CTC Classic 301 , SPH bearing and Hanze Hifi HAT CPS-2 all analogue power supply / Tenuto Mk2 mat / custom Panzerholz and Kewasinga articulating plinth / Track audio isolation feet / Reed tonearm / Audio Technica ART 9 / 2 box BigBottle mk3 phonostage with Clarity cap CMR and NOS Telefunkens valves / Croft 25R preamp with upgraded 12BH7A line stage and NOS 1956 RCA valves / Croft 7R monoblocks with NOS 56 RCA valves/ Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers / Spotfire interconnects and speaker cables / Merlin Scorpion mains block / Rhodium mains cables / Marantz CD DAC /
Thanks , i have considered the other decks mentioned , and one of them may very well be on the list next time but for now i want to try a garrard. I love the looks and a few people ive spoken to have preferred it over the LP12 when they switched , which is what i have now.
Im under no illusion that it will have its own (rose tinted) charm, but from reading the like of artisan fidelity and numerous reviews of other products , it appears that adding in modern equivalent parts like idler, eddy, bearing/platter , power supplies etc, that garrards can be brought up to the standard of modern super decks.
So you can acheive all of that lovely stuff we all like, space, air, detail ,dynamics etc , whilst retaining some of the original charm and sonic signature.
I just figured that if i can build a top spec one from the get go then i wont be wondering what else i could have done better . Plus my Reed arm and Woodsong plinth(when i get it) will deserve that level of partnering .
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CTC Classic 301 , SPH bearing and Hanze Hifi HAT CPS-2 all analogue power supply / Tenuto Mk2 mat / custom Panzerholz and Kewasinga articulating plinth / Track audio isolation feet / Reed tonearm / Audio Technica ART 9 / 2 box BigBottle mk3 phonostage with Clarity cap CMR and NOS Telefunkens valves / Croft 25R preamp with upgraded 12BH7A line stage and NOS 1956 RCA valves / Croft 7R monoblocks with NOS 56 RCA valves/ Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers / Spotfire interconnects and speaker cables / Merlin Scorpion mains block / Rhodium mains cables / Marantz CD DAC /
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 49
I'm Charlie.
I think you will be very happy with your choice of plinth and arm partnering the 301. My own more humble 301 is sounding lovely with stacked ply plinth, FR64fx and 103r with matched SUT. I've done some tweaking to get where I am now but other than servicing the 301 itself is totally standard. I suggest giving yours a listen before doing anything else to it.
Location: South West-ish, UK
Posts: 457
I'm Patrick.
I had an LP12 just before I bought my 301. LP12s like 301s come in all sorts of guises, but mine was Cirkus, Lingo2, Ekos2, Troika, Prefix so fairly high spec but not like the current top of the pile LP12 I'm sure. The thing that struck me was that whilst Linn have spent years going on about PRAT and Timing, the 301 really does do PRAT and timing compared to an LP12.
I don't know about 'air', 'space' and 'detail' (I reckon the arm and cartridge contributes more there) but idler decks (especially Garrards) really do do dynamics. And if dynamics is your thing, you really should put a Decca on it.
What the Garrard doesn't do best (mine at least), is that between tracks 'I didn't know the stylus was in the groove' thing. Or maybe that's the Decca.
Anyway, enjoy.
Location: South West-ish, UK
Posts: 457
I'm Patrick.
Thanks gents, maybe i will get Audio Grail or CTC to throw me together a nut and bolt resto and get a decent power supply and see how these i go from there.
I shall come back to pick your brains as and when
Cheers
Karl
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Last edited by Bigbird; 08-08-2019 at 18:15.
CTC Classic 301 , SPH bearing and Hanze Hifi HAT CPS-2 all analogue power supply / Tenuto Mk2 mat / custom Panzerholz and Kewasinga articulating plinth / Track audio isolation feet / Reed tonearm / Audio Technica ART 9 / 2 box BigBottle mk3 phonostage with Clarity cap CMR and NOS Telefunkens valves / Croft 25R preamp with upgraded 12BH7A line stage and NOS 1956 RCA valves / Croft 7R monoblocks with NOS 56 RCA valves/ Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers / Spotfire interconnects and speaker cables / Merlin Scorpion mains block / Rhodium mains cables / Marantz CD DAC /
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 7
I'm Sien.
CTC Classic 301 , SPH bearing and Hanze Hifi HAT CPS-2 all analogue power supply / Tenuto Mk2 mat / custom Panzerholz and Kewasinga articulating plinth / Track audio isolation feet / Reed tonearm / Audio Technica ART 9 / 2 box BigBottle mk3 phonostage with Clarity cap CMR and NOS Telefunkens valves / Croft 25R preamp with upgraded 12BH7A line stage and NOS 1956 RCA valves / Croft 7R monoblocks with NOS 56 RCA valves/ Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers / Spotfire interconnects and speaker cables / Merlin Scorpion mains block / Rhodium mains cables / Marantz CD DAC /
Location: South West-ish, UK
Posts: 457
I'm Patrick.
CTC Classic 301 , SPH bearing and Hanze Hifi HAT CPS-2 all analogue power supply / Tenuto Mk2 mat / custom Panzerholz and Kewasinga articulating plinth / Track audio isolation feet / Reed tonearm / Audio Technica ART 9 / 2 box BigBottle mk3 phonostage with Clarity cap CMR and NOS Telefunkens valves / Croft 25R preamp with upgraded 12BH7A line stage and NOS 1956 RCA valves / Croft 7R monoblocks with NOS 56 RCA valves/ Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers / Spotfire interconnects and speaker cables / Merlin Scorpion mains block / Rhodium mains cables / Marantz CD DAC /