Dual CS 329 Automatic Turntable - Black

Plug It In. Press Start. Play Records.

The Dual CS 329 is built for the shortest possible path from box to needle drop. It's a fully automatic turntable: put a record on the platter, press start, and the tonearm rises, swings into position, lowers itself onto the groove, and lifts away on its own when the side ends.

Every part arrives pre-assembled and factory-aligned, including an Audio-Technica AT91 moving-magnet cartridge fitted with a conical stylus. Tracking force is set at the factory to 1.8 grams, so there's no counterweight to balance or anti-skating dial to set before the first record drops.

A phono preamp is already wired in behind a rear PHONO/LINE switch, so the CS 329 connects to almost any amplifier, receiver, or powered speaker straight out of the box. Flip that switch off later if you'd rather run its signal into an outboard phono stage instead.

What's Doing the Work Underneath

Belt-Drive Simplicity, Two Speeds

A small DC motor turns the platter through a flat rubber belt at 33 or 45 rpm; there's no 78 rpm option on this model. Dual rates wow and flutter at under ±0.12% DIN-weighted, a reasonable figure for a deck built around ease of use.

Linking an automatic tonearm to the platter bearing without adding noise of its own takes careful engineering. Dual isolates the mechanism with a plastic-and-MDF plinth set on four elastomer-damped feet, and finishes the platter itself in die-cast aluminum for a stable, resonance-controlled spinning mass.

Platter, Bearing and Dust Cover

The 296mm die-cast aluminum platter weighs 667 grams complete with its 2.5mm rubber mat, and rides on a hardened-steel spindle turning inside a brass bushing. A removable dust cover keeps dust off the platter and cartridge between listening sessions.

There's no arm lock for transport, so the tonearm should be handled gently when the turntable is moved. At roughly 11 pounds and 17.1 by 14.6 by 5.2 inches closed, it asks for very little shelf space next to a first system.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Thom Moon reviewed the CS 329 for SoundStage! Access, calling it "a turntable that anyone can set up in minutes, play records on from dawn till midnight, and thoroughly enjoy in the process."

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want records playing within minutes of opening the box — the cartridge, tracking force, and speed are all set at the factory
• You've never owned a turntable before — press start and the tonearm does the rest, with no cueing or balancing to learn first
• You want one cable to any amplifier or receiver — the built-in phono preamp handles a phono or a line-level input equally well
• You mostly play modern LPs and singles — 33 and 45 rpm cover nearly everything pressed since the 1950s
• You want a deck that arrives set up and stays that way — arm and cartridge matched and set at the factory — nothing to adjust

How Does It Connect to Your System?

One RCA cable runs from the back of the CS 329 to your amplifier, along with a ground wire to the ground screw when you're using a phono input. The rear PHONO/LINE switch tells the turntable which kind of input it's feeding.

Leave the switch on LINE to run straight into any line-level input on an amplifier, receiver, or powered speaker — the built-in preamp does the rest. Switch to PHONO only if you're connecting to a dedicated phono input or an outboard phono preamp.

Pairs Well With

Where the CS 329 goes from here:

• Phono preamplifiers — an outboard phono stage is the natural first upgrade once you outgrow the built-in preamp
• Integrated amplifiers — with or without a phono input, since the CS 329 works either way
• Turntable accessories — a record brush and a stylus cleaner keep the pre-mounted AT91 cartridge sounding its best
• Record cleaning machines — clean records track more quietly and wear the stylus less over time

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Dual CS 329 have a phono preamp built in?

Yes. A switchable phono preamp is wired in behind a rear PHONO/LINE switch, so it works with a line-level input on any amplifier or powered speaker, or a phono input if you'd rather use your amp's own phono stage.

What comes already installed on the turntable?

The Audio-Technica AT91 cartridge arrives mounted and aligned at the factory, with tracking force pre-set to 1.8 grams. There's nothing to balance or calibrate before your first record.

Can I swap in a different cartridge later?

The CS 329's tonearm and cartridge are matched as a fixed factory pair with no counterweight or anti-skating adjustment, so it isn't built for cartridge swaps. Our CS 418 or CS 429 are better starting points if a future cartridge upgrade matters to you.

Does it play 78 rpm records?

The CS 329 spins at 33 and 45 rpm only. Shellac 78s need a different turntable and cartridge combination.

How much setup is really required?

Very little. Unbox it, set it on a level surface, plug in the RCA cable, and choose PHONO or LINE on the rear switch to match your amplifier. The tonearm, cartridge, and tracking force are already set.

See It in Action

The Listening Post Christchurch unboxes and demos a CS 329 fresh out of the box:

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Learn More

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