The Japanese connection is important. The 401 is technically an upgrade. The Japanese won’t buy them because in Japanese culture, the number 4 is bad luck. So that keeps prices a bit depressed on 401s. Me? I’d take either.I bet the bass was startling ? I heard one playing a Little Richard record once and was gobsmacked. He has a Fairchild belt drive with wooden tonearm now thats also very good. Many of those vintage Idler wheel's have great low end. A lot of the 301's end up in Japan in the hands of audiophile connoisseur's there for big money.
Edit: Garrard 301s and 401s were also used exclusively by the BBC, The big Garrard decks were the Technics of their day.