which is the better turntable (and investment) Lord 301 vs Sir 401

reubensm

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Hi all, request your guidance, I have been reading a lot on the internet that suggests that the Garrard 301 is better sounding but the Garrard 401 is better built. Request guidance on the above. These inputs would facilitate a buying decision :)

Looking for inputs on the overall build of the chassis, motor quality, bearing assembly, platter, brake and of course, plinth design and sound signature. A lot is written on different websites but our forum members have first hand experience. For those who have either one of the two, please also chip in with comments on your 301 or 401.

interesting read:

1967 design paper
 
I don't know about sound. But from purely an investment purpose I would put an EMT above the Garrard
 
I guess Hungarian made Mechlabor SL 102 beats EMT hands down.

Sorry that was totally off topic. But since EMT was mentioned I chipped in :)
 
Hi gangof4. I am curious. Why would you mention Mechlabor sl 102. It goes for only about USD 2000. A fully speced out EMT goes for much much higher. Sorry Reuben for going OT
 
An EMT 927 goes for USD 50000.

The Mechlabor which fetched USD 7000 was a new one. Used ones go for only about USD 2000.
 
301.

Because it looks way nicer:): At least they do, to my eyes. The design has flair that the industrial-looking 401 lacks. And that includes the knobs and their placement. Everything about the 301 is so classy. And the colour is nicer too.:lol:

</Fanboy praise ends>

On a more serious note, does the supposedly better build of the 401 result in improved sonics over the 301? Going strictly by their genealogy, the 401 is the successor to the 301 and came out after the 301 had been in service for about a decade, and therefore, logically, ought to be an improvement over the 301.
 
Mechlabor seems in the same broadcast turntable league but I feel that EMT could have been possibly better as most radio stations, the world over adopted it.

Yes, to me the 301 looks gracious and handsome and the 401 more modern. There is a school of thought that rates the 401 higher on performance due to greater torque. However in another post (by Gerry, I think), there is an opinion that the 301's motor consumes more watts. Has this got anything to do with it?

301.

Because it looks way nicer:): At least they do, to my eyes. The design has flair that the industrial-looking 401 lacks. And that includes the knobs and their placement. Everything about the 301 is so classy. And the colour is nicer too.:lol:

</Fanboy praise ends>

On a more serious note, does the supposedly better build of the 401 result in improved sonics over the 301? Going strictly by their genealogy, the 401 is the successor to the 301 and came out after the 301 had been in service for about a decade, and therefore, logically, ought to be an improvement over the 301.

Revealed, so the 401 it is!!

http://www.hifivision.com/phono-tur...-l75-master-turntable-build-2.html#post568538
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Rueben,
I would like to put it this way. A well kept 301 can be better than a not so well kept 401. In other words, it will depend on the condition the TT. For vintage looks, a 301 beats 401 hands down.
 
The 301's art deco design, especially in the cream coloured version, is much more attractive. I love the Bakelite knobs too, and their positioning on the frame. The 401 is more industrial looking.

That said, the only way you could do a fair comparison between the two is to have similar plinths, and the same arm and cartridge - a difficult call. Still, both have the same authoritative bass, and a similar presentation of force and energy in the dynamics of the music, no doubt because of the huge torque in the motor, heavy platter and high quality main bearings. Their fundamental design elements are largely alike. However, the 401 is said to be technically superior in some ways - better shielded motor to reduce the hum caused with some cartridges, a stronger frame, lower spec motor (12V instead of the 16V 301) to slightly reduce torque (which was more needed in the 1950s to deal with the 10 gm tracking weight of ceramic cartridges of the time), a strobe light, no (poisonous)cadmium plating on the inside levers, etc. The sonic benefits may be hard to pin down, so one should feel blessed to find either one here in India, though the 301 is by far the prettier.

The Garrard revival (along with valve amps and horn loudspeakers) started in the late 70s mainly in Japan , and vast quantities of 301s, and to a lesser extent, 401s, were bought cheap from all over the world, and a cottage industry in tweaks and plinth design was pioneered there. The Shindo 301 is possibly the peak achievement. The 401s were less popular mainly because the number 4 is considered inauspicious in Japan.
 
[IMG2]
The 401s were less popular mainly because the number 4 is considered inauspicious in Japan.
[/IMG2]

Hi,
Thanks for the information.
Here we add all the digits of the no to arrive at a total. Although i am not superstitious i still feel a total of 5 or 6 is my lucky no.
 
Does anyone know how to determine the date of manufacture of a 401, from the serial number?

I just read that Garrard started manufacturing 401 in 1965 and made around 7000 units per year. so the serial no 24000 would denote it was made in 4th year that is 1968. Mine is 24608.
regds,
shafic
 
I just read that Garrard started manufacturing 401 in 1965 and made around 7000 units per year. so the serial no 24000 would denote it was made in 4th year that is 1968. Mine is 24608.
regds,
shafic

I did not understand the logic, please explain.

My 401's serial number is 21164, how do I know which year it was manufactured?
 
I just read that Garrard started manufacturing 401 in 1965 and made around 7000 units per year. so the serial no 24000 would denote it was made in 4th year that is 1968. Mine is 24608.
regds,
shafic

ok, got the logic with the aprox end of year, cumulative production numbers,

1965 - 7000 (aprox)
1966 - 14000 (aprox)
1967 - 21000 (aprox)
1968 - 28000 (aprox)

Hence my deck with serial no: 21164 may have come out of their Swindon factory by the end of 1967 or the beginning of 1968
 
I did not understand the logic, please explain.

My 401's serial number is 21164, how do I know which year it was manufactured?

May be our new pets are born in the same year but the month, day and time might be different( Hospital is same):D. Sir RP's pet is born later, is the younger brother!!:lol:

Serial no 1 to 7000 ( give or take few) in the first year (1965), and so on.
 
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