Well, the CS415 only is very entry level record player - I'd definitely recommend to avoid that model, if you want a real hifi class turntable. And while the CS627Q is a pretty good direct drive, I'd nevertheless suggest to avoid it, as the halfinch-mount-adaptor kit has become very rare nowadays - and without that you'd be rather limited in cartridge/needle quality. Whereas the CS502 is a pretty decent belt-drive and its arm is pretty good as well and accepts a wide range of cartridges. And while it offers less extra functions compared to the 627Q, it's also a more mechanical and straight-forward design - so there are less things that can malfunction, and even if something fails, it'll be easier to repair. And the cartridge carrier plates are still pretty easy to find for tolerable prices, which is a plus if you want to run more than one cartridge and would like these to be easily swappable. And last, but especially for real Dual fans not least, the 502 still is a classic Dual-Steidinger model.
Dual CS 627Q Turntable Foot Insulator. Looks like someone added an additional pad. It's easily removeable, if desired. Price: $9.00 Dual CS 627Q Turntable Main Lever. Dual CS 627Q Turntable Main Lever. Price: $12.00 Dual CS 627Q Turntable Motor. Dual CS 627Q Turntable Motor.
Hence, of these three, I'd recommend to go for the CS502, although I'd rate the CS627Q a tad higher technically.Greetings from Munich!Manfred / lini. Well, the CS415 only is very entry level record player - I'd definitely recommend to avoid that model, if you want a real hifi class turntable. And while the CS627Q is a pretty good direct drive, I'd nevertheless suggest to avoid it, as the halfinch-mount-adaptor kit has become very rare nowadays - and without that you'd be rather limited in cartridge/needle quality. Whereas the CS502 is a pretty decent belt-drive and its arm is pretty good as well and accepts a wide range of cartridges. And while it offers less extra functions compared to the 627Q, it's also a more mechanical and straight-forward design - so there are less things that can malfunction, and even if something fails, it'll be easier to repair.
And the cartridge carrier plates are still pretty easy to find for tolerable prices, which is a plus if you want to run more than one cartridge and would like these to be easily swappable. And last, but especially for real Dual fans not least, the 502 still is a classic Dual-Steidinger model. Hence, of these three, I'd recommend to go for the CS502, although I'd rate the CS627Q a tad higher technically.Greetings from Munich!Manfred / lini. Click to expand.I agree, of the three Duals, the 502 is about the only one I would consider, although I tend to like their earlier tables better.
If you want to go for Technics, they made some excellent tables, but stick with the direct drive units as their belt drive tables have given me fits in the past. Pioneer made some great tables in the 70's and early 80's as well (as long as they are either wood or silver).Another thing, the CS627Q turntables have the ULM arm which was supposed to have better tracking qualities, but I think it was a way for Ortofon to sell more cartridges as it would only take those unless you had the adapter, which is quite rare and a bit annoying to use. I hated those arms.
Balifly: I'm not aware that the SM840 would make problems under 220V/50Hz - which is what they also have in Lithuania.Tago Mago: Actually, I think Dual's ULM concept was pretty well thought out. Problem is that original needles for the nicer ULM carts (foremost the ULM/TKS60E and the TKS380E & 390E) are hardly available anymore - and the DN160E needle (for the ULM/TKS60E) has been downgraded from nude to bonded in later production anyway.Zujus: Depends on the particular Technics model. And I don't care about the principle of the drive - what counts is the actual implementation. And, provided it's properly implemented, each of the drive types is capable of delivering solid hifi quality.Greetings from Munich!Manfred / lini. Zujus: The TD105 isn't really one of the sought after Thorens models, but nevertheless it's also a pretty good belt-drive table (and actually I'm pretty fond of the visual appearance as well.) - and compared to all the TD14x/16x models it definitely is a more modern design, although it was just meant to be Thorens' entry-level model. I'd even rate it a tad higher than the CS502, as the Thorens drive is a bit better (especially in terms of wow & flutter, which is very low on the TD105.).
However, the Dual might still be preferable regarding the choice of cartridges, as the light TP22 arm of the TD105 and its headshell design limit that to some degree.Greetings from Munich!Manfred / lini.