Dual CS 418 Manual Belt Driven Turntable

The Dual CS 418 is the entry point to Dual’s manual turntable range, sitting below the CS 518 and CS 618Q. Where the CS 518 adds a heavier platter and upgraded tonearm, and the CS 618Q introduces electronic speed control with quartz lock, the CS 418 focuses on getting the fundamentals right at a lower price point — a belt-driven DC motor, a rigid MDF plinth, and an aluminium tonearm fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge straight out of the box.

Construction

The plinth is solid MDF with a black vinyl veneer finish, chosen for its rigidity and resistance to resonance compared to plastic alternatives. Four 62mm-diameter feet with elastomer vibration absorbers decouple the deck from the surface beneath, reducing the transmission of footfall and airborne vibration into the stylus path. The platter is aluminium die-cast, 305mm in diameter, weighing 850g including a 2.5mm rubber mat. It sits on a hardened steel spindle running in a brass bushing. A removable dust cover is included.

Tonearm

The straight, statically balanced tonearm is constructed from aluminium and rides on ball bearings with a damped lift function. Tracking force is adjustable from 0 to 4g, and anti-skating is set via a spring-loaded rotary knob with stepless adjustment. The effective length is 221.5mm with an offset angle of 25.6° and 19mm overhang. The headshell is detachable, making cartridge swaps straightforward — particularly useful when switching to a 78rpm-compatible stylus. The tonearm accepts cartridges weighing between 5g and 9g.

Cartridge

The CS 418 ships with an Ortofon 2M Red moving magnet cartridge pre-installed. The 2M Red uses a tipped elliptical diamond stylus, offering a balance between detail retrieval and groove preservation that has made it one of the most widely recommended cartridges in its class.

Three-Speed Playback

Speed selection covers 33⅓, 45 and 78 RPM, switched electronically via a rotary control. The inclusion of 78rpm playback — uncommon at this price point — opens up shellac and early vinyl collections, though a dedicated 78 stylus (not included) is recommended to avoid excessive groove wear on older records.

Built-In Phono Preamp

A switchable MM phono preamplifier is built into the CS 418, allowing direct connection to any line-level input on an amplifier, active speaker, or soundbar. For users with a dedicated external phono stage, the internal preamp can be bypassed.

What the Press Says

• “It’s an entertaining listen – one that communicates the feel and emotion of the music well.” — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★★ (April 2022)