Dual CS505-2 vintage turntable review - Hifi reviews from Fluteboy 

I was not familiar with the Rotel model, but looking at pictures, I see where manufacturers like Rega and Pro-Ject took inspiration from. It looks ahead of its time.

@@Fluteboy I've given the John Miles one and a half listens, though quietly so as not to wake anybody up. Fella in the Cellar is the only one that felt like a familiar echo. Track 1 is very Roxy Music, another felt like early Genesis were playing a Beatles tune. There's a track that uses a riff very close to Rainbow's Since You've been Gone. Some disco/funk. From last night's listen did I catch a track that had a fiddle tune toward the end but played on guitar? Mostly it didn't move me but there are a few tracks I want to try again. I think I remember Fella in the Cellar because it was my favourite track on the album. I remember I had it on the same C90 tape as Mike Rutherford's Smallcreep's Day album. The Rega Planar 2 and 3 were out before the Rotel RP830. I think the best looking budget deck of that era was the Sansui SR222. The reflective polished plinth versions look like they should have been several times their price. They tended to be seen as second best to the Dual 505 in sonic terms though. Your 505 looks great with the wooden plinth.

Have you tried fixing the speed selector. as it is just a simple derailing mechanism. An arm pushes the belt onto a thicker portion of the motor output shaft so if the aforementioned arm is just stuck a bit of oil might persuade it back into working again.

The speed adjuster belt has been replaced but still has difficulty selecting different speed. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

@@laserguidethe speed selector doesn’t have a belt, the pitch control does however, mixing up terms?

Enjoy! Be old and be proud of it! 😉

@@Fluteboy Yep, you can stick your Goldmund Reference II ($300,000) ...(unless someone gives me one of course!)

I was getting the hesitant/non-start in episode 6. Things like that make you want to weep!

The Stanton is an interesting looking beast! It also seems to hold its value when second hand too.I do find myself fretting the apparent lack of choice for a ULM tonearm. People recommend the 2M series, the Goldring 2000 series, or even an old Shure one that is no longer made. Many people favour the sound of the AT95E, but that apparently doesn't match the ULM tonearm. What to do!

Fluteboy well if you don’t want to change cartridge, you should just try to upgrade the stylus: an Ortofon OM 30 or 40 will be enough to listen to records like never before. In fact you’ll be longing for a decent record cleaning machine, like me... I just ordered the Pro-Ject VC-S MK2... let’s hope it repays itself...

@@Fluteboy I usually like Ortofon`s sound more than Audio Technica`s... I am so happy as I won a new old stock original Stanton 68000 EEE Stylus for the 681 cartridge... Can`t wait, I love the moving iron sound! Also I wanted to tell you: you NEED to find the optional weight for the Dual tonearm (it`s like a small black hockey puck which is to be screwed behind the original weight/counterbalance) It gives you a little bit more in terms of frequencies!

Jonathan Bignall I’ve still got my 505-2 deluxe from 86. I too put the Goldring 1010 on it and saw an improvement. It gathered dust and I bought a 1012gx stylus in 2000. Recently out of loft and needs new belts and some tlc again!

An LP12. The Rolls-Royce of turntables. You know you have graduated!

I do have that tendency to press down heavily with the velvet brush, yes! You are perfectly entitled to pull me up on that. ;) The scraping sound is actually the platter being slowed by my left index finger. At 9:06 you will see the aforementioned sausage being pressed against the platter rim. But like you say, it does sound like metal against metal, so I shall have to try something gentler....

Superb. Give it a little TLC, then sit back and enjoy.

also got a nice grado stylus that cost more than the turntable itself XD . might build a heavy wooden plith for it one of these days

@@Jay-oz5zo Jay, I saw your comment here and I would like to find out more about how you replaced the RCA cables. I have this model and it works fine but the cables have to be fiddled with to get them in the right position to "be quiet" and not hum. Not sure how to send a private message on here. thx. steve

@@awalrus1 this is the guide I used and it worked perfectly. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3tp1UXnPnFU.html You Just need 2 new rca connectors and soldering I equipment. However if you dont have access to soldering grar, you can just buy 2 new rca plugs and ask the a Electronics place to replace the connectors. Should be qa quick cheap job for them, it was the first time soldereding anything for me and it went perfectly. There are some recommdations for solderless rca connectors out there but I wouldn't use them. Connection could easily die again, much weaker bond than solder.

@@awalrus1 too add - the crackling while adjusting the rcas my was exactly problem as well and went away permanently after soldering

My thoughts go out to you and your friends and family. Stay safe and well please.

If I am right, your 506 is largely identical in mechanical working to the 505, just with the addition of a strobe light. You must first ensure that the black pin that physically raises the tonearm is not stuck by way of old grease. Also, under the chassis there is a metal arm that connects between the tonearm lever and the black pin. Ensure this arm is not bent and therefore forcing the pin into a permanent up position. It is worth sharing the matter with the Dual forum at vinylengine.com. There are folk there who know their Dual inside out.

Check and possibly replace the three rubber mounts supporting the motor itself. Also check the height of the brass pulley on the motor shaft. Mine rode up the shaft and caused the belt to scrape on the speed change arm.

The OM10 is a pricey bugger. As for the springs, they may be small and look benign, but they seem to decide whether the deck runs or not! I do hope you managed to have it cooperate in the end.

@@Fluteboy working perfectly although the damaged lid got binned and I use an old record to keep dust of the platter. Also mine had the black "wood" finish as this is just a surround piece stapled to the plastic base I took it off and made a nice solid wood one which is stained and varnished.

I believe it was set to 1.5 at the time. That part has behaved fortunately!

@@Fluteboy sounds like you are on your game. just figured i would throw that out there.

Now you know how it feels to own a Rega turntable! The German based website dualfred.de may provide suitable spares for Dual turntables. Also consult the forum at vinylengine.com where a post and a photo may bring some helpful advice.

Do you hear a hum in the audio? Does that hum increase when you touch the metal tonearm? The black ground wire may have become disconnected. It is usually connected to the chassis, along with the black wire from the tonearm.

Mine has phono connectors as opposed to the DIN variant. An adapter would be required to enable a connection.

@@Fluteboy thanks, I removed the DIN connector and bought solderless screw phono plugs.

As I did in this video. The ultimate solution was to replace the tonearm, at a cost of £20 or £25. The hardest part of this is soldering in those very fine wires. Replacing the gimbal bearings is just too finicky. The site dualfred .de sells many parts.

thak you@@Fluteboy

@@Fluteboy is it complicated to remove the complete tonearm with gimbal?

@@nebojsageorgijev675 From what I remember, once you disconnect the signal wires under the chassis, you then unscrew and remove the tracking force knob, and this allows you to remove the tonearm from the bearing frame. On the dualfred site, if you need to replace the rectangular bearing frame, this is part number 237230

Mayall - do you mean the John Miles music?

That is true. I am using an Audio Technica AT-VM95E these days (61.g v the 2.5g of the Ortofon OM), and did have to add the ring weight to the existing counterweight. It was of its time. Low mass tonearms were in vogue back then.

@Dixene Lee I found the OM to be somewhat easy-listening. I craved proper treble response, and the AT was able to supply it at not much cost. Yes the OM is a sexy number, though it won't suit all.

I hope you get some good money for it. :)

It is a mark II from the mid 80s.

Parts are certainly out there. the German site dualfred.de is devoted to Dual parts, and eBay is never bereft of parts. New tonearm? Found on eBay for £15 New motor? £20 on eBay. the forum at vinylengine.com is also awash with devotees.

It is *More Miles Per Hour* by John Miles from 1979. The tracks I played were _Satisfied, It's Not Called Angel_ and _Oh Dear._

Sempre soei sem fôlego. Eu tenho um pequeno problema de fala, mas ainda assim eu tento. Obrigado por assistir! :)

Vintage Duals are always worth reviewing because not everyone can afford “Audiophile Decks”

U fool

Oh dear, you really don't understand.

What an ignorant comment to make. The fact that these are still around from the 80s and very much still being used says it all..