Dual 1009 servicing

[andre63]

PROLOGUE
First and foremost, thank you all for this huge source of information thank to which, after much reading, watching, reasoning and eventually figuring out, I decided I was ready to buy an old Dual 1009, disassemble it and start to lovingly and carefully service it.

ABOUT MYSELF (pass if not interested in this section)
Secondly, something about myself and my “HiFi” story.

This Dual 1009 unit is my very first TT; since I’m 58 by now, it might sound rather odd to hear that but my parents didn’t own a TT, and were not for superfluities …

So I grew up listening occasionally to music from radio stations and playing, on and on, literally not more than half a dozen of cassettes recorded by some luckier teenagers in the neighbourhood, obviously on those tiny, portable, mono cassette players from the 70s.

In 1990 I bought my first and only one audio system, which I still own, consisting of

• Sony CDP-690 CD player
• TEAC V3000 tape deck
• Rotel ra-840bx3 integrated
• Cyrus 781 Mission speakers

and started buying CDs.

For several reasons, basically ‘cause of my job since throughout the nineties I mostly worked for some of the employer’s customers based in different Italian regions (oh, yes, didn’t I tell you that I am 100% Italian, born and raised in Italy? ) so no my own place but just hotel rooms or small studio apartments … and the audio equipment was left well packed at my parents …

Then, from the 2000s on, I settle down, had children, moved to a larger house, and was quite busy with my job (IT industry) and … the audio system was set in the house … almost all the time off, nothing more than an ornament …

Finally, my 14yo daughter recently bought a couple of vinyls, just because owning and touching them is so much more rewarding to her than having to do with a small plastic CD box … initially without even thinking of playing them …

But, after a while she asked for a turntable … and I was happy for her …

THE DUAL 1009
So a couple of weeks ago I scored this old Dual, overall in pretty good conditions, just one bit left, the rear piece of the dust cover Perspex.

As said above, thanks to this website I have

1. Disassembled it (see pics)
2. Thoroughly cleaned and polished it
3. Old grease removed from the cam and replaced with fresh lithium grease in the groves; lithium grease for the cogs too
4. 10x30 motor oil for the platter spindle and the electric motor bearing
5. Manually polished the Perspex of the dust cover, actually just minor and very superficial scratches (but I want to polish it with a better scratch polish to make it really shine)

Next steps will be

A. Replace the original stylus or even place a new cartridge
B. Replace the original connectors to the amp since they are not RCA
C. Test the TT hooked up to the Rotel ra-840bx3 integrated and the speakers
D. Cut a new piece of Perspex to replace the missing one
E. Glue all the dust cover Perspex parts to the wood ones; in the pictures the dust cover looks like firmly assembled but the old glue dried out and I need to clean it from the grooves in the wood and reglue it
F. Grounding the TT​

YOUR KIND TIPS

A. Cartridge and stylus

• Is the original cartridge a good one? Is it worth it to keep it and just replace the stylus? If so, what stylus?
• If the original cartridge is not a good quality one, what would be the best ones (say within 3 price range: budged but good, good, very good) keeping into account the overall limits of the TT, its tonearm and headshell?

D. Dust cover
The dust cover has no metal hinges instead, my understanding is that the missing piece of Perspex is intended to fit into the rear grove of the plinth to allow the lid to stay open.

Unfortunately, I could not find any clear picture of such a mechanism so

• Could any of you owning a Dual with the same dust cover system post some detailed pics?
• How much the missing piece of Perspex height has to be so that it can stuck into the plinth groove to keep the lid open when completed lifted up?

F. Grounding
Is it worth it? I am asking because I am totally uneducated on electronics.
What would be the best spot to ground a Dual 1009 TT?

EPILOGUE
Thanks again to anybody so kind and patient to get down here.
I hope my English, with all the new technical terms I am glad I've learnt, is clear enough.

 

[andre63]

Here's the rest of the pics

 

[Bicyclist]

Excellent table! I don't know anything about your cartridge but an entry level audio Technica would get you started if you just want to get it up and running.

Those 1009s are so lovely.

 

[Bicyclist]

Actually I think you have a ceramic cartridge there and most likely will want a mm cartridge.

 

[andre63]

Actually I think you have a ceramic cartridge there and most likely will want a mm cartridge.

 

[andre63]

To be honest, I know about cartridges even less than about TTs but thanks to your comment Bicyclist I've just googled that MM will provide a better quality sound and wear out the record less.
I also know that across the pond it's getting supper time so you all take your time, relax and when you're convenient come back with your kind advice on what MM and the other points in my loooong post ...

 

[Hajidub]

Others will post on good, suggested cart/stylus combos that'll offer great starting points. The polishing and clean work you've done is incredibly detailed, you should take pride in this work alone!

 

[Bicyclist]

Something with a tracking force in the 2-3 grams range would be a pretty safe bet. Conical stylus as well. That deck can actually preform really well with lower stylus pressure but for starters the at3600 would be a great place to get your feet wet. The alignment is less critical and the cartridge and stylus are fairly robust.

 

[Bicyclist]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133778758070

You could do worse than this and this dealer is pretty well known and trusted.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Something with a tracking force in the 2-3 grams range would be a pretty safe bet. Conical stylus as well. That deck can actually preform really well with lower stylus pressure but for starters the at3600 would be a great place to get your feet wet. The alignment is less critical and the cartridge and stylus are fairly robust.

A Dual 1009 in good repair will track fine at less than 2 grams. I'd recommend an Audio-Technica AT-VM 95C or E without a problem in a Dual of this vintage. Inexpensive and more than good. The best for the least expenditure.

 

[andre63]

Others will post on good, suggested cart/stylus combos that'll offer great starting points. The polishing and clean work you've done is incredibly detailed, you should take pride in this work alone!

You're too kind, Sir. The original conditions were pretty good.

 

[andre63]

Thanks for the tips on at3600 and AT-VM 95C or E.

Just one silly question: will the 4 metal pins connector of the AT* cartridges (placed over a squared frame) smoothly fit into the the 4 holes of the sled "cap" (rounded frame), there is also a plastic pin)?
Please, see the attached pics

Thanks

 

[Penn42]

No they will not. If you have any soldering skills you could purchase a new set of leads with the correct pins and solder then to your sled, which would then make your sled compatible with the vast majority of modern cartridges.

Or there's currently a 1009 sled with a shure m91 mounted on it for $90 on ebay. Not affiliated in any way with the seller, and would be a more expensive solution, but would get you another sled, with the correct leads, and a good cart.

 

[Bicyclist]

You may want a reproduction sled. Best audio makes several models for dual turntables. I'm not sure if they make yours.

 

[Bicyclist]

The only reproduction sled I found in a short search was the pats audio version. These are made by a 3d printer and generally not as well regarded as the best audio versions. I will say I've used both brands and both have worked well for me. The one below is the one you need I think. I would ask pats audio to make sure if you decide to buy.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/291344184361

 

[andre63]

Thanks Penn42 and Bicyclist for your valuable heads up.

Well, I reckon I'd not go for a 90+ bucks modified 1009 shell.
After all, the deck was only 10€ and this project, since it is my very first one, is a low budget project.

My soldering skills are very BOTL (I happened to solder just a couple of time in my life and I melted gallons of solder ) but I can get better since I guess it's a matter of patience and practice.

As suggested by Penn42, it seems I just need "a new set of leads with the correct pins"; what is the diameter the leads have to be, where can I find them as well as the pins?

Even better if it would be possible to solder the 4 new leads into something like in the original sled rounded piece with the 4 holes, not rounded but squared, so that it can perfectly fit the back of a at3600 or AT-VM 95C - E cartridge.
Is there anything I can buy for such a purpose?

Looking forward to hearing again from you gurus

 

[Bicyclist]

Not to my knowledge but that piece will fit other older cartridges. You would need to find one of those however.

 

[Penn42]

I misspoke when I said "pins"; should have said connectors. At any rate you can look up "turntable/headshell lead wires" most anywhere on the internet and you'll find what you need. Most sets will comes with the slide-on connectors on both ends, but for your purposes you can just snip one side off, strip a little bit of the wire, and solder to your sled.

 

[stereofisher]

A Dual 1009 in good repair will track fine at less than 2 grams. I'd recommend an Audio-Technica AT-VM 95C or E without a problem in a Dual of this vintage. Inexpensive and more than good. The best for the least expenditure.

Greetings,

Your 1009 is one of the first. Have owned several. The Audio Technica cart mentioned above will work well on it. Also you could look at a vintage Shure M44 cart. They are discontinued. You can get a used one on EBay. Many don’t have a stylus. Often I buy them and get a new stylus. They sound great. My latest Dual is a 1019. Came with a M44. Surprisingly the stylus is good. Have the 1019 next to a Dual 1219 with a Shure M91ED. Much as I love that 1219 the 1019 actually sound a bit better. Good luck with the 1009.

Eric

 

[andre63]

I misspoke when I said "pins"; should have said connectors. At any rate you can look up "turntable/headshell lead wires" most anywhere on the internet and you'll find what you need. Most sets will comes with the slide-on connectors on both ends, but for your purposes you can just snip one side off, strip a little bit of the wire, and solder to your sled.

Thanks Penn42! Now I know what I need, where to find it and how to use it ... my soldering skills permitting ...