DSJR

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've known this model since it came out in 1976 or thereabouts and used a 1229 idler drive model for some years before succumbing to the Linn Sondek LP12 along with so many others. I remember the 701 being the only turntable to really make a Shure V15 III sound sweet and jumped at the chance of buying a good used one in 1990 for not much money £50 approx).

When my huge Notts Analogue Mentor turntable became too much I resurrected the 701 and have used it ever since. The arm is too light for many moving coil types, but it copes superbly with my V15VMR, vintage Sonus Blue and a motley collection of much loved ADC's and it sounds great to me. The only mods I've done is to free the suspension off a little, stretch an over compressed spring and to replace the original audio lead out wires to the amp with one from a Linn ittok arm. Oh yes, I use a Notts Analogue Spacemat on top of the stuck on Dual one, despite the arm now playing slightly low at the back...

You don't get the expansive scale of a modern top end turntable, but it's better than a Rega Planar 2 or 3 even, retaining all the musical information, but presenting it in a smaller, less expansive form. I love the auto function, which has no effect on the arm friction or overall handling at all. The auto mech: is very quiet in operation too and the muting circuit, once adjusted, cuts in and out smoothly.

Now the deck is getting on a bit (over thirty years old), the platter sometimes starts off and accelerates to high rpm. A quick knuckle rap to the clear motor control board cover always cures it for a year or two.

I look forward to many more years with this old friend. I love it!

Strengths:
Long lived and reliable.

Good direct drive motor lacks problems in others of the time, despite this one not being quartz locked.

Better sound than you'd ever imagine with the right cartridge, due to unique counterweight system.

Very gentle auto system.

Weaknesses:
Lacks cachet of other vintage decks.

Some people feel the world begins and ends with Moving Coil cartridges so would pass this deck by.

Spares not available, although cartridge carriers can still be sourced on the web.

Similar Products Used:
Dual 1229, plus I sold many other Duals. Thorens, Rega, Linn, Notts Analogue, Pro-ject etc...

mrrick

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $20.00 from thrift shop

Summary:
I purchased my DUAL 701 from a little old lady who runs the local thrift shop, for the price of $20.00. I took it in for servicing to a Dual tech, who charged me $100.00 for a complete service check up. Don't we all go to the Dr. once in awhile? I was told that this turntable was manufactured between 1973/76 and sold then for $400.00.It was considered the flagship . This was the first DIRECT DRIVE turntable from Dual. Well one year later and lots of hours spent RE-listening to my records all over again. I can tell you this IS one turntable you've got to get your hands on. The measured performance of the Dual 701 speaks for itself, it's silence during operation is as impressive as its performance. Can't imagine spending thousands of dollars on a turntable, you don't have to....

Strengths:
Very Quite simple operation , it's automatic, Direct Drive

Weaknesses:
None

Price Paid:  $40.00 from private owner

Summary:
Just bought my second Dual 701for only € 40 !!!!! The needle of the cartridge costs already more.....The first 701 (by that time expensive: 1100 guilders, about €500) I have since 1976, without any problem, so now a second one for my studyroom. The best you gan get, total balance in quality (arm, turntable, Shure V15III). People just don't know the ever resting value of this model. Fits excellent with my other classics: Nakamichi OMS 4 E cd-player, Quad 34 and 606, Elipson 1303 loudspeakers. Get one, I see often good 701's on Ebay Germany.

Strengths:
Silence, arm, stability, in fact everything that is necessary for real hifi.

Weaknesses:
Still not found. Attention: the first serie has a cover that is made too heavy: the springs of the hinge in the chassis can't keep the cover opened and often plastics are broken. Very soon after Dual has used a less heavy cover.

Similar Products Used:
Elipson 1303, Quad 34 and 606, Nakamichi OMS 4 E

Price Paid:  $85.00 from 01.08.02

Summary:
Still one of the best turntables for the money. Top of the line tonearm. Better than most Linn, Micro Seiki or Technics... Best used with original Shure V15 Type 3 and DUAL CV 240 quadrophonic amplifier or the very good 70´s DUAL CV 1600 stereo amp. For spare parts try this German former Dual Hifi shop, they still have some spare parts and they also can copy a repair manual for you. Its a real tricky guy, he can repair any old DUAL machine. He especially loves the 701. Mr. Otmar Langer, DUAL Service Hifi Shop Neanderstrasse 5 40699 Erkrath Germany Phone 0049 -2 11- 24 41 Fax 0049 211- 24 28 34 For buying a 701 try Ebay here in Germany (www.ebay.de) the 701 still sells for under 100 Dollars, because people here just do not know the quality of this fantastic machine. Dual just has no reputation here.

Strengths:
Very solid. Very quite in operation. Easy to maintain. Excellent direct drive.

Weaknesses:
Mechanical system often needs cleaning and oiling after 30 years.

Similar Products Used:
Lenco highend beltdrive.

Price Paid:  $365.00 from ebay

Summary:
The best turntable for the money! smooth action and noise fre no wow and flutter here! Dual is great and get it while you can.

Strengths:
very smooth and noise free sound

Weaknesses:
heavy unit and the price is only going to go up

Similar Products Used:
Hitachi, technics etc