My trusty old Dual

[dlb2]

My Dual turntable from high school has been in my basement gathering dust for many, many years. I told my son that if it worked he could use it. It has an Ortofon OM-20 cartridge which always got me by. He hooked it up to his system and said that one of the channels didn't work. I bought some new RCA plugs and installed them this morning. Voila! That did the trick. Now he can get back to spinning vinyl.

I've been listening to it through my system and I can't believe how things have changed in the past 30+ years. Now granted that this is an old table and not even close to being one of Dual's best, far from it actually, but it sounds like the music is coming from the basement. No energy, no sparkle, just a nice polite sound with an emphasis on nothing.

One thing I always loved about that little Dual was that it is fully automatic. I would put on a record at night before bed and fall asleep listening to pigs on the wing and know that it would turn off all by itself.

 

[Petro85]

Haha!!! The clearaudio/lyra setup is a little better huh?? But you have to actually get up off the couch lol!!!! It's cool that not only did you save it for so long but that your son is a chip off the ole block and spinning vinyl. Who knows maybe a few years down the road he'll be having you come to his house to listen to his clearaudio innovation wood with goldfinger statement.
Props for help keeping vinyl alive for another generation!!!!

 

[MusicDirector]

In my opinion it's hard to beat vintage turntables...well, half of them anyway. For me, I'd take my Pioneer PL510A over almost anything on the market today. I have not seen or heard a modern turntable I liked yet. I personally do not like the Regas, Projects or Music Halls (all cheap plastic to me). I personally do not like the Clear Audio Concept (next to impossible to use much less set up). Then there are the ones that cost as much as a sports car, they look fabulous, but aren't worth it because you can do more with a car. I'm sure those tables and any others are fabulous for their owners as they are most likely great tables, I just personally do not like things about them that I can't live with. Granted, I have not seen every table there is, far from it, but the vintage tables to me are just solid performers. Mind you, when and if my Denon gives out I will have to decide if I want to look for a new table or just go without. (My Pioneer has another 20 years left in it I suspect, even though it's close to 40 years old). Just my opinion as it applies to me.

 

[dlb2]

Haha!!! The clearaudio/lyra setup is a little better huh?? But you have to actually get up off the couch lol!!!! It's cool that not only did you save it for so long but that your son is a chip off the ole block and spinning vinyl. Who knows maybe a few years down the road he'll be having you come to his house to listen to his clearaudio innovation wood with goldfinger statement.
Props for help keeping vinyl alive for another generation!!!!

Yeah, the new set up is a little better. You've heard the expression "like taking a blanket off the speakers" well the difference is like taking 1000 blankets off and pulling cotton out of your ears! At least I know I got my money's worth. I think it is pretty cool that he's into vinyl and it's something he found on his own which makes it even better.

 

[dlb2]

In my opinion it's hard to beat vintage turntables...well, half of them anyway. For me, I'd take my Pioneer PL510A over almost anything on the market today. I have not seen or heard a modern turntable I liked yet. I personally do not like the Regas, Projects or Music Halls (all cheap plastic to me). I personally do not like the Clear Audio Concept (next to impossible to use much less set up). Then there are the ones that cost as much as a sports car, they look fabulous, but aren't worth it because you can do more with a car. I'm sure those tables and any others are fabulous for their owners as they are most likely great tables, I just personally do not like things about them that I can't live with. Granted, I have not seen every table there is, far from it, but the vintage tables to me are just solid performers. Mind you, when and if my Denon gives out I will have to decide if I want to look for a new table or just go without. (My Pioneer has another 20 years left in it I suspect, even though it's close to 40 years old). Just my opinion as it applies to me.

I hear what you're saying about new tables. Most of them look like throw-aways but there are some beautiful tables and interesting designs out there. I do think the cartridges of today are so much better than in the past. I know my Delos is an engineering marvel. What I would really like is to find an old Garrard 401 to restore and bring back to life.

 

[MusicDirector]

I hear what you're saying about new tables. Most of them look like throw-aways but there are some beautiful tables and interesting designs out there. I do think the cartridges of today are so much better than in the past. I know my Delos is an engineering marvel. What I would really like is to find an old Garrard 401 to restore and bring back to life.

Yes there are some beautiful tables I have drooled over, but unfortunately those are the sports cars with the 5 to 6 digit price tags. As for cartridges, there is no question that today's carts are way better then yesteryear's

 

[Petro85]

I see the thinking in turntables now being way smarter than way back then.
The attention to vibration control. All those automatic cueing and motors and things were great but all caused unnecessary vibrations. Which even though minor to the naked ear , was huge for the stylus.
I cringe to think of how I used to put another album on the spindle then It would drop down on top of the record that was already on there. Lol!!!
And when I got to having to put 4 quarters on top of the headshell it was time to buy a new Rolling Stones record. Lmao!!!!!
Ah the good ole days!!!

 

[dlb2]

I see the thinking in turntables now being way smarter than way back then.
The attention to vibration control. All those automatic cueing and motors and things were great but all caused unnecessary vibrations. Which even though minor to the naked ear , was huge for the stylus.
I cringe to think of how I used to put another album on the spindle then It would drop down on top of the record that was already on there. Lol!!!
And when I got to having to put 4 quarters on top of the headshell it was time to buy a new Rolling Stones record. Lmao!!!!!
Ah the good ole days!!!

I agree with turntable technology getting back to the basics and being concerned with the sound instead of the features. Take Rega for example, they are making some no-nonsense tables that sound terrific. They look boring because they are boring. All the technology is being put into getting the best possible sound out of the piece. Of course there will always be the tables with all the bells and whistles and the high dollar price sticker that attracts those that need to spend enough to show off to their neighbors. I just don't think you need to spend a fortune to get a great table these days.

One new table I absolutely love is the AMG. Simple but effective and stunning on top of it all. Just an absolute beauty!

 

[MusicDirector]

I see the thinking in turntables now being way smarter than way back then.
The attention to vibration control. All those automatic cueing and motors and things were great but all caused unnecessary vibrations. Which even though minor to the naked ear , was huge for the stylus.
I cringe to think of how I used to put another album on the spindle then It would drop down on top of the record that was already on there. Lol!!!
And when I got to having to put 4 quarters on top of the headshell it was time to buy a new Rolling Stones record. Lmao!!!!!
Ah the good ole days!!!

My Pioneer PL510A is a manual table and I love it. My Denon is Automatic and can be worked manually as well. My Pioneer PL530 is both Auto and manual. I don't like stacker tables. My parents had one and ruined many a record. I've never had vibration problems with my tables. I personally believe stuff like that is a myth, but that's just me. I figure if there is vibration it would be obvious to notice in some fashion.

 

[Petro85]

One new table I absolutely love is the AMG. Simple but effective and stunning on top of it all. Just an absolute beauty!

Yea I was hoping Nelson brought his with him on the plane to listen to . Lol!!
That's all I need is another table to lust after. Lol!!

 

[gooch]

One thing I always loved about that little Dual was that it is fully automatic. I would put on a record at night before bed and fall asleep listening to pigs on the wing and know that it would turn off all by itself.

I miss those days

 

[dlb2]

Yea I was hoping Nelson brought his with him on the plane to listen to . Lol!!
That's all I need is another table to lust after. Lol!!

I could see it now, the AMG in one coat pocket and that huge base he made for it in the other! A guys gotta' have dreams Steve!

 

[jleon92f]

In my opinion it's hard to beat vintage turntables...well, half of them anyway. For me, I'd take my Pioneer PL510A over almost anything on the market today. I have not seen or heard a modern turntable I liked yet. I personally do not like the Regas, Projects or Music Halls (all cheap plastic to me). I personally do not like the Clear Audio Concept (next to impossible to use much less set up). Then there are the ones that cost as much as a sports car, they look fabulous, but aren't worth it because you can do more with a car. I'm sure those tables and any others are fabulous for their owners as they are most likely great tables, I just personally do not like things about them that I can't live with. Granted, I have not seen every table there is, far from it, but the vintage tables to me are just solid performers. Mind you, when and if my Denon gives out I will have to decide if I want to look for a new table or just go without. (My Pioneer has another 20 years left in it I suspect, even though it's close to 40 years old). Just my opinion as it applies to me.

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