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Shida 12 Garrard 301/401 plinth

Shida 12 Garrard 301/401 plinth

Once your Garrard has been serviced and is in tip-top condition, it's time to consider a decent plinth. A well-designed plinth can have a significant effect on the sound.

The large, powerful motor emits vibrations that can make themselves known via the plinth to the sensitive stylus and interfere with musical reproduction.

 

These vibrations can be controlled and dissipated. The common approach is to add mass to the plinth, typically involving six layers of 18mm birch plywood. It's a tried-and-tested method that effectively reduces vibration but may also diminish some of the musical excitement.

 

"The Japanese actually have a theory regarding Garrard 301s. It says that one should consider the modulations that occur at the interface of record and needle as miniature 'explosions.' Everything possible should be done to preserve the transmission of that explosive event all the way through the table. You definitely don't want to do anything in the plinth that could dampen those 'explosions.'

Simply put, over-damping Garrards is a curse that guarantees bad sound. Of course, damping vibrations sounds logical, but with Garrards, it's sonic suicide. So avoid MDF and any kind of damping like the plague. What works on belt-driven turntables doesn't work on idler-wheel-driven turntables like the Garrard at all." - 6-Moons website

 

Then there's the Loricraft approach, which involves a motor board suspended on squash balls. It's fine until the squash balls give out under pressure, and your plinth doesn't sit square anymore.

We adopted Ken Shindo's philosophy, aiming to preserve as many 'mini-explosions' as possible while isolating the stylus from vibrations.

 

Our plinth has been created using a combination of techniques and influences that we have defined and developed over 10 years of testing.

 

Made with a solid hardwood frame, each plinth is crafted and hand-finished with high-quality wood oil, two protective layers of polyurethane coating, and polished with many layers of Gilboys finishing wax.

The Shida 12 comes with an IEC socket fitted on the rear.

 

The main motorboard is constructed from very dense Keruing plywood (700–850 kg/m3), which has excellent vibration-absorbing qualities combined with a thin  MDF core.

 

The top covering is made from Forbo, a Danish super high-quality furniture linoleum, which adds a different density to the motorboard, further inhibiting vibration by forming a constrained layer damping constuction.

 

Each plinth comes with M6 inserts and spikes, or you could experiment with a variety of aftermarket feet. The Iso Acoustics range are an excellent match.

  • PRODUCT INFO

    The motorboard is decoupled from the frame by 4 Peak Hi-fi Sorbathane high density (70 duram) spheres, designed to carry weight over time without sagging or distortion.

    Each Shida 12  comes with a Keruing ply/Forbo removeable arm board held by 4 high quality screws ready for drilling.

    Shida 12 for a 12 inch arm
    h120mm d430mm w630mm
    Available in Oak/Rosewood/Walnut /Sepele
    x4 inserts and spikes

    Allow 4-6 weeks production time

     

  • SHIPPING INFO

    Contact us for a shipping quotation

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