New idler for Garrard 401


I fitted the AudioSilente idler wheel to my Garrard 401 last night. It took 2 days to get to the East Coast from Italy. $106 inc. shipping. Took 3 mins to fit. Cleaned with alcohol. Oiled both bushes. Home-made packaging is pretty lame. I listened to a few sides before I swapped it in. Alberta Hunter Blues Serenaders live in Chicago 1961 and The New Black Eagle Jazz Band live in Boston 1981. Both great recordings with lots of audience vibe. The 401 has slightly recessed highs with cymbals not as lit up as I’d like. Not anymore. As some (@dover) have noted, it is not only more detailed, there is a noteable improvement in the coherence of the structure of the music. Playing those albums again with the new idler was ridiculous. I thought I’d put on the wrong side! Wider soundstage. Venue size cues revealed themselves. Morgana King is singing to /me/ whereas before I didn’t exist.
Those who have compared idlers with a nice LP12 and hankered after a little of that sublime delicacy that can be a little absent from a Garrard need look no further. I am not kidding. This is a substancial improvement in the portrayal of music. Extended highs that fade forever into silence. Bass is cleaner too -clearing away some mid bass bloom. Then I remembered I hadn’t checked the speed, and it did sound faster. Nope. Perfect. One other thing; surface noise is reduced by an order. Friends, if you have a 301/401 with a perfect rubber wheel, drop everything and buy this idler wheel. It literally changes everything.
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Noise floor has reduced-it was already low with the old idler as the table has been recently refurbed, the new idler just dropped it even more.  Before, with my ear to close to the platter I could hear noise-a soft rubbing noise, now I struggle to hear anything. I don’t have access to a stethoscope to confirm. Will buy one and have a go next week. There wa no motor noise before or after I fitted the new idler wheel.



Thanks for the follow-up, Nick. Glad it worked out.

@jperry
 report back when you fit and listen!

The AudioSilente wheel has gone up fron $89 to $100. Artisan Fidelity also sell one for $365. It is reportedly better but I haven't heard it. Maybe for my birthday...

I have to say that the Artisan Fidelity wheel looks almost identical to  AudioSilente!
Do any of you fellows know anyone who has installed an Audiosilente idler on a Lenco L75?  Or do I have to be the first, even though my Lenco is mechanically silent as is? I bought it NOS and then changed the plinth (to slate) and the bearing (to a massive and clamped one made by Jeremy in England) and am controlling the motor with Phoenix Engineering components.  Only things left from the original are the idler arm and wheel and the motor itself, plus the platter, which I have heavily dampened.
You are not the first. But you'll have to check over to Lenco Heaven. There seems to have been some issues with the rubber o-ring on the AS Lenco wheel according to some posts from a few years ago. So make sure to ask Simone at AS for the silicone ring.