Dual CS 718Q Manual Direct-Drive Turntable

A pure-performance manual turntable engineered in Germany, the CS 718Q revives the engineering principles of Dual's legendary 700 Series with direct-drive precision, an aluminum carbon tonearm, and both balanced and unbalanced outputs built for demanding listeners.

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A Direct Lineage to Dual's Greatest Turntables

Dual has been building turntables in the Black Forest region of Germany since 1900, and the company's 700 Series of the 1970s represented the apex of what German precision engineering could deliver in a home audio product. The CS 718Q is not a nostalgic tribute — it is a thoughtful evolution of that tradition, incorporating technologies that were either unavailable or impractical at the time and pairing them with engineering philosophies that made those original turntables so enduring. The result is a turntable built for the contemporary listener who demands both technical correctness and musical engagement from their vinyl playback system.

Where many manufacturers position their premium manual turntables as statement pieces heavy on aesthetics and light on measurable performance, Dual has taken the opposite approach with the CS 718Q. Every decision in the design and construction of this turntable traces back to a specific engineering objective: reduce noise, improve speed accuracy, allow precise cartridge setup, and create a mechanical environment in which a great cartridge can do its best work. The CS 718Q ships without a cartridge for exactly this reason. It is built for the listener who already knows what they want to mount, or who is ready to have a conversation about what will serve their system best.

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Direct Drive Without Compromise: The Ironless-Coil Motor

The CS 718Q uses a direct-drive motor, meaning the platter is mounted directly to the motor shaft rather than being connected through a belt or idler wheel. Direct drive offers inherent speed consistency and eliminates the elastic variables introduced by a belt, but historically, the technology carried one significant liability: cogging. Conventional direct-drive motors produce slight rotational irregularities as the motor's iron-core coils interact with the stator magnets, creating microscopic speed variations that can translate into audible coloration.

Dual addresses this entirely by using a brushless motor with ironless coils in the CS 718Q. Without iron in the coil assembly, there is no magnetic attraction between the coils and the stator, and therefore no cogging at all. The motor runs with the kind of mechanical silence and rotational smoothness that was previously achievable only through extremely complex engineering or at considerably greater expense. Quartz-stabilized speed control governs all three playback speeds — 33, 45, and 78 rpm — with a measured wow and flutter specification of less than 0.05 percent (DIN weighted). That figure places the CS 718Q among the most speed-stable consumer turntables available at any price.

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The Massless Tracking Force System

One of the most distinctive engineering choices Dual made on the CS 718Q is the tonearm's tracking force mechanism. On a conventional tonearm, the stylus pressure is set by positioning the counterweight to apply a measured downward force on the stylus. This approach works well, but it means the counterweight's mass is always part of the tonearm's dynamic behavior. On slightly warped records — which describes the majority of records in any real-world collection — that moving mass can cause the tracking force to vary as the tonearm responds to the undulations in the groove.

The CS 718Q uses a different approach rooted in Dual's vintage 700 Series philosophy: a dynamic, precision spiral spring made in Germany applies the tracking force directly, without relying on counterweight mass for the actual stylus pressure. The counterweight is present for balance, but the spring is what presses the stylus into the groove. Because the spring generates force rather than mass, the tracking force remains more consistent across record surfaces that are not perfectly flat. Adjustment is handled through a stepless rotary knob across a range of zero to three grams, covering the tracking force requirements of virtually every moving magnet and moving coil cartridge on the market. This system is one of the features that makes the CS 718Q feel genuinely different from the competition — the mechanics of vinyl playback work better when the stylus stays in the groove with consistent pressure, and this mechanism is designed specifically to achieve that.

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The Tonearm: Aluminum Carbon Construction and Precise Adjustability

The tonearm on the CS 718Q is built from an aluminum carbon sandwich tube — a composite material that combines the lightweight rigidity of aluminum with the vibration damping characteristics of carbon fiber. The result is a tonearm wand that is stiff enough to avoid flexing under the dynamic loads generated during playback while remaining low in mass to allow proper resonance behavior with a wide range of cartridges. The effective tonearm length is 221.5mm, with an offset angle of 25.6 degrees and an overhang of 19mm, placing it well within the accepted geometry standards for accurate groove tracing across the full width of a 12-inch record.

The tonearm mounts in a twin-gimbal bearing assembly using precision pivot ball bearings, which provide low-friction movement in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Height adjustment of plus five millimeters or minus two millimeters via a rotary mechanism allows the tonearm to be precisely set to the correct vertical tracking angle for the mounted cartridge. The headshell is detachable and features azimuth adjustment — the ability to rotate the cartridge slightly within the headshell to ensure the stylus contacts the groove walls at a perfectly vertical angle. Swapping the headshell takes under one minute, making cartridge changes fast and accessible. The cartridge mounting range of three to thirteen grams accommodates everything from ultra-light moving coil designs to heavier moving magnet cartridges.

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How the CS 718Q Compares to the CS 618Q

The Dual CS 618Q is a strong turntable and one we recommend often here at All Elite Audio. It is semi-automatic, meaning the tonearm returns to its rest and the motor stops at the end of every record — a genuinely convenient feature for listeners who do not want to rush back to the turntable when a side finishes. It includes a built-in switchable phono stage and ships with the Ortofon 2M Blue already mounted, making it a complete system out of the box. If you are new to vinyl or want a single-purchase solution, the CS 618Q belongs on your shortlist.

The CS 718Q represents a meaningful step beyond that. It is a fully manual turntable with auto-stop and automatic tonearm lift at the record's end, but no auto-return — you set the needle yourself, and you lift it yourself. There is no built-in phono stage, because the expectation is that the listener will pair the CS 718Q with an external phono preamplifier that reflects the quality of the turntable. The tonearm is more sophisticated, the motor is quieter, the speed stability is tighter, the outputs include balanced XLR in addition to standard RCA, and the overall mechanical construction is substantially heavier and more refined. The CS 718Q is for the listener who has moved beyond a complete-system approach and is assembling a high-performance analog front end component by component.

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Platter, Plinth, and Connection Options

The CS 718Q's platter is an aluminum die-cast unit weighing 2,200 grams including its four-millimeter rubber mat — substantial enough to provide meaningful flywheel stability and to damp the resonances that a lighter platter would transmit to the record surface. The spindle bearing uses a hardened steel shaft running in a brass bushing, built to the kind of close mechanical tolerances that minimize bearing noise and wear over decades of use.

The plinth is constructed from MDF in a folded configuration, finished in either satin black or genuine walnut wood veneer. Four height-adjustable feet with large-diameter elastomer dampers isolate the turntable from the surface it rests on, and the auto-stop function — which halts the platter and lifts the tonearm at the end of the record — is switchable for listeners who prefer to defeat it. Both RCA and XLR outputs are provided. The XLR outputs carry a balanced signal, which is valuable in systems where the phono stage is positioned at some distance from the turntable or where the listener's system benefits from the additional rejection of common-mode noise that a balanced connection provides. The design and engineering were conducted at Dual's development center in Germany.

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KEY SPECIFICATIONS

• Drive Type: Direct drive, brushless motor with ironless coils
• Speeds: 33 / 45 / 78 rpm
• Speed Control: Quartz stabilized
• Wow and Flutter: Less than 0.05% (DIN weighted)
• Platter Material: Aluminum die-cast
• Platter Weight (with mat): 2,200 g
• Platter Diameter: 305 mm
• Platter Mat: 4 mm rubber
• Spindle Bearing: Hardened steel spindle / brass bushing
• Tonearm Bearing: Twin gimbal, precision pivot ball bearings
• Tonearm Tube: Aluminum carbon sandwich
• Effective Tonearm Length: 221.5 mm
• Offset Angle: 25.6°
• Overhang: 19 mm
• Tonearm Height Adjustment: +5 mm / -2 mm
• Tracking Force Range: 0 to 3 g
• Tracking Force System: Dynamic precision spiral spring (massless)
• Cartridge Weight Compatibility: 3 to 13 g
• Headshell: Detachable with azimuth adjustment
• Cartridge: Not included
• Built-in Phono Preamp: No
• Outputs: RCA (phono level) and XLR (balanced, phono level)
• Auto-Stop: Yes, switchable
• Automatic Tonearm Lift: Yes
• Auto Return: No (manual turntable)
• Plinth Material: MDF, folded construction
• Finishes Available: Satin black / real walnut wood veneer
• Feet: 68 mm diameter elastomer dampers, height adjustable
• Dimensions (closed): 435 x 367 x 155 mm (W x D x H)
• Dimensions (open): 415 mm depth / 405 mm height
• Weight: 10 kg
• Warranty: 5 years
• Price: [INSERT US MSRP — confirm with Dual North America]
• Country of Design: Germany

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WHY BUY FROM ALL ELITE AUDIO

All Elite Audio is an authorized Dual dealer, which means every CS 718Q we sell comes backed by the full five-year manufacturer's warranty and the support of Dual's official service network. When you purchase from an authorized dealer, you receive the genuine article — no gray-market sourcing, no voided warranty, no uncertainty about where the product has been or how it was handled.

Our team has direct experience with Dual's turntable lineup and can help you choose the right cartridge and phono preamp to pair with the CS 718Q, configure it correctly from the start, and get the most out of a turntable built to perform at this level. We are happy to discuss your full system before and after the purchase.

Call: 443-402-5055 Text: 443-402-5064 Visit: 1921 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does the Dual CS 718Q come with a cartridge?

No, the Dual CS 718Q does not include a cartridge. Dual made this choice deliberately, because a turntable at this level is designed for listeners who have specific preferences about which cartridge they want to run, or who want to work with a dealer to find the best match for their system. The tonearm accepts cartridges weighing between three and thirteen grams and can handle tracking forces from zero to three grams, which covers the full range of quality moving magnet and moving coil cartridges on the market. If you are not sure where to start, our team at All Elite Audio is glad to help you find a cartridge that fits your budget, your phono stage, and your listening priorities.

Does the CS 718Q have a built-in phono preamp?

No, the CS 718Q does not include a built-in phono stage. The turntable outputs a standard phono-level signal via both RCA and XLR connections. To use this turntable, you will need either a separate phono preamplifier or an integrated amplifier or receiver with a dedicated phono input. This is entirely intentional on Dual's part — at this price and performance level, an external phono stage of appropriate quality will consistently outperform any circuit that could reasonably be built into the turntable itself. We carry a strong selection of phono preamps at All Elite Audio across a wide range of price points, and we are happy to recommend one that will do justice to the CS 718Q.

What is the difference between the CS 718Q and the CS 618Q?

The CS 618Q is Dual's semi-automatic direct-drive turntable that includes a built-in switchable phono stage and comes with the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge pre-installed. It is an excellent complete-system turntable at a lower price. The CS 718Q is a more advanced manual design with a quieter ironless-coil motor, a tighter wow and flutter specification of less than 0.05 percent versus less than 0.07 percent for the 618Q, an aluminum carbon sandwich tonearm tube instead of a standard aluminum tube, balanced XLR outputs in addition to RCA, a massless spiral spring tracking force system, height and azimuth adjustment on the tonearm, a heavier platter assembly, and a five-year warranty. The 718Q requires you to provide your own cartridge and phono stage, and it is a fully manual turntable — you cue the stylus yourself and retrieve it yourself, though auto-stop and automatic tonearm lift engage at the end of the record side to protect both the stylus and the record.

What does "massless tracking force" mean, and why does it matter?

On most tonearms, the counterweight is dialed in to create the desired downward pressure on the stylus. This works well on flat records, but when the record has any warp — and most records do, to some degree — the mass of the tonearm assembly moving up and down with the warp can cause the actual tracking force to vary momentarily. The CS 718Q uses a precision spiral spring made in Germany to apply the tracking force directly, with the counterweight serving only to balance the arm rather than to create the stylus pressure. A spring generates force through tension rather than mass, so it responds differently to the dynamic motion of tracing a warped record. The result is more consistent stylus pressure across the full record surface, which translates to more stable groove tracing, less distortion at the groove walls, and better stylus and record preservation over time.

Is the CS 718Q fully manual? What do the auto-stop and tonearm lift functions actually do?

The CS 718Q is a fully manual turntable in the most important sense: you lower and raise the stylus yourself using the cueing lever, and you are in control of when playback begins. At the end of a record side, two automatic functions engage: the platter stops spinning (auto-stop) and the tonearm lifts off the record surface automatically. This protects both your stylus and your record from sitting in the groove with the motor stopped, and it gives you time to get up from your listening seat without worry. Neither function requires the tonearm to travel back to its rest, which is what distinguishes a manual turntable from a semi-automatic one. The auto-stop function is also switchable if you prefer to defeat it entirely.

What cartridge would you recommend for the CS 718Q?

The right cartridge for your CS 718Q depends on your phono stage, your listening preferences, and your budget. The tonearm's mass and compliance characteristics are suited to a broad range of both moving magnet and moving coil designs. At a starting point, a high-output moving magnet cartridge in the Ortofon 2M range — particularly the 2M Bronze or 2M Black — pairs well with the tonearm geometry and gives you excellent tracking and retrieval of musical detail. If you have a phono stage with a moving coil input, the CS 718Q is an excellent platform for a low-output MC cartridge at virtually any price level. Our team at All Elite Audio can give you a specific recommendation once we know more about your system.

What phono preamp should I use with the CS 718Q?

Any quality phono preamp that matches the output level and impedance requirements of your chosen cartridge will work well. The CS 718Q outputs a standard phono-level signal at both RCA and XLR. If you choose a moving magnet cartridge, a wide range of phono stages from respected brands will serve you well at prices from a few hundred dollars upward. If you go with a low-output moving coil cartridge, you will want a phono stage with a moving coil input and appropriate gain and loading options. The balanced XLR output of the CS 718Q is particularly useful if your phono stage accepts balanced inputs, as it can reduce the noise floor in longer cable runs. We carry phono preamplifiers at All Elite Audio from a range of manufacturers and can match you with the right one for your cartridge choice and budget.

What does the XLR output offer that the RCA output does not?

The XLR output carries a balanced signal, meaning the audio is transmitted on two conductors with opposite polarity along with a separate ground. At the receiving device — typically a phono preamp with balanced inputs — any noise that has been induced equally on both conductors during transmission is canceled out, because the device adds the two out-of-phase signals together and common-mode noise cancels in the process. For typical desktop listening distances between a turntable and a phono preamp, the practical benefit is modest. Where it becomes more significant is in installations where the cable run is longer, where the turntable is positioned near electrical noise sources, or where the system's overall noise floor is low enough that the additional rejection makes an audible difference. The presence of both output types means you are not forced to choose — you use whichever connection your phono stage supports.

How difficult is it to set up the CS 718Q, including cartridge installation and alignment?

Cartridge installation on the CS 718Q is accessible to any vinyl enthusiast who is willing to follow the process carefully. The detachable headshell simplifies the procedure considerably, as you can remove the headshell from the tonearm and work with it on a table rather than reaching over the platter. Cartridge mounting screws, overhang alignment, and azimuth adjustment are all addressed with common tools and an alignment protractor. The tonearm height adjustment, tracking force setting via the spring mechanism, and anti-skating are all handled through clearly marked controls. If you are new to cartridge setup, we are glad to help you through the process at our Timonium location, and we can also set up your cartridge before shipping if you prefer to receive a ready-to-play turntable.

How does the CS 718Q compare to other direct-drive turntables in its price range?

The CS 718Q occupies a segment of the market where performance expectations are high and the differences between products are meaningful. Its ironless-coil motor is genuinely rare at this price — most direct-drive turntables, even excellent ones, use iron-core motors and manage cogging through other means. The massless spiral spring tracking force system is a proprietary Dual approach that has no direct equivalent in the competition. The combination of a balanced XLR output, azimuth-adjustable headshell, height-adjustable tonearm, aluminum carbon tonearm tube, and a five-year warranty from a manufacturer with over 120 years of turntable production history represents a compelling package at the CS 718Q's price point. We have evaluated this turntable carefully and believe it competes seriously with other manual direct-drive designs that carry comparable or higher price tags.

Where can I buy the Dual CS 718Q, and can I hear it before I purchase?

The Dual CS 718Q is available from All Elite Audio, an authorized Dual dealer located in Timonium, Maryland. We welcome you to visit our showroom at 1921 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093, where our team can demonstrate the turntable and discuss how it fits your specific system and listening goals. You can also reach us by calling 443-402-5055 or by texting 443-402-5064. We are glad to answer questions, discuss cartridge and phono stage pairings, and help you build an analog front end that performs at the level this turntable is capable of reaching.