Dual turntables are well known and very highly regarded, this 502 is no exception.
The design oozes simplicity, no auto play no auto return of the arm - just position the tonearm at the run-in, lower the arm with the cue control and the music fills the room!
When the record has reached the runout area, the arm lifts and then the turntable stops (it does not return to rest)
Simplicity in motion!!! Less auto means less to go wrong!!!
DUAL VINYL TURNTABLE
Model: CS 502-1
Released to the marketplace 1975 - 1976
Made in Germany
Manual operation (Auto stop only)
Belt drive (flat)
Fully suspended base (4x coiled springs)
Solid, heavy 1.3Kg Aluminium diecast platter
Heavy rubber mat (Dual original)
33 & 45rpm
Wow & Flutter 0.09%
Stroboscope disc for 50Hz or 60Hz operation
Signal/Noise ratio 62dB
Four point gimbal bearing with a straight aluminium tonearm
Cartridge weight range: 4.5g ~ 10g
Tracking force range: 0 ~ 3g
PLEASE NOTE: Some photographs show the SHURE cartridge fitted when I was testing the turntable, THAT CARTRIDGE IS NOT SUPPLIED WITH THIS TURNTABLE (but available separately)
ITEMS BEING OFFERED:
Dual CS 502-1 Turntable with dust cover lid
Generic anti-static/dust remover/groove cleaner arm
User Manual - you will need this to properly setup the turntable (tonearm balance, tracking force, anti-skating)
Service Manual - NOT because there is a problem but this Service manual comes in very handy when trying to figure out how to get "inside"!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
90% Fantastic!!!
The sides (horrible stick on vinyl veneer though! - see my notes further down about this choice by Dual), base, hinges, everything "top-side" is absolutely perfect!
The big letdown is the dust cover lid, it has some obvious marks on the top - not cracks or chips missing but something has flowed over the top of the dust lid and made the polycarbonate go "milky" - very sad.
Nothing is wrong with the lid, it just doesn't look nice. I have heard of people "polishing" these lids back to clear but I have never tried it - it might be worthwhile because looking around online I see these dust covers going for A$200!!! Yep, that's just the dust cover.
You can see there was a break in the arm of the anti-static/groove cleaning brush which has been repaired - to be frank, we never used these anti-static arms anyway, more of a nuisance in our opinion.
TESTING:
Since it was removed from our audio post production (archival studio) we have always kept this sealed in a box, well protected from physical damage and dust/dirt.
This is a 240V 50Hz machine and because of this, the power lead was changed yonks ago to a standard Australian 2 pin power plug - our tech guys hate equipment that runs on 240V but has a 2 pin parallel plug, such as Dual fitted to this turntable (standard practice at the time) - so confusing because it appears like a 115V American product, IT IS NOT USA 115V! The idea is that it would plug into your vintage power amplifier or preamplier which usually had a set of mating switched "power out" sockets (2 parallel pins) - lots and lots of Japanese manufacturers did it this way e.g Marantz & Technics to name just two.
The cinch plugs (RCA/Phono - whatever you wish to call them) were both quite oxidised and to be frank they were a "let down" to the overall quality of the machine so both audio output plugs have been changed to pro RCA connectors (gold plated)
The belt was changed just prior to storage and I can confirm it is still in A1 condition.
LETS PLAY TURNTABLES!
Move the tonearm off the rest and the turntable powers up, rotates and with plenty of torque.
Cue lever works a treat, nice gentle control. Lift the tonearm with the cue control, move the tonearm to the run-in position and gently lower the tonearm, again with the cue control.
Speed changing between 33 - 45 is NOT a problem.
Rotational speed checks show that both 33 & 45 are fine
Played numerous vinyl records (advertised here in separate advertisements) and no issues at all here, solid tracking and my test cartridge was a SHURE M95ED I have here at the moment (advertised as a separate advertisement now)
The audio from both channels is clean and in balance - very nice indeed.
The headshell can accept any cartridge within the design weight range, using standard 1/2" spaced mounting holes (most often we used various SHURE vintage carts with this machine)
NOTE: The headshell adaptor, READ THE MANUAL because it is not obvious how to get it off but once learned, its very easy.
These heads use a finger contact arrangement between the cartridge wiring and the tonearm wiring - KEEP THOSE HEAD CONTACTS CLEAN otherwise you will have intermittent audio on one or both channels. I cleaned all of those contacts very carefully as a precaution.
Back to the "like a record baby going round round round round" (the vinyl that is spinning around on the turntable ...)
Once the tonearm reaches the run-out tracks, the arm lifts automatically and then the turntable turns off. IT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE REST - this is absolutely normal.
Keep in mind this turntable was designed with the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid)
Checked the dust cover operation (you can easily adjust the spring tension to suit too) and it works fine, lift it up and it STAYS THERE. I love the hinge design, it is dead easy to remove the dust lid from the plinth as well.
It is pretty important that the new owner sits down and reads the User Manual supplied - they don't give you these for fun!
You need to carefully setup the 3 main adjustments (tonearm balance, tracking force and Anti-Skating) and this manual is very detailed (as Germans being precise and detailed)
If it is being shipped by Post or a Courier, I will be supplying this turntable "locked down" with the transport bolts, platter removed but the tonearm in place although well secured.
LAST MINUTE COMMENTS:
I have NOT undertaken a "lube job" - the instructions I am supplying with the turntable clearly indicate exactly which type of grease or oils to use and where to put them (after removing any existing residues)
Lubing is not a difficult task but it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for the smooth running of your turntable.
I did not observe any issues with mechanical/rotational noises or anything untoward - all is good but don't leave that lube job too long!
THE BAD SIDE:
I love this Dual CS-502, and other Dual's from their retro range plus good old Linn Sondek LP12's, Rega's, Technics SP1's etc that we used previously but Oh My Oh My Dual!, such a beautifully engineered product and then you sit it on a pretty mediocre base!!! But then look underneath, the base is plastic! Good God! So disappointing that Dual didn't go nice and solid, something like the SP1's with their all metal undersides.
Fortunately, on the "top side" it is all metal - no plastic parts used.
Fortunately it is REALLY EASY to custom manufacture a new base, using nice grainy solid timbers and place the turntable into that - it sits on 4x suspension springs - no big engineering task to fit this into a different base.
You can then end up with a FANTASTIC LOOKING AND SOUNDING CS-502 customised to suit your tastes
I have included a photograph of one person's turntable who has done just that - and it looks just fantastic!
