DUAL Record Player Review!! Dual CS 618Q Turntable Review

► REVIEW: THE DUAL CS 618Q RECORD PLAYER


► TESTING THE DUAL TURNTABLE

POWER

SPEAKERS

OTHER SOURCES

MUSIC

► COMPARABLE RECORD PLAYERS


► IN THE SHOT


► MORE FROM DUAL


► DUAL RECORD PLAYER REVIEW - CS 618Q

Shopping for a record player can be confusing. You may have questions like ‘how much should I spend on a record player?’ or ‘do expensive turntables sound better?’. In this review, we decide if the new Dual record player is worth upgrading our current reference turntable, the Audio Technica LP140XP. The CS 618Q turntable, while not a fully automatic turntable, it does have auto stop and comes with the Ortofon 2M blue cartridge, but is it enough to upgrade?

00:00 DUAL TURNTABLE REVIEW (DUAL CS 618Q SPECS, SETUP)
02:40 DUAL CS 618Q BUILT-IN PHONO PREAMP
04:00 DUAL CS618Q SOUND QUALITY
07:43 CONCERNS WITH THE DUAL RECORD PLAYER
08:15 DUAL VS PRO-JECT TURNTABLES
08:51 DUAL VS FLUANCE RT85
09:13 DUAL VS AUDIO TECHNICA
10:27 KRISTI'S THOUGHTS
13:11 SIGN OFF

► MY REFERENCE AUDIO AND HOME THEATER SYSTEM

POWER

LOUDSPEAKERS

SPEAKER STANDS

TOP SMART TVs

HOME THEATER

★ MORE ANDREW ROBINSON REVIEWS


► STAY CONNECTED


⚑ FTC: THIS VIDEO IS NOT SPONSORED.
⚑ LINKS: Some links above are affiliate, meaning we make a small percentage if you buy through the link. The good news is it won't change the price for you and it’s a great way to help support the channel as well as the retailers we trust and help support the community!

#turntables #recordplayer #vinyl

[andrewrobinsonreviews]

★ *QOTD: Are you excited to see Dual back in the game? What are your favorite Dual products?*
★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” for answers to many of your questions*
★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*

[cameronkrause]

this is the review to watch if you are looking for a tt in this price range. Andrew is very, very clear about the good points of the table.

[beitie]

I was glad to hear Kristi asking about fully automatic turntables. I have two turntables in my house and both are fully automatic. The Pioneer PL-707 is awesome with it's fully automatic, direct drive. I love how with the push of just a few buttons, I can tell it exactly what kind of album I've placed on it, and it can take care of the rest. Even a 10" 33 RPM, I can use the fully automatic mode. Then my Bang & Olufsen Beogram 9000, heck, I can even use a remote control with it! The capabilities of that deck blows me away. Put a 12" on it, and it weigh it, and selects 33.3 RPM automatically. Put a 7" single, and it automatically picks 45 RPM. Get an important phone call during a song? Press Stop on the remote, and it will lift the tone arm up and keep it's position so when you're ready to listen again, it starts right where you left. Love me some fully automatic gear.

[alm]

I've got a Dual 1229 that I bought in 1974 that I can't give up. I took it to a company (well, a guy) in Des Moines IA called Fix My Dual about 3 years ago and he brought it back to full working order and also fixed the spare removable headshell. They're kind of designed to get old (idler wheel drive), but I'm still happy to have it as a secondary turntable.
As far as direct drive, I inherited an Onkyo CP 1500F with all the features. Auto start and return, cuing, search and repeat buttons. removable headshell - it's a fun turntable.
If Kriste wants style, I've also got a Bang & Olufsen Beogram RX2 automatic turntable that I'd be willing to part with...

[frankpeele]

I have a Dual 604 from the 1980s. It's in pristine condition, has never given me an issue of any sort. I'm about to re-install my vinyl gear into the system, adding a NOS Shure V15V-VXM. If the Dual does the job, I won't replace it. If it's showing its age compared to new units, I'll shop for a replacement. Thanks for your intelligent reviews!

[jim_wicks]

I bought my first Dual in 1972. The Dual 721 Direct Drive. I had it fully restored in 2020 by a retired Dual tech who lives up in Canada (a Great! guy). The 721 looks and sounds mint, just like the day I first bought her. I have a Shure M97xE with JICO SAS stylus mounted. I would love to try an Ortofon 2M Black, but not possible on this tonearm. The new Dual looks beautiful. Thanks for the review, Andrew. This is a great channel.

[Shuddersfield]

Dual is a legendary turntable manufacturer in Europe and has been since the sixties. No one could touch them for build and sound quality. My first proper turntable (in 1984) was the Dual CS505-2. In the 80's it was the hands down best vinyl player in Europe under £500. It also had a shut off option at the end of the record. They are still out there to be had on eBay. An example in very good condition will still only cost around £300. A friend has one and in direct comparison it far outshines new models from Audio Technica, Fluance etc. As I said at the start, It is very well constructed (as are all 20th century Dual turnables ) mainly because at that time the main source for music was vinyl.

[PubliqueNewsense]

I will always have a soft spot for the Dual 1219. It was my first piece of high quality audio equipment.

[daniannaci]

Thumbs up on the new Dual and welcome back! On my second system I’m running a Dual 721 fully automatic single disc direct-drive turntable, Dual’s top of the line in 1980 and their second direct-drive model. $400 retail in 1980 (About $1355 in 2022 dollars so comparable in price). Coincidentally, I recently mounted an Ortofon Blue on mine, too, replacing the original Ortofon OM40. I wish I could post a picture because the tonearm looks so very, very similar to the one on the Dual reviewed by Andrew. My main system has a Linn LP-12/Ittok arm/Troika cartridge and provides a point of comparison. Simply, the Dual is not at all embarrassed by the Linn setup. Frankly, I tend to play records more often on the Dual, not because it sounds better (nope, not quite, but it’s 1/5 the price of the Linn) but because it’s so user friendly with its auto start and stop, and the instantaneous coming to speed of the direct-drive mechanism. The best thing is I don’t have drop everything at the end of the LP side to pick up the tonearm. I can cook AND play records! After 40+ years it still looks great, operates perfectly, and sounds better than new (the OM40 was a little light sounding, the 2M Blue is just right). I’m more than happy to play my rarest pressings on my Dual without a second thought and enjoy them thoroughly.
P.S. Ortofon 2M Red owners: Upgrade to a 2M Blue stylus ASAP. Huge improvement! All you need to do is swap out the stylus with no adjustments necessary.

[Chaybee]

The RT85 has auto stop. (after about 20 seconds). The RT85 meets almost every spec comparison, one of them much better - acrylic platter, and it's more than half the price. Granted no built in pre-amp on the RT85 but by cost comparison, you would need an external preamp that costs $700 to equal the same price as the Dual. You can get a REALLY good preamp for $175-$400 dollars. I'm personally not impressed with the Dual at it's price point but, as always, I appreciate your excellent review!

[aussierob]

Hi Andrew and Kristi. My very first turntable i bought when i started this hobby in 1965 was a rim drive Dual 1009. fitted with a Shure cartridge. The rest of the gear was a 12 watt per channel tube integrated amplifier and 2 Axiom 201 Goodmans full range drivers in home made enclosures. This was all i could afford at the time, but it started my journey into the world of Hi Fi. Next upgrade would be a Thorens TD 150 belt drive, which came without a tonearm. You could choose a tonearm of your choice. I ended up buying the ADC Prichard tonearm which i mounted to the Thorens. This was not a problem because you were involved in getting the "sound" you were after. This was one of the joys of the hobby.

[beesharp]

Having refurbished and restored dozens of tables from Technics, AT, Pioneer, Marantz, etc…there is something special about a tuned up Idle-drive Dual turntable that cant be found in belt or direct drive TTs.

Dual 1225’s and 1229’s are great contenders for some of the most kickin turntables I’ve ever had the pleasure of fixing up and listening to afterwards.

If you can find one, get it serviced and cleaned up, it’ll last another 50 years. Vintage Duals are mechanically brilliant and incredible machines. The service manuals are amazing as well.

I also have to say i appreciate Kristi’s input - at certain price points the best and most appropriate response when someone asks if a certain table is good or not is “Its a turntable. Treat it right, put your favorite sounding cartridge on there and call it a day.”

[brianlewis]

Dual in my time has always had solid performing turntables which many of them where automatic. In the late 70’s, early 80’s. Most people like myself gravitated to Technics turntables which it made many manufacturers like Dual to lose tremendous market share. I am happy they are back just like the KLH Model 5 speakers. This Dual turntable will find new homes in many peoples spaces. Upgrade the cartridge and I bet it will hang in sound with turntables in the $ 2, 000 plus range.

[robertpierson]

I think back to my first turntable (Dual 1218) and remember how long it served me. Then, the Technics SL 1200 or 1250, and now the Fluance RT85. Not high end but great times. You are spot on when focusing on satisfaction.

[emokidsparade]

great to see a new turntable review! i’ve actually been going back and rewatching a bunch of your previous turntable videos just for fun and to see what’s unique about each model. i like auto-lift, too, but don’t have it, and probably have to get one of those tonearm risers someday.

[christianginella]

Most professional videos on YouTube congrats! I've been busting my head saying "where's an integrated amp for purists of home theater"? Why are we paying for junk we don't need, like tuners that don't even work most of the time. Video switching, HDMI, More and more junk with diminishing returns. We've had optical, coax, why did they screw everything up. Ah, to get us to buy brand new gear! Lovely, just beautiful. I had to replace my most recent Denon which didn't last 5 years. I'm back to my old one using my toslink and have better channel separation than HDMI ever gave me. One company is buying everything, ensuring us of crappy products(Sound- something or other)you know the one. You've got some pull dude, how about a look see? Appreciate you and your wife's work. Good luck, Chris

[renevw]

I still have the Dual CS5000 and working perfect and have the Pioneer PL-120D from the 70s. I think 70s recordplayers are one of the best made.

[timleelim]

Had a Dual CS505-2 Deluxe once, a decent enough belt drive model from the 80s. Got lucky and acquired their flagship direct drive Dual 701, which I still occasionally use nowadays. My late mother used Dual turntables when she worked in the record retail section of a “radiogram store” (as they used to call it).

[MadAudiofficial]

Beautiful Turntable i love this vintage look, i testing the CS518!Actually is my first Turntable so i don't any concern about it just enjoying all the records that I just bought it..

[jeffreyrobert]

I have a vintage Dual 1219. It’s pretty amazing