The Best Audio Turntables, Available Now

The early 1960’s brought the consumer new improved hi fidelity in many ways. Recording techniques using magnetic tape offered entertainment impact. Stereo had arrived. The 78 rpm records were wearing less with stylus pressure move from the usual 6 grams down to 2 grams post World War II.

Record changers were a hit as they now offered more unattended play time. The long play record, at 33 rpm, was becoming commercially available. With it came the Dual 1009, the first truly hi fidelity capable record changer/turntable. It reliable, consistent mechanical performance and ability to deliver 0.5 grams of stylus force made the move to using magnetic cartridges realistic. A new era of audio fidelity arrived. Worldwide distribution success came to Dual with its 1009. Dual clearly understood the mechanical aspects or the 1009’s success. The precision manufacturing of reliable metal parts are still delivering performance today, unlike competitors in today’s world focused on using plastic cost and reliability reduction techniques. The 1009 was the prefect player for those 10 inch records, typically played with ceramic cartridges. Dual was the perfect manufacturer at the time. The 1009’s tome arm would allow either the new improved magnetic cartridges or the older established crystal or ceramic cartridges, to be used.
(Did you know the reason the company was called Dual goes back to the making of the first Dual motor during the start of the 1900’s, when electricity was not yet widely available… it ran on electricity and a clock spring motor.) As the larger long play records increased in width Dual modified the 1009 with the 1009F to work with the larger diameter 12 inch records using only magnetic cartridges. It also improved its rumble spec from -38 to -58 db… a significant change that respected the improved performance of stereo vinyl disks played with more precise magnetic cartridges doming from the likes of Pickering, Shure and Stanton.