turntableThey'll be as popular as pizza! When you're ready to play your favorite vinyl, the next thing you should know is how to connect a turntable to your speakers.
How you connect them depends on your specific needs and personal preferences. To get there we must verify the following:
- What components do you need to connect a turntable to the speakers?
- Which of the possible scenarios are you in?
- How do I connect my turntable to the speakers?
Check out this article for detailed instructions, illustrations, and some helpful videos. Let's get your turntable spinning!
Contents
- Components needed to connect a turntable to the speakers
- Possible scenarios you are in
- 6 different ways to connect a turntable to speakers
- 1st Stage Turntable + Preamp + Amplifier + Speakers
- Second stage turntable with integrated preamp + powered speakers with integrated amplifier
- 3rd stage turntable with integrated preamp + amplifier + speakers
- 4th Stage Turntable + Preamp + Active Speakers
- 5. Scene turntable + preamp + receiver + speakers
- 6. Scenario turntable + phono input receiver + powered speakers
- amplifier x receiver
- 1. Built-in stereo receiver and stereo amplifier
- 2. A/V Receiver or Audio and Video Receiver
- What is the best configuration?
- 1. Four independent components: turntable + preamp + amplifier + speakers
- 2. Turntable with built-in preamp + speakers with built-in amplifier*
- Diploma
Components needed to connect a turntable to the speakers
To listen to a vinyl record, the following four elements must be present:
- play records– Acquires and transmits electrical signals to the preamplifier
- preamp(Preamp or Receiver): Amplifies the low-voltage signal from the turntable and prepares it for the amplifier
- amplifier– Boosts the electrical signal to line level for the speakers. You can also power the speakers.
- speaker– Converts electrical signals into sound.
Possible scenarios you are in
There are several possible combinations to connect these components. Do you have all four independent components? Or do you have multitasking components like a turntable with a built-in preamp or speakers with a built-in amplifier? and if you haveactive powered speakers?
Check what kind of turntables and speakers you have. There are a total of six different possible combinations when it comes to connecting your turntable to the speakers.
- Turntable + Preamp + Amplifier + Speakers (all components are independent)
- play records with built preamp+speaker with built-in amplifier
- play records with built Preamp + Amplifier + Speakers
- Turntable + Preamp + Active Speakers
- play records + preamp + receiver + speaker
- Turntable + receiver with phono input* + speakers
Note: not allRecipientIt has the turntable input. One way to tell is to look on the back of the receiver for the "TELEPHONE”Verboten. If you don't see this entry, you need an external preamp to send the signal from the turntable to the receiver.
Another way to see if your receiver has a "TELEPHONE”Verbotenlook under the option buttons on the front of the receiver.
Please watch the video below to better understand what a receiver can do.
6 different ways to connect a turntable to speakers
Now it's time to see how to connect a turntable to the speakers. Let's start with the first combination of those listed above.
1st scenario
Turntable + Preamp + Amplifier + Speakers
if you have it4 autonomous componentsHere is the way to connect them.
Wires you will need:
- 2 RCA-Cables
- Standard speaker cable
context:
- Place the turntable on a firm, stable surface.
- connect theplay recordsfor himpreamptogetherCorporal
- connect thepreampIt is inamplifierwith someone elseCorporal
- connect thespeakerfor himamplifiercomspeaker cable
- turn around soon
2nd scenario
Turntable with integrated preamp + active speakers with integrated amplifier
Wires you will need:
- RCA out(Remember that red is the right channel andwhiteand theLinksChannel)
context:
- put thatplay recordsin a stable and fixed place
- connect theRCA cable on the back of the turntableand send them tospeaker(The LEFT with RCA input)
- Connect the left speaker to the right speakerwith standard speaker cables
- connect theturntable and speakersIn one shot
- are you ready
Questions you might have:
Q: How can I tell if a turntable has a built-in preamp?
A: Your turntable has a built in preamp if you see BOTH on the back panel:
- AUSBporta
- A switch for the phono line
Q: How do you identify a pair of powered speakers?
A: If your speakers come with a plug that fits an outlet, that means they have a built-in amplifier. Simply that way!
Passive speakers, on the other hand, have no plug. They are connected to the external amplifier via cables. The latter provides the power required to operate the speakers.
3rd scenario
Turntable with preamp + amplifier + built-in speakers
Which cables do you need?
- 1x Cabo-Cinch
- Standard speaker cable
Context:
- put thatplay recordsin a stable and fixed place
- connect theplay recordsIt is inamplifiercomCorporal
- connect bothspeakerfor himamplifiercomStandard speaker cable
- Plug all 3 components into the socket.
- leave soon
4to-Shenario
Turntable + Preamp + Active Speakers
Which cables do you need?
- 2x Cinchkabel
- Standard speaker cable
Context:
- put thatplay recordsin a stable and fixed place
- connect theplay recordsIt is inpreampcomCorporal
- Connect the preamp to the left speakerRCA-Cable
- Connect the left speaker to the right speaker using standard cables
- Plug the components into the power outlet.
- Prepare
5th stage
Turntable + Preamp + Receiver + Speakers
Which cables do you need?
- 2x Cinchkabel
- Standard speaker cable
Context:
- put thatplay recordsin a stable and fixed place
- connect theplay recordsIt is inpreampcomCorporal
- connect thepreamp to the recipientcomRCA-Cable
- connect thereceptorfor himspeakercomStandard speaker cable
- Plug the components into the power outlet.
- Prepare
6th stage
Turntable + receiver phono input + powered speakers
Which cables do you need?
- 2x Cinchkabel
- Standard speaker cable
Context:
- put thatplay recordsin a stable and fixed place
- connect theplay recordsIt is inpreampcomCorporal
- connect thepreamp for the left speakercomRCA-Cable
- connect theleft speakerfor himright speakerwith standard cable
- Plug the components into the power outlet.
- Prepare
amplifier x receiver
As you may have noticed, we use an amplifier or receiver to connect the turntables to the speakers. But what is the difference between these two components?
Let's start with the amplifier.
An amplifier has only one job. Boost the signals coming from the sound source (the turntable in our case) to the speakers and provide them with enough electrical energy to make the sound.
A receiver, on the other hand, can take over the task of the amplifier described above and more, depending on the model.
In most cases, the receivers are able to connect various audio devices. Instead of having multiple separate amplifiers for the turntable, CD player and radio, you can route everything through the receiver. Think of it as the master switch that lets you hear all your gear through the same set of speakers.
Put simply, all receivers act as amplifiers. But not all amplifiers have multi-device capabilities like a receiver.
Receivers can be divided into two different models:
1. Built-in stereo receiver and stereo amplifier
perfect for everyoneSetup of the sound systemA stereo receiver has all of the following characteristics:
- Amplifies audio signals (works like an amplifier)
- Adjust the volume Ter
- Multiple audio inputs and outputs (for connecting speakers, turntables, etc.)
- It has radio and display function on some models.
2. A/V Receiver or Audio and Video Receiver
perfect for everyonemovie at home and sound system setup
It basically has the same features as the stereo receiver but also hasVIDEOEntrance and exit.
- Strengthenaudio and videoSign
- Severalaudio and videoinputs and outputs
An A/V receiver lets you connect a TV and games console, while connecting speakers to receive sound from both.
The following video is well explained in a few minutes. Add subs if the speaker's accent is too heavy. Great job by the way.
What is the best configuration?
HeuAdvantagesmiContrastdepending on option. Let's consider the first two options listed above. It is enough to see the big picture.
1. Four independent components: turntable + preamp + amplifier + speakers
ÖAdvantageshave thefour autonomous componentsthey are:
- The ability to update your system over time
- Best overall sound (independent componentsIt tends torather qualitativeas a multitasker, ie. Active speaker with built-in amplifier)
It is inagainst it:
- and themore expensive variant(more than 1000 dollars)
- need more space at home to accommodate all components
- more cables to connect and organize
2. Turntable with built-in preamp + speakers with built-in amplifier*
ÖAdvantageshave aTurntable with built-in preampthere is one ofSpeakers with built-in amplifier:
- reduction in costsfor less than $500
- Veryeasy to assemble cape
- Less space to place the 2 components
It is inagainst it:
- not easy to updateYour sound system later in the future
*speaker with built-in amplifieralso known asAttachmentÖamplified speakers.
On the other hand, those that require an external to function are referred to as passive.
Diploma
I hope you found this article useful as we have covered many topics. You should now be able to understand how to connect a turntable to your speakers, whatever model you have.
We also have many other items ondifferent types of turntablesand speakers too. Feel free to browse or follow the links above.
The videos I have included in the article are intended to give you a quick and basic understanding of how to connect turntables to speakers. They helped me organize the content of this article and gained additional knowledge about the various components of the topic itself.