Dual 506 - replacement stylus or just scrap it?

 

New member
Username: Lost4words

Post Number: 1
Registered: Sep-06
Hi.
I'm torn between buying a generic stylus for my old Dual turntable or finding something else.

Unfortunately it has a single screw mount for the cartridge so I can't change to a more sensible cartridge.

The actual stylus is no longer made.

Plan B would be a Debut 3 turntable or Goldring gr 1.2 but I'm not sure if they are an improvement.

I had a debut 2 for a while but it sounded as dull as dishwater to me.
Does anyone know if generic stylii are any use?
The local upmarket hi fi shop sells a brand called 'the diamond stylus company'.

My only previous experience with these things was a really duff 'Sure' stylus from Tandy, 20 years ago.
Thanks
Lost4words
 

Bronze Member
Username: Anubis

Birmingham, West Midlands England

Post Number: 46
Registered: May-06
Yes, they are fine. Generics work just as well, at this level, I think. I wouldn't scrap the Duel. That would be a shame, it's a good, budget range deck - well, it was in it's day. Sounds like the twinges of the upgrade fever might be upon you... You'll probably benefit from having a new turntable. You'll likely notice a difference by going the whole way with a new TT, if you can afford it, but the Duel will not likely flop in performance because it uses a generic stylus. I wouldn't say that about more specialist and expensive decks (in for a penny, in for a pound and all that jazz...) As long as the cartridge is still good to go, then it's worth fitting it up with one, even if you're going to enter it into the second hand market as 'Fully working'.

A/V
 

New member
Username: Lost4words

Post Number: 2
Registered: Sep-06
Thanks for that, A/V.
Lol at upgrade fever!
My first bout of that happened in 1975 when I pinched some of my dad's cooker flex (he's a sparky) to get a better sound from my Leaks.
After that, i bought some stands for them and I was officially a tweaker :-)
I think maybe that the stylus fitted on the Dual just now is a generic.
It dawned on me that it has no markings whatsoever and I do remember that Ortofon, Sure, Goldring etc styli always carry a makers mark.
I guess that having no markings allows the generic to be sold in different boxes by different companies.
I spoke to a chap at Karas so I'll maybe see them for a stylus.

He says that the sylii that they carry are made in Japan by the same company that made the Ortofon original anyway.

What do you think that the next worthwhile upgrade would be from the Dual?
I suspect that the Debut 3 might be its equal, but not any better.
Thanks again - much appreciated.
Raker
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