Acoustic Research AR EB101 vs Dual CS 505-4

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Acoustic Research AR EB101 · Dual CS 505-4.

Comparison of Acoustic Research AR EB101 and Dual CS 505-4
Specification Acoustic Research
AR EB101
Dual
CS 505-4
Price$350 (used)Highlighted difference. $300 (used)
CategoryVintageVintage
Statusdiscontinueddiscontinued
Years1984–?1991–?
Drivebelt drivebelt drive
Speeds33/45 rpm33/45 rpm
Operationmanualsemi-automatic
Cartridge suppliedNoneNone
Phono stageNoNo
USB outputNoNo
BluetoothNoNo
Platteraluminiumaluminium
TonearmAR/Jelco-style low-mass armDual ULM arm
Wow & flutter

Practical differences

Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.

There's a real gap here: $50 separates them, with the Acoustic Research AR EB101 the pricier of the two.

Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.

Operation differs: the Acoustic Research AR EB101 is manual, the Dual CS 505-4 is semi-automatic.

Bottom line: $50 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.

Retailer searches

4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.

Retailers selling Acoustic Research AR EB101
RetailerTypeShippingProduct search
eBay marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at eBay ↗
Guitar Center music retail Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. Search at Guitar Center ↗
Reverb used marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at Reverb ↗
Upscale Audio hifi independent Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). Search at Upscale Audio ↗

Retailer searches

4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.

Retailers selling Dual CS 505-4
RetailerTypeShippingProduct search
eBay marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at eBay ↗
Guitar Center music retail Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. Search at Guitar Center ↗
Reverb used marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at Reverb ↗
Upscale Audio hifi independent Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). Search at Upscale Audio ↗

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