How to Connect a Turntable to a Home Theater Receiver

One end of a standard stereo cable with color-coded plugs for the left and right audio channels.

A vinyl record turntable connects to a home theater receiver at three points: the two stereo inputs and a ground wire connection. The ground wire prevents feedback from producing a howling sound while records are played. Use a standard stereo cable with 1/4-inch plugs on each end for the audio connections. Many home theater receivers are equipped with a set of jacks labeled "Turntable" or "Phono," but if yours does not have these jacks, any pair of stereo inputs will work.

Things You'll Need

• Turntable
• Stereo cable

Instructions

1. Connect the white and red plugs on one end of the stereo cable to the matching left and right audio jacks on the back edge of your turntable.

2. Plug the other ends into the home theater receiver's input jacks labeled "Phono" or "Turntable." If neither is available, connect to an unused set of inputs such as the "AUX" jacks.

3. Unscrew the the knob on the receiver labeled "GRND" (Ground) and wrap the end of the turntable's single black wire around the post below the knob. Tighten the knob.

4. Set the receiver's input control knob on the front panel to the name of the inputs that connect it to your turntable.

References

• TEWM: Turntable to Receiver and PC Connections