Garrard 301 bearing upgrades??

**dwhistance** · 06-08-2019, 15:08

I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who has installed the CTC bearing and brass platter, or indeed the similar Peak ones - I understand that they used to come from the same supplier but don't now. I think CTC can also do a bronze one which is probably more comparable with the Shindo but that is a "special order" item. I'm trying hard not to spend any money on hi-fi at the moment or I would be able to report on these myself.

David Whistance

**Bigbird** · 06-08-2019, 15:48

I think the CTC platter is only 7mm diamter larger so hardly noticable to look at and works fine with a normal bearing, whereas the shindo ones looks really big(too big for my tatses) and probably needs a bigger bearing to cope. Lots of happy reviews with the CTC platter so it must have some merit ???

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Wakefield Turntables** · 06-08-2019, 15:55

Originally Posted by Bigbird

I think the CTC platter is only 7mm diamter larger so hardly noticable to look at and works fine with a normal bearing, whereas the shindo ones looks really big(too big for my tatses) and probably needs a bigger bearing to cope. Lots of happy reviews with the CTC platter so it must have some merit ???

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

buy a 5mm tenuto gun metal platter mat you'll get the same results. It's just extra mass and inertia, or fit a 401 motor To your 301 for more torque, swings/roundabouts et al.

**Mike Adams** · 06-08-2019, 18:29

Umm I am pretty sure it is not that simple...And moving mass is not the same as mass alone.

I guess the oversized platter will have a significant amount more inertia than just the additional weight that the Tenuto will have...I am sure someone with more maths/physics knowledge than I can explain better...

As for the motors the grease 301 are meant to have a significant amount more torque than the 401 models. If I understand correctly its the shielding that the 401 models improved on.

(Ive just had my 401 Audio Grailed....And have been bothering Matt with a long list of questions...)

**Wakefield Turntables** · 06-08-2019, 19:07

Originally Posted by Mike Adams

Umm I am pretty sure it is not that simple...And moving mass is not the same as mass alone.

I guess the oversized platter will have a significant amount more inertia than just the additional weight that the Tenuto will have...I am sure someone with more maths/physics knowledge than I can explain better...

As for the motors the grease 301 are meant to have a significant amount more torque than the 401 models. If I understand correctly its the shielding that the 401 models improved on.

(Ive just had my 401 Audio Grailed....And have been bothering Matt with a long list of questions...)

Your probably correct TBH I think we are going around in circles (like a platter)!

**Bigbird** · 06-08-2019, 20:29

Has anybody tried a power supply with theirs? Have read that by lowering the voltage to the motor on the power supplies that you can reduce motor vibrations and noise and improve speed stability , bringing positve results ??

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Clive** · 06-08-2019, 20:31

Originally Posted by Bigbird

Has anybody tried a power supply with theirs? Have read that by lowering the voltage on one of the power supplies that you can reduce motor vibrations and noise and improve speed stability , bringing positve results ??

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Been there....reducing voltage is attractive at first, I used a Variac but then I realised dynamics reduced.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 06-08-2019, 20:37

Been down the reducing voltage route. All you need to get the best from a 301/401 motor is a very clean power supply going in. I use a PS Audio P10. Secondly a decent tachometer for platter speed stability I use the Phoenix PSU + Tachometer. No buggering around with variacs, DIY PSU's, fitting light bulbs. If you think your getting vibration from the motor into platter, decouple it.

**WESTLOWER** · 06-08-2019, 20:54

Originally Posted by Bigbird

Has anybody tried a power supply with theirs? Have read that by lowering the voltage to the motor on the power supplies that you can reduce motor vibrations and noise and improve speed stability , bringing positve results ??

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Had very positive results using a variac on my 401, no loss of dynamics. Took the voltage from 256v to 220v...
A great tweak for relatively small financial outlay.

**Bigbird** · 06-08-2019, 21:26

Thanks guys lots to research and think about. As always with hifi, lots of conflicting views. I was kinda hoping thered be more concrete views on certain products so i could narrow down my options.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thread: Garrard 301 bearing upgrades??

Thread Tools

Display

Garrard 301 bearing upgrades??

Posting Permissions