How to Add a Turntable to a Stereo System

Turntables and vinyl albums have been around for decades.

Turntables and vinyl albums are enjoying a popularity boost that has saved them from extinction after they nearly followed the doomed path of audio tape. Connecting a turntable to a modern stereo system requires a phono input or a phono preamp device that converts the signal into music. Most turntables cannot be plugged into standard line-level audio inputs due to the way the signal is transmitted, and they need to have a specialized port or an external signal processing preamp known as a phono preamp.

Things You'll Need

• RCA patch cord
• Ground wire

Instructions

1. Power off the equipment.

2. Connect an RCA patch cable to the outputs of the turntable, making a note of which color connector is used for the right channel output and which is used for the left.

3. Connect the other end of the RCA patch cable to the input connector marked "Phono" on the receiver or stereo system. If there is more than one "Phono" input, connect the turntable to the one marked "Magnetic" as opposed to the one marked "Ceramic" unless it is known that a ceramic-style turntable is being used. Ceramic turntables are much less common than magnetic.

4. Connect the ground cable to the turntable grounding plug and attach the other end to the grounding terminal on the back of the stereo near the inputs.

5. Power on the equipment and test the turntable by playing an album.

Tips & Warnings

• Connect the turntable to any old receiver or preamp using the phono jacks and then connect the tape-out line from the receiver into a standard input on a receiver.

• Always use the ground connector to reduce hum and eliminate a potential feedback loop that interferes with the quality of sound.

Resources

• Crutchfield: Receivers: Frequently Asked Questions
• Crutchfield: Turntables: How to Choose
• Crutchfield: 15 Tips for Better Sound from your Home Stereo
• "Learn All About Phono Preamps": Edward R. Carlson