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Turntable/Phono stage advice

Gallo Macho

Gallo Macho

New Member
Hello all! I'm hoping to get back into vinyl and have some questions about a turntable and phono stage. Thanks in advance for your time. For some background, while I've always loved the idea of having an audiophile grade sound system, real life has always intruded on execution of that idea. Now the universe has seemingly dealt another blow to that idea in the form of some relatively significant tinnitus, which makes me wonder whether it's worth the bother of trying to put together a decent system since there is always ringing and white noise in my ears, even when there is no sound.
My gear isn't complete trash, but I don't think it's anything special. Currently I'm using a Yamaha HTR-4065 receiver driving a pair of Klipsch KG 5.2 floor standing speakers. The turntable I have currently available is a vintage Dual CS 522 that my family purchased in the early 80's.
My current question is whether the Dual turntable is decent enough bother tuning it up. It was in perfect working condition when it was put away, but I'm thinking that at it's age, the belt will likely need replacing and any remaining lubrication probably gummed up. I don't know if it might need anything further than that. Do tables need to be recapped as they age, even if half the age was in storage?
Based on the answers about the turntable, I would need to get a phono stage to make it work. Would it be worth getting a middle of the road pre-amp, such as a Rega, Schiit or Pro-Ject, given what I am using, or would I be served just as well by a $17 Pyle PP444. Or for that matter, am I better off scrapping either idea and going with a something like a modern Pro-Ject, U-Turn or Fluance turntable and calling it a day?
Any advice would be most appreciated.
 
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I don't personally know that much about that turntable, but it seems to have fans on Vinyl Engine. https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_reviews.php?make=Dual&model=CS+522
As for a phono stage, I wasn't aware of this company, but their products were highly recommended on another forum (SBAF), and they are extremely affordable. https://www.darlingtonlabs.com/shop
Had I known about them, I would not have built a Muffsy phono stage for my son, as I think I spent at least this much on it.
I think you are approaching things correctly. Get your current system up and running with a decent phono stage, and go from there.
 
Yes, check out your 522 and make sure everything works. At this point in your vinyl venture the biggest sound difference will be what cartridge you choose. The Dual tables of that era used a ULM tone arm which stood for 'Ultra Low Mass' which in turn dictates a high compliance cartridge. Any cart rated with a dynamic compliance of 15 and up should work fine. Research the cart to ensure that it has the sound you like. Yes, we all claim to want 'strait wire with gain' in our systems but the reality is we enjoy best what we prefer to hear.
 
Thanks for your help Pars and UncleAng! I wound up ordering a Schiit Mani preamp, as it will let me get started with the least amount of pain. Currently it looks like there is an Audio Technica cartridge installed. I can't quite see the number on it, it looks like its M1 something on the top, but the rest is hidden by the tonearm. It's white with red across the bottom. I'll have to see if that's enough for me to find any information about it. Hopefully some audio geek has a listing of 1980's cartridge information. :D
 
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