The Garrard 401 is back
Posted by: Mick P on 19 September 2003
Chaps
After a somewhat lengthy wait due to Loricraft being snowed under with work and me changing the goalpost, the 401 is up and running.
Before I ramble on about its performance, I will give you some history of my vinyl experience.
I purchased the Garrard about 7 or 8 years ago when it was housed in a cheap plinth and came with a SME 3009 arm and a Goldring 1042 cartridge. It sounded ok but nothing to write home about, so I hardly used it.
I bought the Loricraft because it had a good reputation locally, being built in Swindon and I also read a newspaper article on Terry O sullivan and his company Loricraft, who restore 301/401's as well as manufacturing an updated version called the 501.
I contacted Terry and was shocked to hear that the 501 with a SME1V arm would cost about £7000.00. However, he also told me that with a restoration and also fitting the 401 into his plinth, it would be sonically near the 501 and would also out perform a LP12.
I took a chance, so Terry and his sidekick Nigel, gave the 401 a good service and fitted it into a Loricraft plinth. At the same time, they fitted a RB300 complete with Dynavector 17D2 cartridge.
The result was very good indeed and was up with some LP12's I had heard, even with an Aro fitted.
A year or two later, I discovered this forum and to cut a long story short, Mrs Mick and I visited Tanais Fox at his house in Bath.
TF had a "Ninja" which was a fabled LP12 modified by JW of Mana and was reputed to be something rather special. I believe only 8 were ever made.
TF's Ninja was powered by a 82/250 and mounted on a pile of Mana. His only problem was a bouncy wooden floor.
The Ninja surpassed all other LP12's that I had ever heard, it was awsome and I wanted one. JW had made it clear that he had finished making them and the current owners were hardly likely to ever release them.
I therefore knew I had little chance of ever owning one and the LP12/Aro combo was nowhere near as good. The Ninja was just leagues ahead.
I recently decided that the Garrard deserved an upgrade and after talking to a few knowledgable people, decided to replace the RB300 with an Aro and at the same time bought a Loricraft PSU as well as a Naim Prefix which has recently been improved.
I got it back home at 5.00pm today and decided to oil the plinth whilst it was disassembled and after waiting an hour for the oil to dry, I buffed it up, so if nothing else it looked good.
The American Ash plinth is turning pale yellow with age and completely matches the Hutter stand.
I then connected up the PSU and Prefix, assembled the turntabale and had dinner with Mrs Mick.
At 7.15 pm I played the first LP and it sounded awful, very flat. A quick check revealed that I had forgotten to attach the anti skate weight, once that was done, the old girl really sang like a bird.
The Garrard is playing music like never before and the midband is just unbelieveable. I still cannot believe that so much music can come out of a plastic disc. I played a Sade LP and it is some emotional, you have to hear it to belive it.
This combination of 401 / Aro / Loricraft PSU / Prefix has left even the Ninja standing. Its performance is electric. This has been a bloody good purchase.
I know that you only have my word for all of this and I can understand any of you thinking I am exaggerating. If anyone wants to come and hear for themselves, they are more than welcome.
Buying the Garrard has been a long journey but the effort of restoring it and fitting all this kit has been well worth the effort.
I have connected the Prefix straight into the 52 and it can be further improved by adding another Supercap and I am sorely tempted.
I never thought that I would own a turntable which is better than a Ninja, but I do. The music is a addictive and I shall be up to the early hours tonight.
This has been a good day.
Regards
Mick
After a somewhat lengthy wait due to Loricraft being snowed under with work and me changing the goalpost, the 401 is up and running.
Before I ramble on about its performance, I will give you some history of my vinyl experience.
I purchased the Garrard about 7 or 8 years ago when it was housed in a cheap plinth and came with a SME 3009 arm and a Goldring 1042 cartridge. It sounded ok but nothing to write home about, so I hardly used it.
I bought the Loricraft because it had a good reputation locally, being built in Swindon and I also read a newspaper article on Terry O sullivan and his company Loricraft, who restore 301/401's as well as manufacturing an updated version called the 501.
I contacted Terry and was shocked to hear that the 501 with a SME1V arm would cost about £7000.00. However, he also told me that with a restoration and also fitting the 401 into his plinth, it would be sonically near the 501 and would also out perform a LP12.
I took a chance, so Terry and his sidekick Nigel, gave the 401 a good service and fitted it into a Loricraft plinth. At the same time, they fitted a RB300 complete with Dynavector 17D2 cartridge.
The result was very good indeed and was up with some LP12's I had heard, even with an Aro fitted.
A year or two later, I discovered this forum and to cut a long story short, Mrs Mick and I visited Tanais Fox at his house in Bath.
TF had a "Ninja" which was a fabled LP12 modified by JW of Mana and was reputed to be something rather special. I believe only 8 were ever made.
TF's Ninja was powered by a 82/250 and mounted on a pile of Mana. His only problem was a bouncy wooden floor.
The Ninja surpassed all other LP12's that I had ever heard, it was awsome and I wanted one. JW had made it clear that he had finished making them and the current owners were hardly likely to ever release them.
I therefore knew I had little chance of ever owning one and the LP12/Aro combo was nowhere near as good. The Ninja was just leagues ahead.
I recently decided that the Garrard deserved an upgrade and after talking to a few knowledgable people, decided to replace the RB300 with an Aro and at the same time bought a Loricraft PSU as well as a Naim Prefix which has recently been improved.
I got it back home at 5.00pm today and decided to oil the plinth whilst it was disassembled and after waiting an hour for the oil to dry, I buffed it up, so if nothing else it looked good.
The American Ash plinth is turning pale yellow with age and completely matches the Hutter stand.
I then connected up the PSU and Prefix, assembled the turntabale and had dinner with Mrs Mick.
At 7.15 pm I played the first LP and it sounded awful, very flat. A quick check revealed that I had forgotten to attach the anti skate weight, once that was done, the old girl really sang like a bird.
The Garrard is playing music like never before and the midband is just unbelieveable. I still cannot believe that so much music can come out of a plastic disc. I played a Sade LP and it is some emotional, you have to hear it to belive it.
This combination of 401 / Aro / Loricraft PSU / Prefix has left even the Ninja standing. Its performance is electric. This has been a bloody good purchase.
I know that you only have my word for all of this and I can understand any of you thinking I am exaggerating. If anyone wants to come and hear for themselves, they are more than welcome.
Buying the Garrard has been a long journey but the effort of restoring it and fitting all this kit has been well worth the effort.
I have connected the Prefix straight into the 52 and it can be further improved by adding another Supercap and I am sorely tempted.
I never thought that I would own a turntable which is better than a Ninja, but I do. The music is a addictive and I shall be up to the early hours tonight.
This has been a good day.
Regards
Mick