If you are a true audiophile, then you would know that Dual have a good track record of designing idler-wheel record players or turntables. While most other audio companies or vintage turntables manufacturers have deviated from the somewhat older technology and ventured into belt drive turntables, Dual is still steadfast in producing idler-wheel turntables, hanging on to the belief and passion of making good, vintage turntables that can last for ages. One such vintage turntable is the Dual 1229, and it is perhaps the most famous and popular of all of Dual’s turntables.
A Little History Of Dual 1229
As mentioned earlier, the Dual 1229 is an idle wheel turntable, and it is made popular in the early 70s. Back then, the Dual 1229 is considered as the pinnacle of all turntables of its generation, and there were many innovative technological advances that came with the Dual 1229 turntable. As the Dual 1229 is no longer in the factory line, it can be tough to find Dual 1229 turntable on sale. Luckily for us, we manage to get a Dual 1229 turntable off eBay, and boy are we glad to finally own a little piece of turntable history!
Let us now look a little deeper into this vintage turntable with our Dual 1229 turntable review.
Vintage Dual 1229 Turntable Review
Perhaps a surprising factor, the Dual 1229 is a fully automatic turntable. This was considered to be an innovative breakthrough as there isn’t many fully automatic turntable that was being developed as the manual turntable were more popular. Just for your info, a fully automatic turntable is one whose tonearm is fully automatic. Once the record is done playing the song, it will lift the tonearm away from the vinyl, back to its resting position, and shutting the turntable off. As you can expect, this was popular in the 70s since you can literally rest on your couch and play your favourite records knowing that you can fall asleep with ease, since the fully automatic turntable will not destroy your vinyl record.
High Quality Music
One particular feature that we love is that the Dual 1229 turnable have the uncanny ability to play multiple records at the same time without destroying the vinyl records at all. When you combine this with its high dampening ability, you can be assured of a long, continuous stream of music without even getting up from your seat. If you are someone that loves to listen to vinyl records while you doze off, then the Dual 1229 turntable might just be the one for you. The high dampening ability stems from the high-quality platter that maintains stability, hence significantly reducing flutter. The turntable also features a unique floating suspension system that helps to isolate the tonearm and reduce unwanted vibrations. This system, combined with the high-quality construction and components, results in a turntable that delivers exceptional sound quality across the entire frequency range.
But hey, good luck trying to snag this off since Dual have stopped manufacturing it. But as mentioned earlier, you can try your luck at eBay or perhaps look for similar models on Amazon!
Unique Design
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Dual 1229 is its striking design. The turntable features a sleek, modern look that has aged surprisingly well over the years. The build quality is also impressive, with a sturdy metal plinth that helps to reduce vibrations and ensure stable playback.
Indeed, when we say unique design, we are actually trying to reference the tonearm as it is specifically fabricated to be longer than usual. Usually, for tonearms the friction between the tonearm and the vinyl would be a cause for concern, but this is not the case for the Dual 1229 turntable. When doing the Dual 1229 review, we do realise that the long tonearm, when coupled with the unique bearing in its system, does help to drastically reduce the tonearm friction. That significantly help to increase the quality of the sound that is being produced.
The turntable is relatively heavy, weighing in at just over 22 pounds. This weight is an advantage, as it helps to keep the turntable stable during playback and reduces the risk of skipping or other playback issues.
Features and Functionality
The Dual 1229 turntable is packed with features that make it a great choice for both casual listeners and serious audiophiles. One of the most notable features is the automatic tonearm, which makes it easy to set up and play your records without the need for manual adjustments.
The turntable also features a built-in phono preamp, which allows you to connect it directly to your amplifier or receiver without the need for an external preamp. This is a convenient feature that makes it easy to get up and running quickly.
Maintenance and Upgrades
One of the advantages of owning a classic turntable like the Dual 1229 is that it is relatively easy to maintain and upgrade. Many of the components can be easily replaced or upgraded to improve sound quality or add new features.
For example, you may want to upgrade the cartridge to a higher-end model to get even better sound quality. Or, you may want to replace the stylus to ensure that your records are being played back at optimal quality.
Let us look at some of the key specs of the Dual 1229 turntable.
| Drive | Idler drive |
| Platter | Dynamically balanced, non-magnetic. 3.1 kg |
| Balanced Pitch Control | 6% |
| Rumble | 63dB weighted |
| Tonearm | Long |
| Wow & Flutter | +/- 0.06% |
| Cartridge | Removable. Accepts all 1/2″ cartridges |
| Tracking force requirement | 1 – 3 grams |
Concluision
We love the Dual 1229 turntable. From its ability to produce music on hours end to the beauty of the structure itself, it is of little wonder why the Dual 1229 turntable is a much sought after turntable in the 70s to 80s. Indeed, as mentioned earlier, getting one of these gems is tough as most collectors wouldn’t want to sell it. You might be able to snag a deal from eBay though. Follow the link below for more deals on eBay!
