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Turntables
Spin a German turntable name that predates most of the rivals it now undercuts on price.
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about dual
Dual traces its origins to 1900, when brothers Christian and Joseph Steidinger began precision-mechanics work in St. Georgen, in Germany's Black Forest. The name dates to 1927, when the firm's dual spring-and-electric motor gave it both its identity and a century-long run as one of the most-produced turntable marques in the world. The brand passed through several owners across the analog downturn; in 2020 it reorganized as Dual GmbH, relocated to Landsberg am Lech, and began designing and building a new generation of decks in Germany. The current line centers on the CS series. The CS 518 and direct-drive CS 618Q are the volume models, both shipping with a factory-fitted Ortofon cartridge (the 618Q gets a 2M Blue), double-gimballed tonearm, and electronic speed control. They slot squarely into the sub-$1000 bracket where Pro-Ject, Rega's entry decks, and Music Hall do most of their business. Dual re-entered North America in 2021 through American Audio & Video, part of the JAM Industries distribution portfolio out of Southaven, Mississippi. The CS 518 and CS 618Q have been reviewed in SoundStage! Access and Wifi Hifi, which is the right tier of coverage for the brand: a recognized heritage name and a credible value play, but without the household recognition McIntosh or Rega carry. For a dealer it is a turntable that sells on price, automatic convenience, and a name customers' parents owned. Production of the current German-designed CS decks is handled in Germany.