So I've got 4 TTs, and 3 friends who want to listen to records. I'm going to keep one TT for myself (the best, since I care the most about sound quality). Assume they are all working, have new belts and new styluses (stylii?). I know they're all pretty basic. Up for adoption are:

Dual CS 508
Technics SL-20
Kenwood KD-40R Direct Drive with Yamaha tonearm
JVC L-A11


I'm thinking of keeping the Dual, and maybe grabbing a better, or atleast new stylus for it, but I'd like the opinions of you guys/gals. Which is best?

I really don't know, but the Technics looks like it might be the best to me. The Dual's arm doesn't look like anything special. Ditto the Kenny. I'm just guessing though.

The Dual lists for as much as the other three combined. Take the Dual hands down. Which one feels the heaviest? That's another good indicator. Best of luck in your decision.

Is the Dual's arm & plinth mostly plastic? I believe the Dual CS series is less desirable than the Technics in this case.

Keep the Technics.

The problem with Dual in general [not only the silver plastic line], is that they all look alike. Without knowing specifics, you do not know which arm is all-plastic [tube not included], which is all-alloy, which chassis is just thin plastic, which is some fancy, non-resonant material. You also haven't a clue which motor is 2- pole, and which is 8+ overlapping-pole. They always did a great job in that respect. This is why even their crappiest unit sold for big bucks, relative to what it was really worth. Your Dual is nice, but I think you need to look at a brochure of their 'CS' line at Dual Compassnet.com to understand why it was suggested to keep the Technics unit.

Seth
Forever Analog

I have the next model up, a Technics SL-23. Not sure what the difference is but I think that the SL-20 is manual while the SL-23 is semi-automatic with auto-return feature. These were Technics entry-level TTs and seem to be built well. Sounds good with a decent cartridge - have used it with both an Audio Technica AT440mL and a Shure M97xE, as well as a budget AT cartridge.

Given previous comments and my experience with the Technics, I don't think you would go wrong by keeping it for your own use.

Alan

Hi

i wouldn't want any of them. Sorry, they look all the same level for me. Plastic.

Helge

ditto, dynaco!!

Oh they're all plastic alright! (except the Technics which is particle board). That's why they're being given away except the one I'll keep as a spare/basement player! I am currently using a Dual CS-508 with Ortofon TKS 52E cartridge in my "main system" and am very happy with it, but in the long term I'm looking to buy a nicer turntable. One step at a time.

Some more info on the Dual, as I have the owners manual:

Drive- 16 pole synchronous motor
Platter-900 gram non-magnetic
Wow and Flutter- DIN = +/- 0.07%, WRMS +/- 0.04%
S/N ratio- rumble unweighted = 48db, rumble weighted = 70db
Tonearm- "distortion free "ultra-low mass" aluminum tubluar tonearm in gimbal 4 point tip bearing"


The Dual's plinth is plastic, but it weights a little bit more than the Technics. As a bonus the Technics came with a Shure M110HE cartridge (needs new stylus) which I understand is a nice little piece. The price was right too, at zero!

Thanks for the advice so far guys!

ok, to decide between players i wouldn't want, i wouldn't like the technics less then the others - the arm of the sl20 is the most sympathic to me of those :) its in no way an objective decision...