Dual CS 518
Hi-fi turntables · 2022–present In production
£699 UK RRP
The manual audiophile Dual: 2M Red, switchable phono stage and a clean design from the reborn German brand.
Model history: The CS 518 succeeds the Dual CS 418, carrying over its layout but swapping in a new twin-gimbal-bearing tonearm (pre-fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red), plus a detachable headshell, 78rpm capability, a decoupled DC motor and a built-in phono stage.
Checked against the manufacturer’s site: 2026-07
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first serious turntable for an existing or planned amp-and-speakers setup. Less ideal for: plugging straight into passive speakers with no amp — check the built-in phono stage row above, and note most hi-fi decks still need external amplification.
Compatibility and setup
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- Has a built-in phono stage, so it can feed a normal line input on an amplifier or powered speakers without a separate phono box.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | Ortofon 2M Red |
| Built-in phono stage | Yes |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | aluminium |
| Tonearm | twin-gimbal, 4 pivot ball-bearings |
| Dimensions | 435 x 145 x 367 mm (W x H x D, closed dustcover) |
| Weight | 5.8 kg |
| Finishes | Black vinyl veneer or Walnut wood veneer |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Years | 2022–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its belt-drive mechanism is the majority choice in the database (130 of 159). A built-in phono stage puts it with the 45% of current decks that plug straight into any amp or powered speaker. On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 49% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Live merchant offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Dual CS 518…
Retailer searches
1 UK merchant stock Dual — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
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