Garrard 401 and specialist power supplies

[Kember]

A question if I may to assist my research, please. I don't think this is a how long is a piece of string question but.. here goes:

Would there be any appreciable difference to sonic quality between powering a Garrard 401 with a stable supply from an AG 1500 set to precisely 230v and 50hz and splashing out on a Bastin or a Loricraft etc specialist power supply? Or would the money be better spent elsewhere in the reproduction chain?

Thoughts please

Peter

[Ali Tait]

Dunno, but I'd be interested in the answer. Currently run mine from a balanced supply then a mains filter.

[PaulStewart]

Firstly, you should run a 301 or 401 on 240v as they were designed for that voltage not the (if you will forgive the pun) current 230v that is now available : lol: As you may know I worked with Loricraft/Garrard some years ago and became very familiar with their power supplies for the turntables, indeed my brother still has one and my son has two. The difference between using one with the power supply is not subtle, the difference in detail and the lowering of the noise floor is massive and bass grunt, already superb with these units is improved. Nigel Pearson has designed some of the best regenerative PSUs on the market and the Loricraft is, in my opinion, one of his best, it certainly is the best I've heard with any idler drive. It works well with the TD 124 and Lencos as well.

Cheers

[Kember]

Firstly, you should run a 301 or 401 on 240v as they were designed for that voltage not the (if you will forgive the pun) current 230v that is now available : lol: As you may know I worked with Loricraft/Garrard some years ago and became very familiar with their power supplies for the turntables, indeed my brother still has one and my son has two. The difference between using one with the power supply is not subtle, the difference in detail and the lowering of the noise floor is massive and bass grunt, already superb with these units is improved. Nigel Pearson has designed some of the best regenerative PSUs on the market and the Loricraft is, in my opinion, one of his best, it certainly is the best I've heard with any idler drive. It works well with the TD 124 and Lencos as well.

Cheers

Paul,

Thanks. So, if I understand you properly (and I'm quite possibly being dense), adjusting the AG1500 from 230v to 240v and keeping it at 50hz will yield an improvement and any improvement beyond that depends on the improved regenerative quality of any new PSU being used?

Best

P

[Wakefield Turntables]

Paul,

Thanks. So, if I understand you properly (and I'm quite possibly being dense), adjusting the AG1500 from 230v to 240v and keeping it at 50hz will yield an improvement and any improvement beyond that depends on the improved regenerative quality of any new PSU being used?

Best

P

I have a PS Audio P10 and it can do pretty much all that loricraft have designed in their PSU. I must admit £2500+ for a PSU sounds pretty steep. I've not tried my P10 with my 301 so it may be a bit of a revelation! I wonder if Paul would comment further on these observations and clarify if our units are achiving what the loricraft guys wanted to achieve with their external PSU's.

[PaulStewart]

Hi Peter, it's certainly worth trying the PSU at 240v and seeing or rather listening to see what happens. One of the problems with the 301/401 is the eddy current speed control, although the Garrard motor likes to have a bit of drag to be stable, there is a trade off in terms of sound quality, which is why it has been deleted on the 501/601s. On the top spec PSU. One can balance out the speed on the box and first adjust the brake for best SQ then correct the speed. On the 401/301 you do need the eddy current disc to get the performance right, we did try to run just on PSU adjustment, but it was not successful with those motors.

Doing A/B comparisons between decks running with a PSU and without, the soundstage was bigger with a lot air round strings, bass had more texture and seemed deeper and there was more focus.

Hope this helps

Paul S

[Kember]

Paul,

Will do as you advise. Thanks.

The deck has been breathed on by Martin Bastin, so the eddy current disc should be tippety top!

P

[Mika K]

Paul describes the differences pretty well.

I have also Loricraft PSU in use with my 401 and have compared that to standard unit and also to some basic PSU designs, and the difference is not subtle. Especially when adjusting the eddy current brake and then PSU torque the results are pretty awesome. The high torque design really improves the bass transients in every possible manner and has also positive impact to midrange clarity and tones.. :)