Dual CS 618Q turntable
Hi-fi turntables · 2023–present In production
$1,100 US reference price
Dual CS 618Q is a current direct-drive, manual operation, 33/45 rpm playback hi-fi turntable. Documented convenience features include a built-in phono preamp. The US reference price is $1,100.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- No separate phono preamp
- Cueing
- Manual cueing
- Stylus path
- Mapped: Stylus 2M Blue
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Add amplification and speakers, but a separate phono preamp is not required. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
Dual's quartz-locked direct-drive flagship, echoing its 1970s EDS-motor heritage, with a 2M Blue and 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: expect to cue the record yourself. Check the exact manual for any separate end-of-side auto-lift or stop feature.
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 | direct drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | Ortofon 2M Blue |
| Built-in phono stage | Yes |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth direction | Not listed |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium |
| Tonearm | straight aluminium |
| Wow & flutter | <0.07% |
| Dimensions | 435 x 145 x 367 mm (W x H x D, closed dustcover) |
| Weight | 15.4 lb (7 kg) |
| Finishes | Black vinyl veneer, Gloss black, or Walnut veneer (gloss black and walnut carry a premium, ~£1199) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Years | 2023–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its direct-drive mechanism is shared by 17% of current models in the database (32 of 183). A built-in phono stage puts it with the 47% of current decks that plug straight into any amp or powered speaker. On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 64% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Ortofon 2M Blue · replacement stylus: Stylus 2M Blue · around $219.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $1,100. A reference value for comparison. The price observation date is not recorded; this is not a current offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- No live offer feed is enabled for this model.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Retailer links for the Dual CS 618Q
3 US retailers are listed in our Dual retailer guide — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at Reverb ↗ |
 Turntable Lab |
hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | Search at Turntable Lab ↗ |