There are currently 10 models in the Dual CS range, all are back in the UK market, thanks to a new agreement with County Durham-based distributor Decent Audio
The Dual brand name is currently used by two different companies, both still German owned and based.
Dual DGC GmbH sells mostly imported, Asian-made consumer electronics such as radios, televisions and various portable audio devices, including inexpensive turntables (with models prefixed DT, NR and MTR).
Dual Phono GmbH, meanwhile – creator of the original Dual line of turntables – was acquired by Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH, which has continued to produce them using the same production equipment from the original Dual factory, in the Black Forest town of St. Georgen. These turntables are identified by their product name prefix, ‘CS’.
CS 440
CS 435-1 offers automatic start and cueing as well as auto stop, returning the tonearm to its rest at the end of play.
CS 435-1
Atop the solid wooden chassis is a aluminium platter with felt mat, below which a floating sub-chassis provides isolation.
CS 460
The CS-505/4, now in its fourth generation, features a tonearm with a Cardan bearing and torsion-spring tracking force control. The headshell is detachable and the tracking and anti-skating are adjustable.
CS-505/4
The top model is the fully manual CS-600, which features a custom-developed four-point Cardan bearing tonearm.
CS-600
The triple-damped aluminium platter is weighted with two copper damping rings plus an additional internal cast mass damper. The platter rotates on a 10mm-diameter brass and Teflon bearing, driven by a flat belt and DC motor with electronic speed control.
CS 460
The Dual CS range is priced from £299 for the entry-level CS 440, to £1,399 for the range-topping CS 600. All models include a tonearm. All but the top two models (CS 550 & CS 600) include a cartridge.
To learn more, call 056 0205 4669 or click www.dual-plattenspieler.eu
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16 Comments
Vladimir Dorta
20th January 2019 at 1:52 pmI fondly remember the old Duals and I hope you can review the sharp looking CS 600 in the future.
Paul Rigby
20th January 2019 at 1:57 pmI’ll try my best Vladimir!
Dennis Gonsorowski
26th August 2019 at 5:50 amWhen will Dual distribute the CS 526 in the USA? They are not dual voltage. Any info would help. On top of the power converter, you would also need a 60hz motor pulley, as that table would have a 50hz one.
Paul Rigby
26th August 2019 at 3:03 pmLet me ask, Dennis.
Jeff Fulford
9th October 2019 at 6:57 pmI am also interested in the US version of the CS 526? Will it be released in a US version? If not, what is your opinion on the best semi auto TT on the market today? Just need platter to stop &/or arm to raise. Not to return. Thx
Paul Rigby
10th October 2019 at 9:38 amI’m not aware of a US version Jeff – what sort of budget can you stretch to?
Jeff Fulford
10th October 2019 at 2:34 pmThanks for prompt response Paul. I have a 1973 Philips GA 212 that I purchased in college. It was stored in my living room cabinet for 25 years, and when I upgraded my system recently I decided to get back into vinyl (I had several hundred albums in boxes in same cabinet and all are in great shape). My new system is Denon AVR x4500 wirh nice Klipsch speakers all around, and I upgraded the TT with a new belt and new AT 120EB cartridge. It sounds nice,but thinking a new model ‘may’ sound better. But I do like the convenience of a platter that stops, as i am often working when listening and can’t always get up to flip the record.
Sorry for the long prelude, but the answer to your question is my budget is around $2000 +.
I see Thorens has a new model that looks great (TD-1601) but is pricey, and has a fully auto model TD 148A. I have seen some complaints about older TD 295 MK IV. And finally have seen the Technics 1500C direct drive and Thorens 402 DD.
Are these the only semi autos worth looking at? And what would you recommend?
Paul Rigby
10th October 2019 at 4:04 pmHi Jeff – can I ask, what sort of sound do you like? Can you describe that please?
Jeff Fulford
10th October 2019 at 4:43 pmPaul
My sound tastes are broad. Most everything but opera. Mostly, I listen to 60s and 70s, Beatles are my fav, classic rock, and love piano and guitar / strings music, and country.
In searching cartridges, I found a lot of favorable comments with the Ortofon Bronze for this type of music. My records are in really great shape, so I looked at the Ortofon black with Shibata stylus, but don’t really think I need that level of precision. But I am no expert.
Paul Rigby
10th October 2019 at 4:58 pmHi Jeff – I mean in terms of sonics. Do you prefer a balanced sound? Bass emphasis? Brighter mids, etc?
Jeff Fulford
10th October 2019 at 5:49 pmOOOHHH. I do like bass and vocals, would that mean ‘warm sounds’?. Not sure I understand the ‘brighter mids’ though, but from what I read it seems that if too ‘bright’ it can get fatiguing? Would that mean I lean toward warm and balanced?
Paul Rigby
11th October 2019 at 9:53 amHi Jeff – I’m not aware of too many higher-end semi-autos on the market. What the Technics will give you is a different sound. Once that is less analogue, not a great 3D image but clean and upfront. What Thorens offers is deep bass (mostly because of its wooden plinths). Not sure if you’ve seen my Thorens reviews but check out these, if not, I can better explain the Thornes via these links – let me know what you think:
https://theaudiophileman.com/td-295-mk-iv-thorens-review-turntable/
https://theaudiophileman.com/thorens-td-240-2-turntable-review/
I haven’t had any issues with the Thorens products.
Jeff Fulford
11th October 2019 at 1:42 pmThx Paul. I have actually read your reviews on Thorens. It sounds like that may be the better product for me. I’ll look forward to your reviews of their 2019 products (TD 1601, 148A & 402DD). In your spare time…. LOL
Jeff
Paul Rigby
11th October 2019 at 1:53 pmThanks Jeff!
Andrew Way
23rd April 2021 at 10:34 amHello, advice please? Dual CS 505-2. Totally dead. Mains fuse ok. Worked fine but now no response at all. Taken platter off, motor not turning. Drive belt intact. My query – replace or search for a repairer? Thank you in advance.
Paul Rigby
23rd April 2021 at 11:12 amHi Andrew – at this distance (and my urge is to get a hold of it and fiddle about with the thing) I’d take a wild guess at a dead motor/power supply. Where you there when it died and, if so, did you get any visual/aural clues when it died or did it die in its sleep and it failed to turn on one day?