Dual CS 618Q Direct Drive Turntable

Direct-Drive Speed with Automatic End-of-Record Protection

The Dual CS 618Q is a direct-drive turntable built for serious home listening. Its quartz-stabilized motor connects straight to the platter, with no belt to stretch or replace, and supports 33, 45, and 78 rpm through a rotary dial rather than a physical speed change.

An Ortofon 2M Blue moving-magnet cartridge with a nude elliptical stylus comes factory-installed on a removable headshell, and a switchable phono preamp is built in. You cue the tonearm onto the record yourself, and the CS 618Q lifts it and stops the platter automatically once the side ends.

That automatic lift protects the stylus from sitting in the run-out groove, but it doesn't return the arm to its rest — you'll still swing it back by hand. A hinged dust cover is included, and the CS 618Q ships in your choice of black, gloss black, or walnut veneer.

Quartz-Stabilized Direct Drive

No Belt Between the Motor and the Platter

Direct drive means the 305mm die-cast aluminum platter sits straight on the motor shaft. Speed accuracy comes from the motor and its quartz control, not from belt tension. Coreless motor inductors and a double-shielded magnetic rotor keep electrical noise out of the signal, and Dual rates wow and flutter under ±0.07% DIN.

The platter weighs 1,450 grams complete with its rubber mat, spinning on a hardened steel spindle in a brass bushing. An MDF plinth on elastomer-damped feet handles vibration control; there's no separate sprung subchassis on this model.

A Tonearm Matched to the Ortofon 2M Blue

The aluminum tonearm rides on a twin-gimbal bearing with four pivot ball bearings, letting it track the groove with very little friction. A statically balanced counterweight sets tracking force, and a stepless anti-skating control keeps the stylus centered for even record wear.

The 2M Blue's removable headshell makes a future cartridge swap or service call straightforward. Rear RCA jacks, rather than a captive cable, let you upgrade the interconnect whenever you're ready to.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Mark Gusew reviewed the CS 618Q for StereoNET, scoring it 8.5 out of 10 and calling it "a polished performer, with a characteristically smooth and unbiased sound," adding that "its speed stability is exemplary."

What Hi-Fi? scored the CS 618Q 4/5 for Sound and 5/5 for Build, summing it up as "easy to use and boasts good features, with a stable, strait-laced performance that needs a bit more spirit."

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want direct-drive speed stability — quartz control and no belt to stretch keep 33, 45, and 78 rpm accurate over years of use
• You want end-of-record stylus protection — the arm lifts and the motor stops automatically once a side finishes playing
• You want a cartridge that's already matched and mounted — the Ortofon 2M Blue arrives factory-installed and aligned on a removable headshell
• You want a real choice of finishes — black, gloss black, or walnut veneer, all built on the same platform
• You want the tonearm to return to rest on its own — the CS 618Q lifts automatically at the end of a side but doesn't swing itself back; you'll return it by hand

How Does It Connect to Your System?

An RCA cable runs from the rear jacks to your amplifier, along with a ground wire when you're using a phono input. A rear switch chooses between the built-in phono preamp and a line-level pass-through.

Select PHONO to run into a dedicated moving-magnet phono input or an outboard phono preamp, or leave it on LINE to connect straight into any line-level input on an amplifier, receiver, or powered speaker.

Pairs Well With

Where the CS 618Q goes from here:

• Phono preamplifiers — an outboard phono stage is a natural next step up from the built-in preamp
• Phono cartridges — the removable headshell makes a future cartridge upgrade straightforward
• Interconnect cables — the rear RCA jacks aren't a captive cable, so a better interconnect is an easy upgrade
• Audio racks — a rigid, level shelf keeps a direct-drive motor's own vibration from reaching the platter

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CS 618Q fully automatic?

It's semi-automatic. You cue the tonearm onto the record by hand, and it lifts and the motor stops automatically at the end of the side, but the arm doesn't swing itself back to rest.

Does it have a built-in phono preamp?

Yes, a switchable one behind a rear switch, so it connects to a line-level input on any amplifier or powered speaker, or to a phono input if your gear has one.

Is this belt drive or direct drive?

Direct drive. The platter sits straight on the motor shaft with no belt in between, and a quartz circuit stabilizes the speed.

What's the difference between the black, gloss black, and walnut finishes?

All three share the same mechanics and electronics; the black finish is a standard vinyl veneer, while gloss black and walnut veneer are the step-up cosmetic finishes.

Can I change the cartridge later?

Yes. The Ortofon 2M Blue sits on a removable headshell, so swapping in a different cartridge is a straightforward job whenever you want to.

Can it play 78 rpm records?

The motor supports 78 rpm, but the included 2M Blue stylus is built for modern microgroove records. A shellac 78 needs a different cartridge and stylus.

See It in Action

Joe Collins (EzeeLinux) walks through his own CS 618Q:

The Audiophile Man covers setup, sound, and who it suits:

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Learn More

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