very small amount of additional tracking weight, I'm now at 5g which is the upper end of what Ortofon quotes for the MONO SPU but I figure that I only play my MONO records for maybe a couple of hours a week and then I have them on rotation so any wear and tear on the records will be kept to a minimum. I would also expect that some on the 60+ year old records already have quite a lot of wear and tear anway so it's just a case of keeping this to a minimum. I have also stopped faffing around with platter mats and the VTA for the SPU is working very nicely. So, overall the SPU is about 95% sorted.
I have a couple of things left to do, this is very very fine tuning of the bias and also a need two new sets of MArk Grant IC's for the 3009, presently I'm using a pair of Yannis Tome IC's but these are from my Technics 1210 system and a pair of "REAL SOUND" IC's that I made up years ago. This mish mash has been put together to so that I could here a noise through the speakers and make sure that everything was working. I have to admit that they are making a very nice sound but I do have a full loom of Mark Grant IC's sitting in my 301 Reference system and can only think that I might be able to get a little bit more out of the system. I'll have to price things up and see how skint I'll be at the end of this month ;).
Now for some bad news! It seems that my SPU is not compatible with the Ortofon MONO SUT, so it looks like I'll be sticking with what I've got at the moment. I suppose money saved on this will go towards the IC's. OK I think that just about winds it up for this time around. Stay tuned.....
In what way is your SPU Mono (exactly which model is it: an original, or the later SPU CG25) incompatible with the Ortofon mono SUT (again exactly which model)?
Regarding record wear, that all depends on the date of issue; whether they are original pressings or reissues. Original pressings were intended to be played with a 25um stylus, reissues are probably intended to be played with a 17um stylus.
Wakefield Turntables
03-02-2025, 19:00
I've spoken to HUGO already, he stocks the MONO SUT. My SPU is the 3.5mv output CG25, and it's the latest oRTOFON MONO SPU that I'm talking about. All my MONO'S are original press 25um stylus.
The SUT provides 12dB voltage gain, so the 3.5mV output of your SPU is transformed to 14mV, which will overload an MM input. I'm not surprised you are having problems.
Wakefield Turntables
07-02-2025, 19:44
The SUT provides 12dB voltage gain, so the 3.5mV output of your SPU is transformed to 14mV, which will overload an MM input. I'm not surprised you are having problems.
I never had problems! I just wanted to try the MONO SPU, but it's obvious that's not going to happen because of various things such as a 14 mV load for the phonostage, even Shure didn't produce MM's with greater mV loading. Can you imagine the treble on that, 14 mV, it would probably strip varnish from wood at a hundred paces!!! :eek:
Wakefield Turntables
02-03-2025, 18:28
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXVIII - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XI - The waiting game.... :zzz:
Hello gentlemen, it's been a while and there have been a couple of new developments with the MONO system. Firstly I decided to make new some IC's for EAR 834 phonostage going into the Croft pre-amp. OK, so it's not Mark Grant cable but at least I have a full silver loom going from the SME 3009 into the Croft Pre-Amp. These IC's were made from some bits in the garage (see below picture), and yes, I can always experiment as I can put some Mark Grant IC's in as a replacement if they sound crap! I also ordered some WBT RCA's https://www.hificollective.co.uk/phono_plugs/wbt-0110ag-signature.html (yes I have no link to HIFI collective). I've always used these RCA's and found them to be excellent and everything else in the 301 has these RCA's so why change. The MONO setup is slowly being tweaked and I've recognised that the EAR 834P might just have too much gain and produce a hum through the Ortofon MONO SPU, certainly the SPU sounds great at low levels and has plenty of gain so as to be great at music reproduction at low listening levels. So, it might be a seperate MONO only phonostage with less gain to get more out of the SPU with a quieter background :confused:.
https://i.ibb.co/b54MtffX/IMG-1758.jpg
I also intended messing around with some pieces of speaker cable into either a single Quad ESL57 or Tannoy 15" MG speaker that I have in the spares box, but have decided against this as it would mean quite a bit of re-organising of the room. I think the big Tannoy's produce a decent MONO image and I'm happy with that at the moment. So, the waiting game continues until these RCA's turn out. I might have some test results for the next update, so, as ever, stay tuned......
Wakefield Turntables
16-03-2025, 19:13
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXIX - £11 goes a long way...
It's sunday night. I've given up the whiskey for a while (no single malt for 3 1/2 months :eek:). Anyway, I decided I needed a treat to mess around with over the weekend so I bought an Olsen mains block. This example came from eBay for the princely sum of £12 delivered. WOW, what an investment. Firstly the mains block was non-standards for UK plugs, see the next two pictures.
https://i.ibb.co/q3bmsqXQ/IMG-1787.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/b5ZYH5Kk/IMG-1786.jpg
As you can see the plug is slightly too big. I did actually weigh this plug in at the local scrappers for the brass content, I nearly got back what I paid for the main block :lol:. I actually need some more plug sockets and the cheapest option was to buy a mains block rather than getting some new plugs installed in the listening room and besides I didn't want the expense, the mess, or the down time from listening to vinyl. I'd seen a few threads disucssing Olsen blocks before and decided to do a little research. I really liked the design asthetic and these guys really knew how to construct a decent mains blocks. Check these photo's out.
https://i.ibb.co/d4wbN2Hd/IMG-1788.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/YBQnmsGh/IMG-1789.jpg
Star-Earthed and this also has a mains filter installed (sorry no picture). The cable is x3 4mm !!! Yep, £12 delivered. These mains blocks are supposed to by rack-mounted and as a consequence have a mains lead sitting at an awkard position for us hi-fi geeks. So, I added a decent plug and re-routed the mains lead and then commenced to plug in the 301 system. The 301, Paradise phonostage and the EAR 834p are now all powered by this mains block.
OK, what does it sound like? Well, I'm a cable sceptic but I'm happy to try sound (sorry for the pun) electric engineering principles in my system to see if things can be improved. My old Tannoys have always suffered from slight transformer hum from my valve amps, you can't hear this from ny seating position but I know it's there. I always presumed that it didn't make much of a difference to my listening sessions but BOY IT DID! Using the Olson block has lessened the hum through the speakers and to an extent improved what I hear through the Tannoys. It's not a massive difference but it's enough to know that my £12 was a very worthwhile investment. Knock yourselves out and have a look at there website https://olsondirect.co.uk/ These Olsen units do come up on eBay quite often. All I can say is that the 301 is performing better than ever and there seems to be more consistancy in this performance, sometimes the 301 might have an off day and not sound quite as good. Things appear to have stabilised with performance. The soundstage presentation is slightly more quiet and focused and yes I'm hearing more details from the recordings. The Olson block will be going nowehere and has working well in my system, YMMV. All I can say is....
Stay Tuned.
I have a couple of metal-clad Olsen distribution strips. One is a 6-way strip where all six sockets are wired in a 'daisy chain' manner, and was fitted with a neon indicator on-off switch. The latter I removed as neons can introduce noise into the system. I see no advantage in 'star' wiring as the lengths are too small to make a difference.
The second is a four-way strip. In this the sockets are wired as in a ring-main back to an internal fuse with neon indicator. Again the latter has been disabled.
Neither of these distribution strips are used now, as I had a dedicated ring main of 16 sockets installed purely for my audio system.
I presume you have now replaced the CE 16A plug with a BS1363 13A plug fitted with a 13A fuse. :)
Wakefield Turntables
16-03-2025, 20:56
I presume you have now replaced the CE 16A plug with a BS1363 13A plug fitted with a 13A fuse. :)
Yep. ;)
Wakefield Turntables
30-03-2025, 19:06
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXX - Moving Forward
Being a Garrard owner is bitter suite, on the one hand you own probably one of the greatest TT ever made and your TT will see you out if you can find a good example. On the other hand, developments are now few and far between. The 301 is now beyond its glory days of people developing new and amazing upgrades at reasonable prices in fact I don't think that there are any significant new developments for the 301. Any new development seems to come with a four figure price attached or five figures if your called Cadence :rolleyes:. There are still a few things which I've not tried yet on the 301, mainly :-
1. DECO Audio Governor PSU.
2. Long Dog Audio PSU.
3. Hanzi HIFI PSU
4. Serene Record stabiliser
5. Russian Idler wheel.
6. A Permali/Panzerholz plinth
I do keep an eye out for reasonably priced second hand examples of the first five of the items on the list. I've tried three PSU's on my 301. These are the original motor and wall supplied electricty, the Nigels Speed Controller and finally the Pheonix Engineering system. Needless to say my favourite for some years has been the Pheonix system. I'll probably order and try the Serene record stabiliser and the Russian Idler wheel before the end of the year. Stay tuned....
Wakefield Turntables
26-04-2025, 19:04
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXI - Peace restored.
Today has been fun. I've moved one turntable project forward ever so slightly and I decided today to re-tweak the Garrard's voltage supply. I'd changed the input voltage to 220V into the Garrard's motor and decided to leave things for a weeks to see if I could discern any sonic changes. I instantly noticed a small amount of motor and idler noise coming from under the platter, this was a very small amount indeed and could only be heard with one's ear virtually stuck to the platter! This was no doubt quite disconcerting as I'm used to complete silence, still, I decided to let sleeping dogs lie and continue with the experiment. I left the new voltage value alone for 5-6 weeks and noticed that things didn't quite sound right. So, tonight voltage is back to 202V and things sound great again. It's a weird hobby! So I'm a happy man now that cosmic order and supreme Karma have been fully rebalanced.
Stay tuned.....
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXX - Moving Forward
Being a Garrard owner is bitter suite, on the one hand you own probably one of the greatest TT ever made and your TT will see you out if you can find a good example. On the other hand, developments are now few and far between. The 301 is now beyond its glory days of people developing new and amazing upgrades at reasonable prices in fact I don't think that there are any significant new developments for the 301. Any new development seems to come with a four figure price attached or five figures if your called Cadence :rolleyes:. There are still a few things which I've not tried yet on the 301, mainly :-
1. DECO Audio Governor PSU.
2. Long Dog Audio PSU.
3. Hanzi HIFI PSU
4. Serene Record stabiliser
5. Russian Idler wheel.
6. A Permali/Panzerholz plinth
I do keep an eye out for reasonably priced second hand examples of the first five of the items on the list. I've tried three PSU's on my 301. These are the original motor and wall supplied electricty, the Nigels Speed Controller and finally the Pheonix Engineering system. Needless to say my favourite for some years has been the Pheonix system. I'll probably order and try the Serene record stabiliser and the Russian Idler wheel before the end of the year. Stay tuned....
Recently Classic Turntables have been advertising a CF chassis stiffener for the 301. Might be of interest...
The "greatest turntable ever made"? That's some claim - there are some who would suggest the EMT, Thorens TD124, Goldring G99, and Empire turntables to be equally valid contenders.
Wakefield Turntables
28-04-2025, 20:34
Recently Classic Turntables have been advertising a CF chassis stiffener for the 301. Might be of interest...
Charlie, have a look at post #464. I took a punt on an American product, so far I've never seen it resold on eBay. I paid <£150 all in (I think). I cant see a chassis stiffener on the CTC website, do you mean Audiograil? I can tell you now that Audiograil are doing something similar but probably a lot more expensive than my American product :lol:. Either way these DO make a difference (well to my ears), the only thing that probably betters these stiffeners is the thicker CNC milled chassis that CTC sell.
Wakefield Turntables
28-04-2025, 20:35
The "greatest turntable ever made"? That's some claim - there are some who would suggest the EMT, Thorens TD124, Goldring G99, and Empire turntables to be equally valid contenders.
Did I make this claim? :scratch:
Did I make this claim? :scratch:
Yes - in the first sentence of part LXXX, although you did qualify the claim with "probably". As were my alternative suggestions.
Don't worry, it was just a friendly 'wind up'; I meant no disrespect.
Wakefield Turntables
29-04-2025, 18:33
Yes - in the first sentence of part LXXX, although you did qualify the claim with "probably". As were my alternative suggestions.
Don't worry, it was just a friendly 'wind up'; I meant no disrespect.
Oh, no offence taken at all Barry! The 301 is a great machine is some respects but woefully lacking in others. ;)
Wakefield Turntables
06-06-2025, 19:26
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXII - Dirty little secret :eek:
OK it's nothing sordid, we are talking about a Garrard 301. I've been using a Pheonix Engineering Roadrunner/Eagle PSU/Tachometer combination for quite some time now and it worked very well indeed. The 301 has been using the 15W version of this hardware and to be honest has functioned very well indeed but the 301's motor will consume 16W. So, my 15W version of the Eagle/Roadrunner PSU combbo has been working like a high revving 3 cyclinder 1200cc motor, everything worked and I had years of amazing sonics but now things have changed! So, that's my secret. :o
https://i.ibb.co/93qfvhGm/34l16-PG-54118.jpg
Sorry the image isn't mine (c) is TMRAUDIO.
I now own the 25W version of the Eagle/Roadrunner PSU combo and things have improved, I now own the equivalent of a low revving V8 but with sheds of power if needed. It's hard to say how things have improved but the soundstage just appears that little but more detailed and slightly more muscular in presentation. I would even say that the soundstage has a little more "confidance" !!!???!!! Yeah, i'm not quite sure what I'm trying to say. And then I came across this statement from Eagle, "The turntable remains on speed independent of the belt tension, bearing oil viscosity, drag from the needle orany other variables that cause the table to drift over time". I wonder if the 15W might have struggled a little and the 25W version has a little more oomph in getting the platter to spin? All I can say is that the soundstage has changed and now sounds even better still.
Stay tuned.
This company used to build these speed controllers for VPI turntables but not sure they are available any more?
Wakefield Turntables
07-06-2025, 07:58
Jim, my understanding is that the SOTA turntable company bought them. I think the PSU is still available but in the less powerful version and only for specific decks. My next goto PSU for the 301 after the Pheonix would be a LDA PSU.
Wakefield Turntables
12-07-2025, 20:06
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXIII - Brace yourself!
Just a quick word really on a couple of new developments. I notice that AudioGrail and the poster SPH over on Lenco Heaven are offering top plate stiffeners for the 301. You might want to see my adventures in post #464. Both of these look to be quite good products and probably beneficial, it's a well known modification for those in the know. I can heartily recommend having a go, but, I will say that it's probably best to install one when your mounting your 301 into a new plinth. It can be a really big PITA dismantling your 301 to install one only then to remount everything in your plinth. I'm not sure of the prices for these new products. It's rather interesting as one is made from steel and the other carbon fibre. I'm quite happy with my own brace from the USA and won't be buying anything new. Good luck to those who try.
Stay Tuned!
Wakefield Turntables
10-08-2025, 19:38
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXIV- MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt X - Waiting game.
Just a few words on the progression of the 301. I'm always looking into improving the MONO playback side of the 301. I'm also looking at improving the Croft stand alone phonostage that I presently use. Currently it contains stock cabling and a dodgy piece of COAX, yes, COAX! Now, I'm not sure if the COAX cabling is Croft standard but I intend to replace with some lovely silver and teflon at some point in the future, it's a mod which can be easily reversed if things don't work out and will add a little more silver into the MONO playback loom. I may at some point change the RCA's on the Croft with some lovely silver RCA sockets, current contenders are WBT or KLE, I'm not decided, I'll need to tot-up my hifi spend this year
to see if I can justify such a purchase, I have to look after the sheckles now that I'm getting a little older :wheniwasaboy:. I might also see if I can improve the earth post on the Croft phonostage, who know's I might improve the low level hum I get through the speakers. The hum is of a low level and dosen't really bother me as such but I would rather it not be there. I might even do some pictures and produce another update soon! Stay tuned....
I am sure either plug sockets would be great. I need to look at doing this myself.
Wakefield Turntables
05-10-2025, 20:01
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXV - Some new mods (maybe).....???
A short one tonight. I don't usually hunt out new mods for the 301 they just usually crop up from time to time. I have two new mods to mention tonight and they both come from Classic Turntable Company, I had a short conversation with Mr. Clark with regards the idler wheel and the bearing spindle replacement for the 301. I've been thinking about purchasing both of these upgrades to see how they can improve the 301. The spindle has a better tolerance than the old 301 spindle and the idler is said to make more contact with the platter. I've tried two after marker idler wheels and the original garrard 301 and have always gone back to the original Garrard offering, I later ended up selling the other two. I've never tried a spindle replacement so that should be fun, presently I'm running a Martin Bastin modded bearing. Ok peeps, that's it for tonight. I now need to decide if I want to spend a few hundred quid on this experiment..... Stay tuned.
I would agree that a spindle manufactured to tighter tolerances would be an improvement, but I would exercise caution over changing the idler wheel. There is more to consider when it comes to their replacements. You say the new idler wheel makes more contact with the platter. That could be because it is thicker, or it uses a 'softer' rubber material.
Although a completely different turntable, I have found everytime I have tried a replacement idler wheel on any of my Thorens TD124/II, I have gone back to the original Thorens design, or a Thorens approved design sold by Schopper.
Wakefield Turntables
06-10-2025, 18:21
I would agree that a spindle manufactured to tighter tolerances would be an improvement, but I would exercise caution over changing the idler wheel. There is more to consider when it comes to their replacements. You say the new idler wheel makes more contact with the platter. That could be because it is thicker, or it uses a 'softer' rubber material.
Although a completely different turntable, I have found everytime I have tried a replacement idler wheel on any of my Thorens TD124/II, I have gone back to the original Thorens design, or a Thorens approved design sold by Schopper.
Can't argue with any of that wisdom, I agree totally. Probably try the spindle as that is what Ray has suggested first.
The original Garrard spindles were cylindrically ground seriously hardened and super polished. Having them made today is quite an undertaking, ensuring they are fully 'round' is a key issue- Garrard managed this with no CNC to speak of - We own several of the original factory devices used to measure them including this one:
https://i.ibb.co/rGYD1MJq/Garrard-factory-spindle-measureing.jpg (https://ibb.co/1f1FwKxB)
Wakefield Turntables
07-10-2025, 18:59
Matt, do you offer your version of a new spindle?
Currently putting together a bearing suite - the spindle however is different dims to the original.
Wakefield Turntables
08-10-2025, 16:58
Currently putting together a bearing suite - the spindle however is different dims to the original.
God Dammit, more money into the experiment... :doh:
Hi Andy, sorry to ask on this thread but PM not working. Who did you get to work on your valve amplifier in the end?
Wakefield Turntables
12-10-2025, 19:57
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXVI - 2025 and then into 2026
I think that I have seen the light! Moving forwards with the 301 could be interesting over the next 2-3 months I think I've seen an upgrade path for the 301 which means that the 301 may improve sonically and at the same time give me some pleasure in seeing how the thing sounds when it's tweaked. I honestly think that the money spent will be something that I could more or less recoup and if not then it's money well spent having some fun without pickling my innards with several bottles of single malt! I'll probably try the bearing collar brace from Audiograil and the new spindle from CTC. I remember trying a bearing collar brace with the Lenco and it worked a treat and the CTC spindle allows for the bearing to be lowered or heightened so I could mess around with VTF on the two tonearm connected to my plinth. I also might want to try and bearing clamp two, but again I'll have to see how this can be implemented into the plinth. So, as ever stay tuned....
Wakefield Turntables
26-10-2025, 18:33
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXVII - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XI - Phonostage Shootout
Well it's started! I've been mulling over what to do with the 301 for some time and I've started a raft of new tweaks and upgrades that will hopefully push MONO and Stereo playback even further on the old restored garage find. Firstly, I've had my Croft phonostage fully checked over and had a couple of very small tweaks done to make sure I can get the best from it. It appears it wasn't in very good health. I will be having some fun with my other EAR 834 clone phonostage to see which is the best in the 301 system. I'll also try and get some Mark Grant cables organised to replace the current Yannis Tome IC's being used with my SME 3009.
Finally, I may also have some new (to me) KT88's and finally get around to trying some bearing upgrades.
Stay tuned..
Wakefield Turntables
09-11-2025, 17:02
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXVIII -MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XII - Tweaking hell!
It's Sunday afternoon, it's dark and it's raining, so I guess another update is due. Things have moved on at quite a pace. My Croft phonostage has been returned, now fully repaired and upgraded. The Croft has had internal silver wiring installed to both input and output RCA's, several small repairs performed, several components replaced and more importantly a wee upgrade meaning I can now experiment with 6SN7 valves. I picked this lot up
https://i.ibb.co/Y76h9rc9/PXL-20251106-123519571-3.jpg
For a very reasonable £100. I have no idea if any of you own 6sn7 valves? The prices charged by some websites is quite frankly eye watering :stalks:, literally! I've seen places asking £450 for a single valve example. It took my ages to decide upon my favourite 6sl7 valve for my croft preamp, in the end I think I went through 13 or 14 valves and finished on the RCA 6391. I've now got 8 different 6sn7 valves to play around with over Xmas. My second big change in the MONO system has been the implementation of a pair of Mark Grant Cables between the SME 3009/Ortofon MONO spu combo and the Croft phonostage, they are expensive but have cured a hum problem that I had whilst playing MONO records.
https://i.ibb.co/S46KkVfz/mg.jpg
Listening to MONO is now even more of a pleasure, I think my ears must be still quite sensitive as I can definitely pick out the difference between a small amount of low background hum and virtually none at all. Yes, things do seem a lot quiter whilst listening, no hum between the tracks of an LP is always a bonus. :lol: I can still hear a very small amount of hum, but, you literally have to be an inch or two from the speaker. So, MONO playback has really been improved, maybe things can be improved again when I start valve rolling in November and December. I've now gone through several cartridges Shure M55e MONO, Miyajima MONO Zero, Ortofon Cadenza MONO and the Ortofon SPU mono. To my ears the SPU is the winner (so far). I've been through four phonostages Paradise, EAR 834, Croft Music Maker. and internal phonostage of my preamp. Once again, to my ears, the Croft MusicMaker phonostage is the winner (so far). I'm always happy to try new stuff, so I guess stay tuned...
Is your Shure M55E a genuine single coil cartridge, or is it a stereo cartridge with both outputs connected in parallel? I ask because I can find no reference to a Shure M55E MONO.
The Miyajima and Ortofon SPU MONO cartridges are definitely single coil designs, despite having four pins on the cartridge body.
Another single coil MC cartridge you might like to try is the Denon DL102. This has two long pins on the body, so you can 'piggyback' the two pairs of headshell leads.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FJ4AAOSwJF5lAcI6/s-l960.webp
Wakefield Turntables
09-11-2025, 18:17
Another single coil MC cartridge you might like to try is the Denon DL102. This has two long pins on the body, so you can 'piggyback' the two pairs of headshell leads.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FJ4AAOSwJF5lAcI6/s-l960.webp
Long been on my "to try" list, I'd only really purchase one if I could secure one at a very low price. I have a yearly budget for hifi gear, but I usually overspend :doh:, maybe one for 2026?
The cheapest DL102 I could find is this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336208655429?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&loc_physical_ms=69201&customid=9da43c1ee42b184015d7550e1bbab7f5&gclid=9da43c1ee42b184015d7550e1bbab7f5, used and at about £170 from Japan.
Otherwise you can pay as much as £390 for new cartridge (again from Japan).
Wakefield Turntables
10-11-2025, 18:20
I do keep an eye out for the 102 but I also would like try something a little up the Miyajima tree. There is also some of the more exotic Ortofons but these are scary money and would imagine quite a rare beast out in the wild.
Wakefield Turntables
22-11-2025, 14:32
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXIX - 250,000 not out.
I noticed that this thread has nearly hit 250,000 views. So, I'd like to say a big thanks and here's to the next 250,000 views.
Stay tuned.
At least 10,000 of those might have been due to the "AI bot blitz" we had here few months ago and caused the whole Forum to lock up.
But even so, well done. I read the all posts made here, yours included.
Wakefield Turntables
29-11-2025, 19:30
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXX - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XIII - More tweaking.
Hello Garrard lovers I've more tales to tell with regardsimproving the infrastructure of the Garrard 301. The Croft marque has many many fans all over the world and I'm one of them, I have a very modified Croft preamp and now a slightly (even more so now) phonostage. I have never been a big fan of the intrinsic Croft phonostages and have often preferred the extrinsic versions that Glenn used to make. My own Croft phonostage originally used to run three 6SL7 valves, I prefer the 6391 variant and this was decided upon after doing a massive 14 valve shoot-out back when you could buy valves very cheap and very cheerful from the US of A. Said phonostage decided to become sick with a dicky on/off switch, so I decided to use this an an excuse to get the thing check over and a subtle modification. Several weeks later and my Croft now had a part 6SN7 conversion, a subtle tweek which gives the thing more drive. Here we can see a few tasty caps which have been installed.
https://i.ibb.co/0ybH5QTJ/IMG-2215.jpg
Here we can see the modification working with my old pair of 6391's and a rather nice Raytheon 6SN7 valve.
https://i.ibb.co/wh9MgsJy/IMG-2214.jpg
Finally just a couple more pictures showing some wiring upgrades. Firstly I replaced some COAX cable which has been used as the earth cable for both my RCA inputs from the phonostage :eek:, I found some nice solid core copper and fitted that instead.
https://i.ibb.co/mptjBM7/IMG-2216.jpg
Finally I rewired the RCA input/output with some solid core silver (in teflon) that I had sitting in my garage spares box this replaced what looked like copper coated aluminium wiring.
https://i.ibb.co/wh9MgsJy/IMG-2214.jpg
So, things sound excellent, no doubt better phonostages and MONO playback systems exist but my current setup really SINGS and I'm very happy with the way things have panned out. I'd have to spend a lot more money to improve things, like buying a new tonearm or a new cartridge. My SPU Mono might be getting a little long in the tooth so perhaps that could be something to look into. My MONO record collection is perhaps only 200 strong but I do love listening to this side of vinyl replay.
Stay Tuned.......
Glenn’s separate Phono stages were always better than the preamp/ phono stages he built. I asked him why and in his typical short conversations he would say he could do more “ work” on the separate phono stages. I believe some of this extra circuitry allowed for lower impedance. I think the valves and designs he built in the middle years were his best but I can’t still remember being enthralled by his first micro preamp that was indeed very minimal and basic but sounded wonderful!
Wakefield Turntables
29-11-2025, 21:06
This phonostages has got 3 Tx's!!! It seems like every little has its own PSU.
This phonostages has got 3 Tx's!!! It seems like every little has its own PSU.
Have you ever seen his Absolute 1 preamp!:eek:
Piccy here!
https://6moons.com/audioreviews/croft/croft.html
Wakefield Turntables
30-11-2025, 11:16
Have you ever seen his Absolute 1 preamp!:eek:
Piccy here!
https://6moons.com/audioreviews/croft/croft.html
Yeah, saw that a long time ago, I decided to stop chasing that dream years ago, just make what I own the best I can. :D
Yeah, saw that a long time ago, I decided to stop chasing that dream years ago, just make what I own the best I can. :D
Think he only built one anyway:). I am sure your gear is as good as it gets, I wish I could have bought either the Charisma or Charisma X sometime ago.Was yours either of these or an Epoch?
Wakefield Turntables
30-11-2025, 16:34
I believe I have the Epoch. It's been modded several times by Alan (Fire Bottle) and Nick (Long dog Audio). Progressively getting rid of stuff that wasnt needed and upgrading bits that appeared lacking.
So no longer a Croft?:lol:
Wakefield Turntables
30-11-2025, 18:54
So no longer a Croft?:lol:
Still a CROFT but better. I don't think many Croft's fully remain Crofts.
Still a CROFT but better. I don't think many Croft's fully remain Crofts.
True, you only have to change the valves and the tweaking starts!
Looks like this 301 has been restored a little!!??
https://www.stereophile.com/content/spin-doctor-31-turntable-drive-systems-garrard-301-advanced
Wakefield Turntables
11-12-2025, 18:36
Looks like this 301 has been restored a little!!??
https://www.stereophile.com/content/spin-doctor-31-turntable-drive-systems-garrard-301-advanced
Hmmmm, I have always had mixed thoughts on this TT from SME. You can pretty much produced exactly the same results far cheaper. OK, you cant buy the new SME tonearm but you source a SME V-12, the resin plinth isn't that difficult to make and is Panzerholz or Permali better? You can get a speed controller made for less than £500 which will give perfect 33.33 or 45.00 rpm every hour of the day, without having to worry about issues with idler wheels or barings. I'll just stick with what I've got. :eek:
Hmmmm, I have always had mixed thoughts on this TT from SME. You can pretty much produced exactly the same results far cheaper. OK, you cant buy the new SME tonearm but you source a SME V-12, the resin plinth isn't that difficult to make and is Panzerholz or Permali better? You can get a speed controller made for less than £500 which will give perfect 33.33 or 45.00 rpm every hour of the day, without having to worry about issues with idler wheels or barings. I'll just stick with what I've got. :eek:
Yes and the price!!:eek:
Wakefield Turntables
18-01-2026, 18:58
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT LXXXXI - MONOLOG - A sub blog! Pt XIV - Eeeking a bit more out.
The MONO playback side of things sounds very very good already with lots of care beingh taken to reduce hum, cable dressing, TT isolation, optimal tonearm/SPU setup and the list goes on but I did not think about messing around with damping troughs, especially on the SME 3009. To be honest I'd never even heard that such a thing existed and to be equally honest I don't spend my time lookig at old products sold by SME sometimes you find out about these things by sheer luck and this is a very good example of such a thing. Fast forward to the SME FD200 fluid damping kit for the SME 3009.
https://i.ibb.co/j9t8spYs/IMG-2254.jpg
This product is really designed to damp resonance getting through to 70's MM carts like the Shure V15 mk3 and such like. Well, I figured why not try on the SPU MONO that I have installed. I'd read a few comments on how it improves bass and overall detail but the soundstage can sound a little narrow and over damped. Well, MONO soundstages are narrow in most cases anyway so I wasn't too bothered about narrowing and, honestly, I have noticed no difference in MONO soundstage width. Bass has improved again and is taughter than before. I will need to read around a few threads with respects about to the negative aspects of the damping kit and ways to optimise playback. So far so good, I'm happy and think things have moved up another level. So enjoy a few more piccies
BEFORE KIT ADDED
https://i.ibb.co/XwTVJQB/IMG-2255.jpg
Moving forward the 301 is now even more flexible. I have a 3012 which can handle all manor of weird and wonderful SPU's, the 3009 handles both MONO playback and now also my vintage MM collection when the mood takes. I'm still toying around with the idea of a third arm for the 3009 just for vintage MM's but do I need to grief of modding the plinth again to take a third arm or the expense of another 3009 and all the associated costs like a new service etc etc. I think I'll just stick to a two arm setup for the time being and change the weights on the tonearm as needed between MONO and MM playing sessions. Looks like the thread will live for another year.
Stay tuned....................
AFTER KIT ADDED
https://i.ibb.co/5xTFv79P/IMG-2260.jpg
Good move - well done. :)
I have been using an FD200 on my 3009 Mk.II (Improved) for the last 20 years or so. I use the smallest size paddle and have removed the top of the trough tank.
Nowadays all the cartridges I use are moving coil type, but the damping trough helps when using Decca designs, as well as very high compliance ADC induced magnet designs.
Wakefield Turntables
27-02-2026, 19:45
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCII (Now corrected thanks for Barry and Lawerence) - Three Amigo's
Well I said that I would not do this but I have gone and bought a third SME arm for the 301. I have bought a Improved Series II with fixed head shell. The reason for the purchase is simple, I've had an itch for ages that needing scratching with regards getting a proper low mass arm for some of the rare and very wonderful MM's from the 1970's. I have some lovely Shure, Stanton, and Grace MM's that are just sitting in a box not being used so now is a good a time as ever to start up with a new adventure with the 301. And yes I'll probably need to source another FD200 :eek:. I will of course be spending some silly money on some of the more exotic JICO stylii that are available. Live is short, so why not? I know that the 3009 that I have bought has had the RCA conversion so I'll also need to make up some IC's but that's not exactlt rocket science. I'll probably also start using my EAR 834 clone as well for MM duties. I'm actually looking forward to this!
Like the idea of more exotic Jico styli!
There is no such thing as "LXXXXII". If you mean part 92 then in Roman numerals it should be "XCII". :D
Good luck with the fixed headshell SME 3009 arm. I used to have one, but with a dozen or so cartridges to play with, I preferred to use SME arms with a detachable headshell. Even when set up with an ADC 25, the latter having a compliance of around 50cu, the combination tracked perfectly.
Lawrence001
28-02-2026, 01:02
The use of LXXXX for 90 has always interested me as I've seen it occasionally in old books and buildings. Similarly I think I've seen MDCCCC used in buildings built at the turn of the 20th century. So I wondered if the strict usage that doesn't allow it is a modern creation with stricter logic than a Roman rule.
After reading your post I looked at the Wikipedia article on Roman numerals, and it would seem that both the additive and subtraction system of notation was used up to the Twentieth century. Since then the notation system used now is subtractive; as used by the BBC.
So I was being pedantic in my criticism of Andy's notation. Sorry!
Wakefield Turntables
28-02-2026, 20:57
Well I've been well and truly taken to task over my dodgy Roman numeral usage :doh:. I promise to try harder in the future. :ner:
Wakefield Turntables
22-03-2026, 19:11
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCIII - Three Amigo's upgrade update
This project has been going on now for over 10 years and still I tinker. Last year I flirted with the idea of having a three armed plinth with three vintage SME tonearms. Ultimately I wanted the ability to use my favourite SPU, have very good MONO playback for my growing collection of MONO LP'S and then also be able to mess around with vintage MM's from the 1970's, mainly to play classical stuff, I do think that a decent MM cartridge and DECCA SXL's are a combination which is extremely hard to beat. Let's fast forward to 2026 and I twisted my own arm and bought a very nice example of a fixed shell SME 3009 which had basically been designed as a tonearm for the Shure V15 mk3. I got a good deal and the RCA conversion had been done which means I can use my favourite IC's when the time comes (hello Yannis)!
https://i.ibb.co/NgWHG1xN/IMG-2371.jpg
So here is my newest 3009. You can also see that I have started to make a Panzerholz base for the tonearm. I only have a few pieces of Panzerholz left now so I have to be extremely careful that I don't bodge anything that I make. I've included another photograph showing my Shure V15 mk 3, I can't wait to get this setup and then start playing around with some of the more exotic JICO stylii. I no longer trust the internet (or sadly) people on the various forums to send undamaged or knackered Stylii so I trust JICO, yes they are expensive and they take ages to arrive and the customs can be a PITA but at least you get what you paid for. JICO are supposed to be making a brand new V15 mk3 cartridge but the world still waits. :(
https://i.ibb.co/zDQGnxj/IMG-2373.jpg
Finally a quick shot of what the three SME's will look like when I eventually modify the current plinth to accept a third arm.
https://i.ibb.co/dw5rX6KR/IMG-2372.jpg
The plinth will need to be dismantled and I will have to form a channel in the plinth to hide another setup of Interconnects which will connect the SME 3009 and then run out into the EAR 834 clone phonostage. Speaking of which I now have three phonostages linked to the 301, my Paradise phonostage takes care of SPU Silver Meister Mk2 and Jazz duties. The Croft phonostage is specifically for MONO playback and the EAR clone is especially for my MM adventures. The EAR can accept different capacitance loads, has the ability to switch bewteen two sources and has a MONO switch should the Croft break. So far my rack has been very accomodating and I managed to house the EAR 834 clone without having to dismantle the whole thing or buy some more bamboo racks. Here's a quick photo, things are a bit cramped but you can see both phonostages sitting on top of each other.
https://i.ibb.co/39x1SXQv/IMG-2374.jpg
Finally, I've always wanted a Panzerholz plinth for the 301 but cost is quite prohibitive and I've never really managed to design a plinth that worked for my needs, well, that's not the case anymore. I will be seriously thinking about getting some Permali and making another plinth for the 301 around the same desigbn as the bamboo plinth which currently houses the 301. The project still has some way to go. There appears to be many upgrades which I still haven't tried but that's for another year, as ever stay tuned......
Good luck with the Shure V15/III. I used to have one which I used in an SME 3009 II arm. Love the use of all three arms on your Garrard 301: I assume it is an oil-lubricated bearing, rather than the earlier grease bearing.
Very impressed with the playback equalisation curves available on your Rek-O-Kut Re-Equalizer II; should cover all eventualities for records cut before the universal adoption of the RIAA recording and playback curve.
Well done! :)
Wakefield Turntables
22-03-2026, 21:02
Good luck with the Shure V15/III. I used to have one which I used in an SME 3009 II arm. Love the use of all three arms on your Garrard 301: I assume it is an oil-lubricated bearing, rather than the earlier grease bearing.
Very impressed with the playback equalisation curves available on your Rek-O-Kut Re-Equalizer II; should cover all eventualities for records cut before the universal adoption of the RIAA recording and playback curve.
Well done! :)
Thanks Barry. I have a oil bearing, which has been Bastinised! The Rek-o-Kut III is a nice additional to some of the very older vinyl which I sometimes play.
Wakefield Turntables
28-03-2026, 18:37
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCIV - Proof of concept.
Its saturday night and not a great deal is happening so I though I'd create an update on the 301. I have had a lazy Saturday and decided that I really needed to bite the bullet and get the third SME 3009 arm fitted. To be honest I didn't really know if it would fit. I'm better prepared and I have an original template to fit the arm, this is something which I did not have for the other two SME's that I fitted to the 301 so I guess it's a case of third time lucky.
https://i.ibb.co/DDzYh5Ck/IMG-2380.jpg
Fitting the arm was shall we say testing as it took ages to find the correct drill bit. I've had to do a little modification to the SME mount which I made years ago and now I have used up the last of my Panzerholz offcuts that I bought. I'm also in need of a set of RCA leads, so I purchased a set of Amazon Basics RCA leads for the princley sum of £7.12 delivered, I expect to get them tomorrow and I will hopefully be able to play some music. The "new" 3009 will initially use an old Shure V15 mk3 with a suitable stylus just to produce some noise and make sure that everything works and actually outputs some sonics and then I have the annoying task of setting everything up again. JICO will at some point be getting some of my hard earned cash and I think I'll go down the route of a SAS/B it's ages since I've had one.
And finally we have proof of concept, a three SME armed 301 which is ready for any vinyl occasion.
https://i.ibb.co/7JJ5qKpD/IMG-2383.jpg
OK, until next time, stay tuned....
Well done Andrew - but remember you only have 6 more posts to go to complete the project. New software means that no update thread can consist of more than 100 posts! :lol:
Wakefield Turntables
28-03-2026, 20:27
Well done Andrew - but remember you only have 6 more posts to go to complete the project. New software means that no update thread can consist of more than 100 posts! :lol:
Oh bugger, that could be a big problem!
I always enjoy reading about your vinyl adventures. Lovely patina on that mat (gunmetal? ).
Wakefield Turntables
29-03-2026, 20:09
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCV - She Sings!
Well the new tonearm works and it outputs sonics but it hums like a bugger. I'm knackered and had a long day so this is a problem for another day. I have been looking around the spares bin again and managed to find to N44-7 (SAS/B) JICO stylus which originally was used on my M44 and M55 cartridges so it looks like I won't have to spend any more money with JICO. I'll have to do some experiments tomorrow. Suffice to say I'm very pleased that all the modding has worked and now the fine tuning begins :(.
As ever stay tuned...
Wakefield Turntables
29-03-2026, 20:10
I always enjoy reading about your vinyl adventures. Lovely patina on that mat (gunmetal? ).
Glad you enjoy it Charles. The mat is a Tenuto mat from years ago and has had thousands of hours of usage over the last decade. Stay tuned, this project has still got a fare bit of steam left in the tank.
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCV - She Sings!
Well the new tonearm works and it outputs sonics but it hums like a bugger. I'm knackered and had a long day so this is a problem for another day.
Sounds like an earthing problem. Does the SME arm use phono sockets? The metalwork of the arm is earthed separately via an earthing screw, near the phono sockets and uses a separate wire back to the amplifier.
Wakefield Turntables
30-03-2026, 07:59
I'm going to investidate over the next few days. It does indeed use RCA sockets and I have a seperate grounding wire which I've attached to the phonostage, I think the IC's might be a little too close to the 301's motor and might be picking up something from there. It's all good fun and a little frustating at the same time.
Wakefield Turntables
03-05-2026, 18:35
Blinmey it's been some time since I updates this, over a month, bi-gum! Lots of stuff going on and some hardware swapping, more tomorrow if I get chance.
Thought I hadn’t seen an update post for some time….?
As far as vintage Garrard decks go, I think the 301 is probably my favourite.
Such perfect symmetry :)
As far as vintage Garrard decks go, I think the 301 is probably my favourite.
Such perfect symmetry :)
Grease bearing or oil bearing?
For me it would be the first edition of the 401, for both appearence and performance.
Grease bearing or oil bearing?
Good question, I'd take either if one was offered, but if I could choose whatever I wanted, a grease bearing restored to something like this . . .
https://www.classichifi-shop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Turntable-9-5.jpg
As you've said before, beauty is in the eye of the beholder :)
The oil bearing version has less vertical rumble. The change from the grease lubricated bearing to an oil lubricated bearing was promoted by the BBC who noticed the increased rumble of the grease bearing version when they played the, then, newly introduced stereo recordings. With monophonic recordings the stylus moves horizontally, so any vertical rumble is not important, whereas with stereo recordings there is both horizontal and vertical movement of the stylus.
Regarding appearence, the grey hammertone finish of the 301 you show looks far better IMO than the more usual cream finish.
Regarding appearence, the grey hammertone finish of the 301 you show looks far better IMO than the more usual cream finish.
I have it in my minds eye the vision of John Peel or Tommy Vance sitting over a hammertone 301. If they ever did I've no idea, but that's what a grey hammertone 301 conjures up :)
The Garrard decks used by the BBC were part of a record player system known as DRD/5. All the 301s used had a grey hammertone finish. I'll try and post some images.
www.orbem.co.uk
https://www.orbem.co.uk/grams/images/drd5.jpg
The DRD/5 was introduced to supplement the TD/7s by providing facilities for playing 33 and 45 rpm discs. The turntable was a modified Garrard 301 with the 78 speed disabled. An Acos crystal pick-up (type HGP 39/2, also used on domestic equipment) was mounted on a BBC designed arm.
These machines had an optical groove location system. The small screen on the left behind the turntable displayed a scale indicating the position of the arm.
The turntable plate rested on felt pads and the start/stop lever caused the rotating turntable to rise or fall beneath it. This used a mechanical link and gear system and the lever had to be operated gently to avoid making the stylus jump out of the groove. As the turntable rose the motor volts were boosted to increase the starting torque. Initially the machines were fitted with a muting control to prevent wowed starts, these were later disabled. Set-up was easy, of course, as the disc could be wound back without causing damage.
https://www.vinylengine.com/images/model/bbc_garrard_drd_5.jpg
Excellent, many thanks Barry :)
Wakefield Turntables
04-05-2026, 19:30
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCVI - Better than it was, but still not perfect....yet!!
Hello blog readers. I'm sitting in Wakefield supping a cup of tea and listening to a very nice 45rpm press of Miles Smiles (Miles Davis) on the 301. OK, some news, my Sondex S100 blew up! I'm hoping it's only a valve that's gone to the great valve resting place in the sky, so I have had all my KT88's sent away to be tested to see if we can find the culprit, presently the Sondex has had it's fuse replaced and now awaits the return of the KT88's to see if we can get a matched Quad up and running again. The Sondex blowing up was just the excuse I needed to buy a ChiFi Burmester 909 clone. I plumped for the Transaudio T9.4 Master edition. This things is massive, weighs over 40Kg's and sounds amazing. I have it currently mated with the Croft Epoch preamp and it's a match the works beyond all my expectations. I would heartily recommend one, mine's still burning in, I've had about 20 hours on it, ideally 100 is needed.
The Transaudio T9.4 Master edition
https://i.ibb.co/r275TCFj/IMG-2416.jpg
The Sondex S100 is not exactly tiny and can easily produce a hernia, have a look at these two sitting side by side.
https://i.ibb.co/RTVC4KmS/IMG-2418.jpg
Here's a quick photo of the innards of the Sondex S100 whilst I was replacing the fuse.
https://i.ibb.co/qLCr8pF5/IMG-2419.jpg
The 301 had a third toneaerm fitted several weeks ago which to be honest has not seen much usage. I have been messing around with various RCA cables to see which would be best. I'm still messing about to be honest and haven't quite made my mind up with respects to what I'll be using. I have decided that I will be using the MM phonostage section of my Sugden PA4 phonostage, this produced virtually no hum, I could still hear a small amount but it was heavily reduced compared to the EAR 834 clone that I have been using. The 834 clones have been known to hum, mine dosen't but for some reason I'm having trouble with the latest SME 3009 that I fitted. So, the Sugden wins and the the 834 clone will go into storage or maybe even used in another system. I do have one problem with the Sugden, I can't change capacitance loading and my Shure carts are a tad quiet. I could send the Sugden away to be modded but I think a better solution might be to use a M44 or M55 with specific high-output stylus, I have always loved these carts and still own a modded M55e. I'm hoping a higher mV output will offset the quiet output I'm currently hearing. My EAR 834 clone had RCA plug loading so I could change capacitance. Here's a photo of some Mark Grant and Yannis Tome silver cables I used on the 3009.
https://i.ibb.co/G4B40Gmk/IMG-2412.jpg
Now the ever on going MONO bit of the 301. Well I might be swapping over to this.
https://i.ibb.co/gbdbytWy/IMG-2413.jpg
and it's mounted on this. It's my Garrard 401 / SME V-12 combo in Martin Bastin plinth.
https://i.ibb.co/997148tg/IMG-2415.jpg
So, my 301 has a MONO SPU fitted and it sound very good indeed but I think the SME V-12 and the lovely silver coils of the Cadenza MONO sound amazing. I have had this setup playing through my Falcon LS3/5a's and it sounds amazing. I have not heard the SME V-12 / Cadenza MONO combo through my Tannoys, maybe that's a match made in heaven. I'll have to see one of these days. The 301 will always have the SPU Mono fitted but this hobby is all about trying to get the best sound from your kit, experimentation is fun. MONO playback may be better on another deck but at least I have the flexibility on the 301 should things go wrong on the 401. Finally I will also be changing speaker cable on the 301 system. The Tannoy's currently have SAEC 850 Tripple PC cable, this will replaced with solid 2mm 99.99% pure silver which will be soldered directly onto the XO so avoiding speaker terminals on the XO's but still attach to terminals on the Sondex or T9.4 amp.
So, big update, lot's of messing around. Stay tuned...
Some big changes there Andy. Amp looks huge!:eek:
Are you still having earthing problems with your new SME 3009 arm?
Wakefield Turntables
05-05-2026, 06:51
Are you still having earthing problems with your new SME 3009 arm?
I think it was the EAR 834 clone phonostage, they have a history of humming. I've tried the Sugden and things improved massively. I'm still not 100% hum free but no far off. I can't really do anymore testing at the moment as I'm waiting for a few bits and then I'm having a big revamp of my room. More adventures!
Wakefield Turntables
07-06-2026, 19:03
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCVII - A Wee update over a cup of tea...
I've noticed that the thread has quietly passed 305,000 views, and 304,000 are directly attributed to me, :)! The 301 and it's infrastructure have had some major work done over the last several weeks and many of the components which make up the system are strewn across the UK and scotland. My new (to me) SME 3009 has been sent to Audio Origami for a complete overhaul we a request to make sure the arm as it good as it can be, I wamt to make sure my MM playback system for 70's MM carts is as good as it can be. My 3009 has had a RCA conversion which means I can use interconnects instead of a tonearm cable. I was very, very lucky and recently picked up x2 pairs of Mark Grant Oyaide FTVS-510 / WBT RCA cables. These cables were 60% cheaper than listed price and it appears that these cables are no longer in stock from Mark. The purchase of these cables now means that my entire 301 system has a full loom of these Mark Grant cables including the new 3009 for MM playback.
The 3009 also had another wee upgrade in the form of an after market 3D printed fluid damper trough for the grand total of £26 which was considerably cheaper than the originals which are up for sale on eBay. It fitted very easily. I still need to buy some damper fluid. My Croft Preamp is currently at Radford Revival, it's being checked over to make sure that all is OK. The Sondex will probably end up going down to Radford Revival as well at some point but that's a story for another day. As ever stay tuned....
Interesting update Andy, I can relate to the comments about parts strewn across the UK, my 1210 has parts from all over too!
Looking forward to seeing the finished article.
It's already part 97, so you may have to wait a good while to see the finished product! :D
Wakefield Turntables
09-06-2026, 06:51
It's already part 97, so you may have to wait a good while to see the finished product! :D
Second decade of the thread and still going strong.
You can't rush these things Andy :)
Wakefield Turntables
19-07-2026, 20:01
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCVIII - Details, details, details...
Hello old friends it's been a while. The 301 and it's infrastructure has had some more work and I'm happy to announce that it's paid off very nicely. Firstly, the new 3009 arm has been properly installed and is now working. It still needs a few very small tweaks but nothing that can't be fixed over a cup of tea. So, here's what's been done with the new arm.
SME 3009
- Audio Origami - Full check and service.
- New Michell silver cartridge tags
- Fully rewired with Zavfino silver tonearm cable
- New earth leads made to earth tonearm to 301 and the phonostage at the same time.
- New 3D printed fluid damping tray and paddle fitted.
- RCA conversion with silver plated RCA's
- Mark Grant Mark Grant Oyaide FTVS-510 pure silver cable with WBT silver RCA's.
As you can see it's been extensively overhauled and treated to some nice audiophool stuff. I've grounded this tonearm to the Nth degree. Double earthing wires. These now earth the tonearm to the phonostage and also the 301.
https://i.ibb.co/gLHjgsbd/IMG-2463.jpg
I also looked into lessening the chances of Earth hum and bought myself some plastic mounting screws and also keeps the mass of the tonearm down when I start using very low 1g tracking cartridges.
https://i.ibb.co/cS7QGwTJ/IMG-2464.jpg
The power supply into the 301 also had a bit of a change in that I got rid of the USA to UK plug converter that I had been using for a number of years. The 301 new sports a pure copper Furutech fl-11m plug. One less component in the chain and it looks a lot nicer.
https://i.ibb.co/0VzN07Qw/IMG-2466.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/9m172jnW/IMG-2468.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/tT9St8Fx/IMG-2469.jpg
Finally I decided to go down the route of a new Olsen (well new second hand) power strip to handle the phonostages that I have connected to the 301. I did a couple of modifications to this powerstrip, firstly I removed the LED on light and I also re-routed the cabling so the powerstrip can lay flat on the ground, and I added a decent plug.
https://i.ibb.co/DgYTSp0Z/IMG-2475.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/PvgHxYcV/IMG-2476.jpg
I'm also doing a few experiments with my old Shure v15 mk3 to make sure that it's still in good order, otherwise it's an order to JICO for a new M44 cartridge that they produce, I'm sick and tired of waiting for the new V15 which they are supposed to be producing, I also have some experiments to conclude with the capacitance loading for the MM carts that I'm using. Presently, I have two excellently SPU's on the 301, so I'm not without music.
Finally, I had some work done on my Croft Epoch pre-amp. I used Will and Radford Revival, he :-
- Rewired, new IEC and better earthing configuration
- Tested and Matched RCA 5691's installed
- General check over and service.
I still have a few things to do, so as ever stay tuned......
Good to find someone who can service the Croft.
Mentioning the M44 has got me thinking I need to try mine again especially as I bought a new stylus for it. However still considering an MC cartridge at the moment but not decided what to go for! What are you using at the moment Andy?
What is the unit, shown in the second photograph, that has a US style socket on it? Is it a power supply for the 301?
Otherwise all looking good, especially the upgraded SME arm. :)
Wakefield Turntables
20-07-2026, 17:34
What is the unit, shown in the second photograph, that has a US style socket on it? Is it a power supply for the 301?
Otherwise all looking good, especially the upgraded SME arm. :)
The power supply was an American Product produced by a company called Pheonix Engineering
https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/phoenix-engineering-llc-roadrunner-and-eagle-psu/
They did a 17W and a 24W (I think) version, the 17W version was good for Lenco decks but a little under rated for the 301/401's so I use the 24W version. They never produced a UK plug version so you had to buy an adapter and hence why I attached the new Furutech plug. The whole system works fine in the UK, I've been using my system now for probably 10 years without problems. I also have a spare just in case.
Good to find someone who can service the Croft.
Mentioning the M44 has got me thinking I need to try mine again especially as I bought a new stylus for it. However still considering an MC cartridge at the moment but not decided what to go for! What are you using at the moment Andy?
I have decided that my old Shure carts are knackered and way past there best. I have ordered a J44 cartridge from JICO and will be using a SAS/B n44-7 stylus. So, I figure 7mv output will be fine and not too loud, I think my hearing is going a little on my left side so the extra mV output will be useful. :lol:
So the power supply provides 230V AC and is in turn fed by 230V UK mains. What then does it do, or have I misunderstood?
Wakefield Turntables
21-07-2026, 16:14
So the power supply provides 230V AC and is in turn fed by 230V UK mains. What then does it do, or have I misunderstood?
Yes in a nutshell that's what it does but with some nice features. Firstly the output is stabilised to a specified voltage, it's very easy for me to specify output of let's say 220v or even 216v or even 234v. The output is regenerated and stabilised and then I can specify output in 2v increments. The stabilised voltage helps to stabilise platter speed. As you know old idlers like the 301 suffer from excessive vibration in the motor so I can keep all the drive of the 301 but minimise vibration from the motor getting into the platter and cartridge, well to a certain extent! Secondly the PSU powers a tachometer which picks up details of platter speed which is fed back into the PSU so that it can self regulate platter rotation speed, usually with 0.001 RPM (or so it claims). All good stuff, I think SOTA turntables now use this technology, Pheonix Engineering got bought out by SOTA a few years ago. It's rare to see a full Eagle/Roadrunner combo up for sale.
Thanks for the explanation - it's more or less what I thought it was. The tachometer feedback is a nice touch. :)
Wakefield Turntables
26-07-2026, 19:40
The Garrard 301 Restoration Project PT XCIX - Calibrating the Calibrating thingy and other things....
Hello and welcome again, don't get used to a fresh update every week, it's just how things have dropped. So, the 301 moves up another gear and I'm very near to finishing off the final tweeks to the third arm mounted to the deck.
After a few checks it looks like I have had to say goodbye to my faithful V15 mk3, it was knackered and at probably over 50 years old it gave faithful service but all things have to come to an end. As a replacement I bought a JICO J44 cartridge for the grand total of $135 or £101.36ish. Now I tried a M44 years ago and could not get on with the 9mV output at the time, I have decided upon one of these
https://i.ibb.co/jk7nPCLM/IMG-2482.jpg
I now have 7mV output. I have tried the M44 previously with 9mV and found it far too much, in the past I have had output from the Shure carts fixed at 6.0-6.5mV and everything sounded great. OK, I'm a little over with 7mV but that's fine. I love the idea of having variable options of mV output with the J44 and this is of course dependent upon stylii used with the cart. This is a new cart so I have no worries with respects to age or a faulty coil. I've done some reading around these carts and most people seem to say that they are very very faithful to the sound of the original. I have included a link to the cartridge that I have ordered. https://www.jico-stylus.com/product/j44a-7-cartridge-only/ I'm still waiting for delivery.
My Croft EPOCH came back from Radford Revival and sounds amazing, it makes a fantastic partner with the T9.4 Master clone that is presently doing power amp duties. I have organised for my Sondex S100 to be sent down to Radford Revival for a full overhaul, cost no expense, they have authorisation to do anything they see fit to the amp. I'm very, very surprised by this Transaudio T9.4 Clone it sounds amazing, very close to the Sondex but not quite as good. The Sondex has slightly more detail and has more authority, I would say soundstage width is probably the same. I could quite easily use this clone forever more. The Croft EPOCH is now only running on two very closely matched RCA 5691 valves and have removed the 3 5691's which powered the phonostage.
My SME3012 which houses my Silver Meister II SPU has also had some more fine tweaks and this time from a freshly calibrated Fozgometer. I find using the Fozgometer a lot easier than using an Oscilloscope. It's always worthwhile checking to make sure that it's calibrated. Turn's out mine was slightly out of kilter :doh:. It's very easy to calibrate the Fozgometer, a quick hookup to my laptop, some a fiddle with some trim pots and your sorted.
https://i.ibb.co/1tz3p7Nk/IMG-2481.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/hRfhfVWL/IMG-2483.jpg
And then with the thing calibrated, we do this...
https://i.ibb.co/VY6CwTt3/IMG-2479.jpg
The 301 sounds AMAZING! It's always sounded good but the last few weeks work have reaped rewards. I still have some tweaking to do with the EAR 834 clone phonostage that I'm using with my third SME 3009 arm, mainly some experimentation to optimise the loading plugs and maybe some new WBT RCA's. I can see that we are getting to Part C (100) in this thread so I have something special planned, so I guess as ever, stay tuned......
It's all looking good Andrew. :)
Regarding azimuth set up, I have always found using a mirror to be sufficient. But if in doubt, I will pull out a mono LP (or a single), to make sure the image is exactly in the middle between the two speakers.
Also, why are you going for an M44-7, with a 0.7mil spherical tip? Shure designed the M44-7 for use by DJs; it was never supposed to be a high quality audio cartridge: that was the M44E (or even better the M55E).
Wakefield Turntables
27-07-2026, 17:18
Also, why are you going for an M44-7, with a 0.7mil spherical tip? Shure designed the M44-7 for use by DJs; it was never supposed to be a high quality audio cartridge: that was the M44E (or even better the M55E).
I have several reasons. Firstly it's a new take on a old cartridge, I have very good knowledge of how the M44-7 sounds, so it's a useful exercise in comparing how accurate new cartridge versus old cartridge sounds. Should results be good I'll more inclined to buy a new V15mk3 when they finally pull their finger out. Secondly you can use multiple stylii on the new J44 with a myriad of options, your not limited to 0.7mil. More importantly I like the sound of the old M44, my all time favourite is the M55E. I still own one!
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