Dual CS 518

The CS 518 is a manual turntable from the Dual range, built around a belt drive paired with a DC servo motor. It arrives complete: the cartridge is already fitted and the phono stage is built in, allowing it to be connected directly to an amplifier's line input, without a separate preamplifier.

The tonearm is a straight aluminium model with double gimbal bearings, mounted on ball bearings. Its effective length of 221.5 mm and tracking angle of 25.6° define the playback geometry, while the usable travel reaches 220 mm. Tracking force adjustment covers a range of 0 g to 4 g and anti-skate adjusts from 0 to 3.5 g, leaving the necessary latitude to accommodate cartridges other than the one supplied and to fine-tune the setting record by record.

The platter, made of MDF, measures 30 cm in diameter. Rotation is handled by a low-vibration DC servo motor with electronically regulated speed, offering three available speeds: 33, 45 and 78 rpm. This last point is worth highlighting, as it provides access to 78 rpm, often absent from contemporary turntables. The cartridge fitted as standard is an Ortofon 2M Red, moving magnet type, and the built-in MM phono preamplifier is switchable: it can therefore be bypassed if the amplifier already has its own phono input.

With dimensions of 43.5 x 14.5 x 36.7 cm and weighing 5.9 kg, this turntable fits onto a standard hi-fi unit. It is aimed at listeners who want a coherent, functional set-up straight out of the box, without having to choose a cartridge or preamplifier, while retaining the possibility of upgrading the playback components later. Fully manual operation means the arm must be lifted and lowered by hand.

• Belt drive, low-vibration DC servo motor, electronic speed control
• Straight double-gimbal aluminium tonearm on ball bearings, effective length 221.5 mm
• 30 cm MDF platter, speeds of 33, 45 and 78 rpm
• Ortofon 2M Red cartridge and built-in MM phono preamplifier

When buying a used example, a few checks are specific to this type of turntable. The belt is a wear part: it stretches and hardens over time, resulting in unstable speed or sluggish start-up, and replacing it is part of routine maintenance. The stylus of the 2M Red also wears and the tip should be examined, or replaced if the turntable has seen heavy use. It is also worth checking that the double-gimbal arm pivots freely on both axes, without play or stiff spots in the bearings, and that the counterweight and anti-skate setting hold their position. Finally, check that the phono preamplifier's switch operates correctly in both positions and that the headshell wires are properly connected to the cartridge pins.