After reviewing the Dual 1229q, a fellow audiophile asked me on the rarely seen Dual 505 series of turntables. Just so you know, unless you have been living under the rocks, the dual 505 turntable is up to the latest 4th iteration, and they are still in production! We managed to obtain a 2nd hand model from eBay for a testing, and here is our review of the Dual CS 505 Turntable.
If you are looking into setting up a Dual CS 505 4 audiophile concept, you certainly have to read on.
Review Of The Dual CS 505 Turntable
The Dual CS 505 turntable, as mentioned, is at its 4th iteration. Called the Dual CS 505-4, it is not considered expensive, yet not that cheap either. A quick search on eBay does show that they are quite a few of the Dual CS 505 on sale, and a couple of them is the Dual CS 505-2. The Dual CS 505-2 is also a good another to choose as the iterations are actually not too far away in terms of features as well as the quality of sound.
The ultra-modern design is a far cry from the 1st iteration of the Dual CS 505 back in the 70s (correct me if I am wrong about this as I have taken the information from online sources). The design is still sleek, and it does fit into the decor of most contemporary houses. Let us look into the specifics and as well as the design of the Dual CS 505-4 turntable.
Here is the breakdown of the features.
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Fully Automatic | Push-button operation for easy use |
| Belt Drive System | Precision-engineered for consistent playback speed |
| Heavy Platter | Non-resonant material to reduce vibrations |
| Low-Mass Tonearm | Minimizes tracking distortion and stays in the groove |
| High-Quality Cartridge | Pre-installed moving magnet cartridge for clarity |
| Anti-Skate Control | Reduces distortion and wear on the record |
| Adjustable Tracking | Allows for flexibility and compatibility |
| Built-In Phono Preamp | Connects directly to a line-level input |
| Solid Construction | Minimizes vibrations and ensures long-term durability |
Features
The Dual CS 505-4 is a full-featured turntable which 2 speeds that are made available to you. Put the tonearm above the record and you can start to enjoy the beautiful, deep and resonating sound that is produced from this turntable. The tonearm will return to its original position after playing.
Functionality
The Dual CS 505-4 have a tonearm that is rather low in mass. It is pretty similar to the rest of the turntables in the same range, and it can really pose an issue regarding playing on cartridges in modern day usage. As you know, most of the modern cartridges have low compliance moving coils, which is really more suited to be played by tonearms of a higher mass. In the past, low-mass tonearms are needed to ensure that the tonearms do not scratch the surface of the records. But which advancement of technology, that itself can be negated. But having said that, there are still some cartridges out there who will be well suited to be played by a low-mass tonearm. You just have to look at the correct places!
The tonearm itself does automatically lift off when the record has finished playing, making it perfect for the listeners who love to doze off to their favourite tunes! The wood plinth has a fully suspended chassis as well as having a carbon fibre on top of the tonearm. All of these adds stability to the sound. Have we mentioned the heavy platter? It does help to ensure the smooth delivery of the deep resonating sound too.
This is actually a suspended turntable, so if your flooring is very rigid and free from vibrations, then the Dual CS 505-4 will bring you more joy than other turntables. This is because suspended turntables are extremely proficient when it comes to imaging and sound staging. It does help to resonate the sweet musical notes in the air, giving it a springy and alive quality to the sound.
However, as we tested the sound, we do realize that the platter itself could have additional damping. That is perhaps because we live in an area where we are close to the traffic, and that is why vibrations can be minute yet rampant. If this is your concern, you can always purchase additional damping material for your Dual CS 505-4.
Sound Quality
For audiophiles that wish to find a turntable that can glide over the obvious deficiencies in other turntables in terms of sound production, the Dual CS 505-4 is perhaps the top choice for you. It does have the uncanny ability to ignore obvious imperfections and produce a sound that even the most expensive of turntables couldn’t do.
The sound that the Dual CS 505-4 produces is more towards modern than vintage, which does work well for the new generation of listeners. Having said that, it does reproduce excellent sound quality that will fit well with songs across all genres.
Aesthetics
Most turntables are designed to be sleek, and the Dual CS 505-4 does not dissapoint us too. The pure black design as well as its exquistie finishing does gives us a classy feel when we place this turntable in the hall itself.
What Can Be Improved
The tonearm can be of a higher mass. or the cartridge itself could be replaced. Since the stock OM series of tonearm have the same cartridge body, you can obtain a better performance by changing the stylus unit, which will work well for the Dual CS 505-4. Try to find a stylus that uses diamond on the tip as it will provide you with the smoothest of sound production.
Value for Money
The Dual 505-4 turntable is not the cheapest turntable on the market, but it is still a great value for money. The turntable is built to last and provides a high-quality sound that is hard to beat. When you consider the build quality and sound quality, the Dual 505-4 turntable is a great investment for any audiophile.
Conclusion
As we reluctantly returned the classy unit to my friend, I am humbled that I had the rare opportunity to try out the Dual CS 505-4. Truly in a class of its own, it can be operated by newbies into the turntable arena, as well as allowing pure audiophiles to have pure enjoyment when it comes to listening music across all genres.
