Would a older 1200 series Dual be better than my DP-37F

[Schmidlapper]

I currently have two good Denon DP-37Fs and some more spare parts as well. There is a rich guys estate auction coming up soon with a vintage Dual turntable advertised, no model given. I have emailed the auction house and asked for that. The plinth is a wooden United Audio with the name badge to the right side on the front. I think this style may have been used with the 1200 series. Would a Dual of this type be an upgrade? Are they generally automatics or manual tables? Of course if they tell me the model I will add it here.

 

[E.Man]

I'm running a Denon DP-37F and a Dual 1225.

I'm new to Dual and have yet to setup mine for prime sound but from what I've read you really need the model number of the Dual. I read the 1219 and 1229 are the top models.

Even then they are so different as to make a comparison fraught.

Dual 12## are full auto but being so much earlier than the Denon there's no electronics. It's all 'cogs and rods'.

The Dual 12## are Idler drive rather than the direct drive of the Denon.

Off the top of my head guess I'd say not an upgrade but if it's functional and affordable buy it. I did ; )

 

[muovimies]

Pretty much all the old Duals I'm aware of are automatic tables. If it's a 1219 or 1229 it might be an upgrade - I've never heard the Denon. If it's a lesser model, then probably not. It will also depend on what kind of sound you like - all the idler drive Duals will sound different from your current table, whether or not you prefer the sound is different matter altogether. Personally I like them a lot, especially the 1219/1229, which are the top of the line models from the 1200-line - they are basically the same table with little differences, both have a 7lbs 12" platter in contrast to the 3 or 4 lbs 10" platters of the smaller models.

 

[hanfrac]

I had a Denon DP-33F and sold it after getting a Dual 1019. The Denon sounded thin and uninteresting compared to the Dual. I now have a 1229. If you can get a 1219 or 1229 and get it cleaned up with a decent cartridge/stylus, I'd bet on the Dual over the Denon.

 

[12ax7]

The Dual 120x, 121x and 122x series were all idler drives, they could be either large chassis or small chassis. 123xs could be either idler or belt drive (the 1235 has a very rare S-shaped tonearm). The 124x and 125x series were all belt drive. Each have their fans but the large chassis idlers, as mentioned, seem to be the most desired. I think I got that right.

 

[danj]

The Dual 120x, 121x and 122x series were all idler drives, they could be either large chassis or small chassis. 123xs could be either idler or belt drive (the 1235 has a very rare S-shaped tonearm). The 124x and 125x series were all belt drive. Each have their fans but the large chassis idlers, as mentioned, seem to be the most desired. I think I got that right.

You got it right.