Shida 9 - Garrard 301/401 plinth

Shida 9 Plinth – The perfect foundation for your Garrard
 
Restoring a Garrard 301 is more than just an exercise in nostalgia—it’s about unlocking the full potential of one of the greatest turntables ever built. But even the best-kept 301 needs a proper foundation, because the plinth isn’t just furniture; it’s part of the instrument. The right plinth doesn’t just hold the deck—it lets it breathe, preserving its drive, energy, and nuance.
 
The 301’s robust motor, for all its brilliance, isn’t exactly demure. Left unchecked, its vibrations can travel through the plinth and interfere with the stylus, subtly blurring detail and softening impact. The challenge isn’t to eliminate these vibrations entirely—doing so would dull the Garrard’s lively character—but to manage them in a way that enhances, rather than suppresses, the turntable’s natural musicality.
 
The traditional “mass-damping” approach—stacking layer upon layer of 18mm birch plywood—is effective at reducing vibration, but it comes at a cost. Too much mass can overdamp the deck, smothering the explosive micro-details that make vinyl playback feel so immediate and alive.
 
Inspired by Ken Shindo’s legendary designs, we at Shida have spent over a decade refining our own approach, striking a careful balance between isolation and energy preservation. The result is the Shida 9 Plinth, a meticulously crafted foundation that enhances your Garrard’s strengths rather than muting them.
 
Built around a solid hardwood frame, each plinth is hand-finished with natural wood oil, and Gilboys wax, ensuring both durability and aesthetic beauty. The motorboard—crafted from dense Keruing plywood with a thin MDF core—absorbs vibrations efficiently while preserving the table’s rhythmic drive and tonal vibrancy. A final layer of Forbo Danish furniture linoleum introduces constrained-layer damping, stiffening the structure while preventing unwanted resonance from coloring the sound.
 
M6 inserts and spikes come standard, but the design invites experimentation. Whether you prefer coupling it to the floor or isolating it with aftermarket feet like IsoAcoustics, the Shida 9 adapts to your system and your sonic preferences.
 
This isn’t just a plinth—it’s the missing piece in your Garrard journey. Thoughtfully designed, sonically transparent, and built to last, the Shida 9 doesn’t just support your turntable—it elevates it.