Dual CS 718 Q

In 1973, Dual launched the CS 701, the first European direct-drive turntable. Half a century later, the German manufacturer reconnects with this technical lineage at the top of its current range. Designed and developed in Germany, this semi-automatic turntable aims for stable, precise analog playback, with no preamplifier and no concessions to digital, while leaving each user free to choose their cartridge.

The claimed lineage with the CS 701

Dual clearly places the CS 718Q in the lineage of its Series 7, the one that included the CS 714 and CS 731, which built the brand’s reputation on rotational consistency and mechanical reliability. The “Q” in the name refers to the quartz regulation of those former high-end models. Compared with the CS 618Q, the only other direct-drive turntable in the current range, the CS 718Q moves upmarket mechanically: taller and heavier plinth, more substantial platter, revised tonearm, and expanded connectivity. Development is carried out at the brand’s German design center, which emphasizes this continuity with its turntables from the 1970s.

A quartz-controlled direct drive

The motor drives the platter without a belt or idler wheel: rotation comes directly from the motor shaft, quartz-regulated for the three speeds of 33, 45, and 78 rpm. Dual uses coils without a ferromagnetic core (air coils), a solution that limits vibrations and the motor cogging effect. Double shielding protects the assembly from magnetic interference. Wow and flutter remain below ±0.07% according to the DIN WTD standard, a value consistent with the turntable’s purpose. The absence of a flexible drive element eliminates the periodic replacement of a belt, a long-term durability advantage.

A tonearm developed in-house by Dual

The tonearm is one of the most carefully developed parts of the turntable. Its tube adopts an aluminum and carbon sandwich structure, combining rigidity and controlled mass, for an effective length of 221.5 mm, an offset angle of 25.6°, and an overhang of 19 mm. The double-gimbal bearings echo the spirit of the former Series 7 tonearms. Tracking force is not generated by a conventional counterweight but by a precision spring, over a range of 0 to 3 g, which helps maintain stable pressure even on a slightly warped record. The removable headshell allows azimuth adjustment, and antiskating is continuously adjustable. The cartridge is not supplied: the tonearm accepts models from 3 to 13 g, opening the choice to a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge depending on the selected preamplifier.

Height adjustment during playback

The tonearm height (VTA adjustment) can be modified continuously over a range of +5 to -2 mm and remains accessible during playback thanks to a dedicated dial. The mechanism takes the form of a vertical column placed near the base of the tonearm, a visible element that contrasts with the understated design of other Dual turntables. This fine adjustment makes it possible to adapt the stylus tracking angle to the height of each cartridge, a feature the CS 618Q does not offer.

MDF chassis, platter, and vibration control

The high-rigidity MDF plinth is available in two finishes, satin black or real walnut veneer. It rests on decoupled feet fitted with resonance absorbers, height-adjustable to make leveling easier on a piece of furniture or a rack. The die-cast aluminum platter measures 305 mm in diameter and weighs 2.2 kg with its mat. Its underside receives a full rubber coating, complemented by a 4 mm damping mat developed for Dual. The hardened steel spindle rotates in a brass bearing. A transparent dust cover protects the whole assembly from dust. The turntable weighs 10 kg, a mass that contributes to its stability.

Connecting the turntable to a hi-fi system

The CS 718Q connects to a phono input or an external phono preamplifier: it includes neither a phono stage nor a digital output. Connectivity includes a stereo RCA output and a balanced XLR output, a first for Dual, useful for long cable runs or electronics equipped with a balanced phono input. In use, the turntable is semi-automatic: playback is started manually, then the motor stops and the tonearm lifts at the end of the record, which protects the cartridge. This automatic stop can be disabled for fully manual operation.

Technical Specifications

General Overview

• Audiophile direct-drive turntable
• Engineering and design developed in Germany
• Auto-Stop function and automatic tonearm lift at the end of playback
• Compatible with 33, 45, and 78 rpm records

Motor

• Direct drive
• Quartz speed control
• Ironless air-core coils
• Double shielding against magnetic interference
• Wow & Flutter: < ±0.07% (DIN WTD)

Platter

• Die-cast aluminum platter
• Full underside rubber coating
• 4 mm rubber damping mat
• Diameter: 305 mm
• Weight (platter + mat): 2.2 kg
• Hardened steel spindle and brass bearing

Tonearm

• Aluminum / carbon sandwich tonearm
• High-precision double gimbal bearings
• Height adjustment: +5 mm / -2 mm
• Effective length: 221.5 mm
• Offset angle: 25.6°
• Overhang: 19 mm
• Dynamic tracking force via precision spring
• Tracking force adjustment: 0 to 3 g
• Compatible with cartridges from 3 to 13 g
• Removable headshell with azimuth adjustment
• Continuously adjustable anti-skating system
• Cartridge not included

Chassis

• High-rigidity MDF structure
• Satin black finish or real walnut veneer
• Decoupled feet with resonance absorbers
• Height-adjustable feet
• Transparent dust cover included

Connectivity

• Stereo RCA output
• Balanced XLR output
• Direct connection to a phono input
• No built-in phono preamp
• No digital output

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (dust cover closed): 435 x 367 x 155 mm
• Dimensions (dust cover open):
  • Depth: 415 mm
  • Height: 405 mm
• Weight: 10 kg