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EAR EAR834 Phono Preamplifier This is an excellent clone of the infamous phono pre-amp by Tim De Paravicini. It is the best of the reproductions by Camilla Gunarathna in WA. Torroidal transformer in seperate power supply. Set up for MM but wired for MC switch. I have played very few records since my ownership and the restoration of my Garrard 401, which I also currently have for sale on SN. No issues whatsoever and in excellent working order. Condition: Excellent Payment Method: Cash. Transfer. Region/State: (NSW) New South Wales/Australia By GTA105 0 Comments AUD $850 Date: May 22, 2025M
Compared with the obvious alternative of hunting for a cleaner vintage deck around A$2,786, this at A$850 is a strong bargain: it sits well below the A$2,193 25th percentile and looks like excellent value for an excellent-condition example. For a classic Garrard 401, that is the kind of pricing that gets an enthusiast’s attention immediately.
The appeal is the 401’s reputation as a serious idler-drive platform with real drive, scale, and timing, plus a very large modding/restoration ecosystem and strong collector recognition. If the motor runs quietly, the bearing is healthy, and the plinth/armboard setup is sensible, the upside is substantial; at this price, it’s the sort of buy that can be a keeper or a rewarding project without paying top-of-market money.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Garrard Turntables trace their origins to the Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company, established in 1915 in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, as a division of the renowned jeweler Garrard & Co., founded in 1735. Initially tasked with producing motors and range finders for World War I, the firm pivoted post-war to consumer audio, crafting silent spring-wound motors for gramophones supplied to brands like Columbia and Decca. By 1930, it unveiled its first complete gramophone turntable, building a legacy in precision engineering amid the vinyl era's dawn.
The brand's product focus centered squarely on high-quality gramophone turntables, with iconic idler-wheel models like the 301 (launched 1954) and 401 (1965) standing out for their robust four-pole induction motors, aluminum chassis, and support for 33, 45, and 78 rpm speeds. These transcription turntables, favored by the BBC and European broadcasters, eschewed modern direct-drive or belt systems in favor of grease-bearing designs and eddy-current braking, often sold without plinths for custom integration. Garrard innovated in record changers and autochangers but never diversified into amplifiers, speakers, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Garrard occupies a revered niche as a vintage collector's cornerstone in the high-end hi-fi market, synonymous with the golden age of analog playback. Sold to Plessey in 1960 and ceasing production by the late 1970s, its decks remain prized today for their torque, build quality, and musicality among audiophiles restoring "Swindon iron" script-logo classics. No active modern entity perpetuates the original line, cementing its status as a benchmark for idler-drive excellence.
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