DUAL Australia

DUAL is a German audio brand whose origins trace back to 1900, when Christian Steidinger established a precision mechanics workshop in St. Georgen, a small town in the Black Forest region of Germany. In 1907, Christian and his brother Josef formally founded Gebrüder Steidinger — a factory specialising in clockwork mechanics and gramophone drives. In 1927, the brothers invented a revolutionary dual-mode motor combining a spring-wound clockwork mechanism with an electric motor, a breakthrough that allowed gramophones to run from either mains power or a wind-up mechanism. This innovation was so successful that the company adopted the name DUAL in its honour.

DUAL went on to become the largest turntable manufacturer in Europe, employing more than 3,000 people across multiple factories at its peak in the postwar decades. The current CS-series turntables sold through DUAL Turntables Australia are produced by Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH — the company that has held the production rights for the authentic German-made DUAL turntable line since 1993 — and are manufactured in St. Georgen, the same Black Forest town where the brand was born. DUAL turntables made in Germany are identified by model codes beginning with CS.

Yes. DUAL Turntables Australia (dual-turntables.com.au) is operated by Audio Visual Revolution Pty Ltd, Australia's exclusive authorised distributor for DUAL. Every turntable sold through this store is a genuine CS-series model — the authentic German-made DUAL line produced by Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH in St. Georgen, Germany — and is covered by Australian warranty with full local support.

It is worth noting that the DUAL name exists in two distinct forms globally. The CS-series turntables distributed by Audio Visual Revolution are the genuine German-engineered hi-fi line, identifiable by the CS model code. A separate range of consumer electronics sold under the DUAL name in other markets is produced under licence and is unrelated to this heritage product line. When you purchase through DUAL Turntables Australia, you are buying the authentic German-made product from the authorised Australian source.

An automatic turntable manages the tonearm for you — at the end of a record, the arm lifts, returns to its rest position, and the motor stops automatically. DUAL's automatic models, such as the CS-429, are ideal for listeners who want a relaxed, convenient experience without needing to monitor the end of every side.

A manual turntable requires you to place the tonearm onto the record yourself and lift it when the record ends. Manual models, such as the CS-418 and CS-518, are preferred by enthusiasts who appreciate the simpler mechanical path and the direct involvement in the listening experience. Both types are available in the DUAL CS-series range — see the Buyers Guide for a detailed comparison to help you choose.

The DUAL CS-429 is the most popular starting point for buyers new to vinyl. It is fully automatic, includes a factory-fitted Ortofon cartridge, and has a built-in phono preamp — meaning it can connect directly to any amplifier or powered speakers without additional equipment. The automatic operation removes the risk of accidentally dragging the stylus across a record, which makes it well-suited to first-time turntable owners.

If you already have some experience with vinyl and prefer a more hands-on approach, the CS-418 is an excellent manual entry point with the same German engineering credentials at a lower price point. Visit our Buyers Guide or browse the full range to compare models side by side.

Yes. All DUAL CS-series turntables sold through DUAL Turntables Australia are supplied with a factory-fitted cartridge, ready to play straight from the box. DUAL partners with Ortofon — one of the world's most respected cartridge manufacturers — and the bundled cartridge is selected to match each model's tonearm geometry and tracking force specifications. No additional setup is required beyond placing the counterweight and anti-skate as described in the included manual.

All DUAL CS-series turntables include a built-in phono preamp, which means they can connect directly to any amplifier with a standard line-level input (AUX, CD, or similar) — you do not need a dedicated phono input. They can also connect directly to powered (active) speakers, making it straightforward to build a compact two-component system: turntable plus powered speakers.

If your amplifier does have a dedicated phono input, simply switch the turntable's phono/line output selector to the phono setting and bypass the internal preamp in favour of your amplifier's own stage. Full connection guidance is included with every turntable, and our team is available to help if you have questions about your specific setup.

Yes — free shipping applies to all turntable and hi-fi system orders across Australia, with no minimum spend required on these products. Orders placed before 12pm on business days are dispatched the same day. Accessories are also available with competitive shipping rates. All orders are tracked and handled with care given the precision nature of the products.