Dual - CS 718Q - Reference Manual Direct Drive Turntable

A piece of history — developed to lead into the future. The Dual CS 718Q continues the legendary Series 7 legacy with a quartz-stabilized direct drive motor with ironless coils, dynamically balanced massless tracking force, aluminium-carbon sandwich tonearm with full VTA and azimuth adjustment, automatic tonearm lift and switchable auto-stop, RCA and balanced XLR outputs, and a precision 2.2kg platter — in satin black or real walnut veneer. Sold without cartridge.

---

A Piece of History — Developed to Lead into the Future

The Dual 7 Series shaped an entire era of high-quality hi-fi culture. Defined by the CS 701, CS 721, and CS 731Q, these turntables set a standard for reliability, engineering sophistication, and sonic fidelity that made them icons of the analogue era — and made Dual a name that vinyl enthusiasts still speak with reverence. The CS 718Q continues that tradition into the present day.

Developed at Dual's engineering centre in Germany, the CS 718Q is Dual's current reference manual turntable — the most technically sophisticated expression of direct-drive engineering in the modern Dual range. With a quartz-stabilized direct drive motor featuring ironless air-core coils, a carbon-aluminium sandwich tonearm with full height, VTA, and azimuth adjustability, both RCA and balanced XLR outputs, and the signature Dual combination of automatic tonearm lift with manual start, the CS 718Q is unmistakably Dual and unmistakably serious.

Direct Drive with Ironless Coils — Quartz-Stabilized

At the heart of the CS 718Q is a precision direct-drive motor with ironless air-core coils — an engineering distinction that matters acoustically. Conventional direct-drive motors use iron-core coils, which create cogging torque and magnetic drag that must be overcome by the motor's control system. Ironless coils eliminate this problem entirely, resulting in a fundamentally quieter, vibration-free drive mechanism that does not impose its own character on the vinyl groove.

Quartz-stabilized speed control governs 33, 45, and 78 rpm operation with a wow and flutter figure below ±0.05% DIN weighted — a specification that reflects the precision of the control system and the mechanical quality of the bearing assembly. Double shielding protects against magnetic interference fields, ensuring the motor's own electromagnetic signature stays as far from the phono cartridge as possible.

Massless Tracking Force — Dynamically Balanced with Damping

The CS 718Q's dynamically balanced tonearm applies the tracking force through a system that Dual describes as "massless" — a reference to the way the force is applied through a spiral spring mechanism rather than through the counterweight position alone. This approach keeps the effective mass of the tonearm more consistent across the record surface and improves the arm's ability to track slightly warped records, where the dynamic demands on the stylus change moment to moment.

The spring-loaded anti-skating system applies anti-skate force in a way that is proportional to the tracking force across the full range of 0 to 3 grams — maintaining consistent groove contact across both channels. Compatible with cartridges weighing between 3 and 13 grams, the CS 718Q's tonearm accommodates a wide range of cartridges from standard MM designs through to heavier MC options.

Aluminium-Carbon Sandwich Tonearm — Full Adjustability

The CS 718Q's tonearm tube is an aluminium-carbon sandwich construction — combining carbon's exceptional stiffness and low resonance with aluminium's structural integrity in a tonearm that is both rigid and acoustically well-damped. This is the same tonearm architecture used across Dual's more affordable manual range (the CS 618Q and CS 518), ensuring the fundamental character of the arm is well-proven before being applied in this more refined context.

Height adjustment via a rotary mechanism provides +5mm / -2mm of vertical tracking angle (VTA) travel — allowing precise optimisation for any cartridge height or record thickness. The removable headshell features an azimuth clamp for precise cartridge alignment. Both adjustments are accessible and repeatable, making cartridge changes and optimisation genuinely straightforward rather than requiring specialist tools or skills.

Twin gimbal mounting with precision ball bearings provides the low-friction, resonance-free pivot action that precise groove tracing demands.

RCA and Balanced XLR Outputs — Rare at Any Price

The CS 718Q offers both standard RCA phono outputs and balanced XLR outputs — a dual-output configuration that immediately separates it from virtually every other turntable at or near its price point. The balanced XLR output is particularly valuable for longer cable runs (such as to a dedicated phono stage in a different location) and for use with balanced phono preamplifiers, where it provides superior common-mode noise rejection and a more stable ground path.

Note: The CS 718Q has no built-in phono preamplifier and requires connection to an amplifier with a phono input or a separate phono preamplifier.

Automatic Tonearm Lift — Switchable Auto-Stop

The CS 718Q provides the convenience of automatic tonearm lift at the end of a record — the stylus is raised automatically when the run-out groove is reached, protecting both the stylus and the record from unnecessary wear. Motor auto-stop is available and switchable — engaged via a rear-panel switch for those who prefer fully manual operation. Starting playback remains a manual process, giving the listener the engagement and control of manual operation with the protection and convenience of automatic lift at the end.

Precision 2.2kg Platter — MDF Plinth with Resonance Control

The CS 718Q's 305mm aluminium die-cast platter weighs 2,200 grams including the 4mm rubber mat — a substantial mass that contributes directly to speed stability by storing rotational inertia. The underside of the platter features full-surface rubber coating for additional resonance damping. A hardened steel spindle in a brass bushing bearing provides smooth, low-friction rotation.

The MDF plinth is available in satin black or real walnut wood veneer — two finishes that reflect the different character of each listener's space. Height-adjustable 68mm elastomer-damped feet provide vibration isolation from the supporting surface and allow precise levelling.

---

Feature Cards

⚡ Ironless Direct Drive — Quartz-Stabilized, ±0.05% Wow & Flutter

An ultra-silent motor with ironless air-core coils eliminates cogging torque and magnetic drag — quartz-stabilized for 33/45/78 rpm with wow and flutter below ±0.05% DIN. Double-shielded against magnetic interference. No vibration. No character.

🎯 Carbon-Aluminium Tonearm — Full VTA, Azimuth & Massless Tracking

Twin gimbal mounting, +5mm/-–2mm VTA adjustment, azimuth-adjustable removable headshell, dynamically balanced spring-loaded tracking force. Compatible with 3–13g cartridges. Reference-grade adjustability at a real-world price.

🔌 RCA and Balanced XLR Outputs

Both standard RCA and balanced XLR phono outputs — an almost uniquely generous provision at this price point, enabling optimal connection to any phono preamplifier and making the CS 718Q exceptionally versatile as a system grows.

🤖 Automatic Tonearm Lift — Switchable Auto-Stop

Autolift protects stylus and records at the end of every side. Rear-panel auto-stop switch gives listeners the choice of fully manual operation. Manual start, automatic lift — the best of both worlds.

---

Editorial Blockquote

"The 7 Series shaped an entire era of high-quality hi-fi culture. Its reliability, durability and outstanding sound fidelity made it an icon in turntable history. We continue this tradition today with the CS 718Q." — Dual

---

At-a-Glance Bullets

• Reference manual direct drive turntable — Dual Series 7 heritage
• Drive: direct drive — quartz-stabilized — 33/45/78 rpm
• Motor: ironless air-core coils — vibration-free — double EMI shielding
• Wow & flutter: < ±0.05% DIN WTD
• Platter: 305mm aluminium die-cast — 2,200g (including 4mm rubber mat)
• Platter bearing: hardened steel spindle in brass bushing
• Tonearm: aluminium-carbon sandwich tube — 221.5mm effective length
• Tonearm bearing: twin gimbal mounting — height adjustable
• VTA adjustment: +5mm / –2mm
• Headshell: removable — azimuth-adjustable
• Tracking force: dynamically balanced with damping — spiral spring
• Stylus pressure range: 0–3g — cartridge weight range: 3–13g
• Anti-skating: spring-loaded — proportional
• Auto-lift: yes — auto-stop: yes (switchable)
• Outputs: RCA phono + balanced XLR
• No built-in phono preamplifier — requires external phono stage or phono input
• Plinth: MDF — satin black or real walnut wood veneer
• Feet: 68mm elastomer dampers — height adjustable
• Dimensions (closed dustcover): 435 × 367 × 155mm
• Weight: 10kg
• Sold without cartridge
• 5-year warranty
• Designed and engineered in Germany

---

Finish / Colour Options

• Satin Black
• Walnut (real wood veneer)

---

Specifications

Drive

Platter

Tonearm

Plinth & Connections

General

---

Closing Quote

"Ironless direct drive. Carbon-aluminium tonearm. XLR outputs. Automatic tonearm lift. The Dual CS 718Q — reference-grade German engineering for the record collection you've spent a lifetime building."