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.
Printable View
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
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.......
A quick one for Mr. Audiograil, I've got around to fixing the on/off switch! ;)
Great picture, hope the bearing clamp works out - you may need to patent it!:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Wakefield Turntables
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
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/s...ca-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/s...ca-phono-plug/https://compassaudio.co.uk/product/s...ca-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.