My First Turntable

Jdfelice:

Here are a couple of websites you will use over and over on your continued search for "vinyl nirvana"

The cartridge database has that cart listed with all the specs.

http://www.cartridgedb.com/

http://www.vinylengine.com/

The Dual is a nice little belt drive turntable. I would immediately receommend a new belt and oiling the plattter bearing. I don't believe that these turntables came packaged (at least not from Dual) with any cartridge. Not until the late Dual/Ortofon series did the turntable come set up from the factory. Reliability should be good, as it is with all Duals. The tone arm is an excellent one, and properly set up will not harm you records. I am not familar with this Shure cartridge and would recommend a new Audio Technica or something similar that would mate well with the Dual. You will need to get an outboard phono preamp to plug into the line stage of your preamp. Music Direct has a few low cost models that are very musical. Enjoy, your on the road to a life long addiction. :)

Make sure the stylus is seated completely in the cartridge. If it is not, there will be very low output. Just give it a small nudge from the front towards the back.