Dual CS 429 Fully Automatic 3-Speed Turntable

Push a Button. The Arm Does the Rest.

Fully automatic turntables were everywhere in the 1970s and have nearly vanished since. The Dual CS 429 is one of the few still made, and it is among the most serious. Set a record on the platter, press start, and the arm lifts, swings across, and lowers itself into the run-in groove.

When the side ends, the arm lifts and parks itself, so you can walk away mid-record without the stylus circling the run-out groove all night. Every one of those movements can also be done by hand, using the cueing lever, if you'd rather drive.

An Ortofon 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge comes installed from the factory, and a switchable phono preamp lives inside, so the RCA output connects to a phono input or a line input alike. A hinged dust cover is included.

The Machinery Behind the Automatic Arm

Why Automatic Operation Is Hard to Get Right

Automatic operation is rare because it's difficult: a gear train has to link the platter bearing to the tonearm, mechanically connecting the two by more than just the stylus. Dual answers that with a subchassis on rubber dampers and elastomer absorbers inside the 62mm feet.

The MDF plinth carries a 305mm die-cast aluminum platter that weighs 850 grams with its 2.5mm rubber mat, spinning on a hardened steel spindle in a brass bushing. A DC motor drives it by belt, with optical speed control reading the motor directly. Wow and flutter is rated below ±0.08%.

A Tonearm Built to Grow With You

The arm is a straight, statically balanced tube on ball bearings: 221.5mm effective length, 25.6 degrees of offset, 19mm overhang. Tracking force adjusts from 0 to 4 grams, and the headshell accepts cartridges weighing 5 to 9 grams, with a calibrated anti-skating dial to match.

The headshell detaches with a screw collar. Mount and align a cartridge once, and swapping it later takes about a minute with no realignment — which is how the deck grows with you rather than being replaced.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ed Selley reviewed the CS 429 for AVForums on March 24, 2023, scoring it 8 out of 10 with a Recommended award, writing that it "brings a welcome dash of convenience to vinyl listening."

Tomasz Karasiński tested it for StereoLife Magazine on March 30, 2022, scoring 8.2 overall with a StereoLife Recommendation. He concluded that the CS 429 "can give a lot of joy even in its factory configuration."

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want records playing without a ritual — press one button and sit down, and records get played on weeknights, not only during dedicated sessions
• Someone else in the house uses the system — a partner, a houseguest, or a teenager can put a record on without learning to cue an arm
• You're buying your first real turntable — the 2M Red is mounted and aligned, the phono stage is built in, and an RCA cable is in the box
• You expect to upgrade the cartridge someday — the screw-on headshell and full tracking-force range mean a better cartridge fits later without buying a new deck
• Your records are staying analog — there's no USB or digital output here, so ripping vinyl to files needs another box entirely

How Does It Connect to Your System?

One RCA cable runs from the back of the deck to your amplifier, plus a ground wire to the ground screw. If your amplifier has a phono input, flip the rear switch to bypass the internal preamp and use it; if it doesn't, leave the switch on and run into any line input.

Assembly is on you: platter, mat, counterweight, headshell, and dust cover all go on at home, and the arm has a transit lock to release. Set the tracking force, set the anti-skating, choose 30 or 17cm for the record size, and press start.

Pairs Well With

Where the CS 429 goes next:

• Phono cartridges — the single biggest change you can make, and the headshell makes the swap a one-minute job
• Interconnect cables — the supplied RCA lead gets you playing; a better one is an easy early upgrade
• Integrated amplifiers — with or without a phono stage, since the CS 429 works either way
• Turntable accessories — levels, mats, and cartridge-care tools for a serious setup

Frequently Asked Questions

What comes in the box with the Dual CS 429?

The turntable with the Ortofon 2M Red already mounted, the platter and rubber mat, the counterweight, a hinged dust cover, and an RCA cable. Everything needed for a first listen is in the carton.

Do I need a phono input on my amplifier?

Either input works. The built-in moving-magnet phono stage lets you connect to a line input on any amplifier, receiver, or powered speaker. A rear switch takes it out of the circuit when you'd rather use a phono input or an outboard stage.

How much setup does the CS 429 need?

More than the word automatic suggests. You fit the platter, mat, counterweight, headshell, and dust cover, release the arm lock, then set tracking force and anti-skating. Budget half an hour the first time, and the manual walks through each step.

Can the CS 429 play 78 rpm records?

The platter spins at 33, 45, and 78 rpm. Shellac records need a wider stylus than the one fitted, and Ortofon sells a 78 stylus that pops onto the 2M body, so the conversion is quick when you want it.

Which cartridges will fit later?

Anything from 5 to 9 grams that tracks between 0 and 4 grams, which covers most moving-magnet designs and plenty of high-output moving coils. The detachable headshell means you can keep the 2M Red mounted on a spare.

How much shelf space does it need?

With the lid closed it measures 17.1 inches wide, 14.4 deep, and 5.7 tall, and it weighs about 13.7 pounds. Opening the dust cover takes it to roughly 15.7 inches tall, so leave headroom above the shelf.

See It in Action

The Listening Post Christchurch unboxes and walks through setup:

AVForums follows up on Ed Selley's written review on video:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about turntable setup, cartridge upgrades, or phono stages? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.