Turntable amplifier how to#
Turntable amplifier portable#

Don’t worry, you have plenty of time to build out your perfect system as time goes on and you become more familiar with the world of turntables and speakers.īut for now, all you have to do is connect your turntable to your speakers via an RCA cable, plug in your speakers and turntable (if you haven’t already), and let the music begin! Turntable without Built-In Preamp and Active Speakers Since your turntable has a preamp and your speakers have amps, you have chosen simply and wisely-especially if you’re brand new to vinyl. This is basically just a plug-and-play situation. Turntable with Built-In Amp and Active Speakers Use whichever you have, however way you like. Note: In case you weren’t aware, a receiver is just an amplifier with more functions, and you will see these interchanged for different setups. Let’s begin our assembly from simplest-to-most-complicated to ease you into things, just in case you’re still rattled by all of the unboxing and cords and things. Some components are built into one another for convenience, because of technology, or both. The Caveatĭepending on your record player choice and your speaker choice, you may or may not need all of these things. Their signature look? A thick black cable with one red and one white connector on each end. They are the cables by which you will connect your various components together. Last but not least, these not-so-impressive-looking cables shoulder a big responsibility. It provides most, if not all, of the input and output connections and allows you to easily switch between them. But if not, the receiver is the hub of your entertainment and sound systems. (Just in case you’re reading this as a frame of reference before you go shopping, check out our picks for best record player speakers.

Passive speakers do not have a built-in amplifier and need to be plugged into a separate amp or receiver to be powered.

They have an amplifier built into them and only need to be plugged in to be ready-to-go, as the name suggests.

Active speakers (or powered speakers) are a simple sort of affair.

There are two kinds of speakers you need to know about: active and passive. The SpeakersĪnd now the fun part-the turntable speaker! If you’re wondering, “ Do record players need speakers ?” - the answer is yes! Your speakers are what actually play the wondrous sounds of your vinyl collection. The AmplifierĪs the go-between for your preamp and speakers, the amp simply (or not so simply) takes the signal from the preamp and boosts the signal into one that your speakers can hear.

Turntable amplifier portable#

In the context of turntables and portable turntables, they are essentially the same thing. A preamp will mainly increase the volume of sound for the amplifier to read and it can also control multiple sources. A phono amp equalizes the tonality of the record so that the quality of sound is right through the speakers. This piece is crucial in that it interprets the signal coming from the record so that it can be read by your amplifier and then by your speakers.Ī preamp is essentially the same thing as a phono stage (or phono amp), and you can often use them interchangeably, but there is a slight difference.

One step closer to hearing the glorious sounds etched on that vinyl record, and that’s where Mr. No matter how tricked-out your speakers are, you’d hear no audio without that magical needle or tone arm tracking the perfect little grove and translating that information into a readable electrical signal. The turntable is the heart and soul of your listening experience. The 4-6 (give or take) wondrous pieces of technology you’ll need to hook up your turntable and set up your new stereo system of choice are these: The Turntable To connect your speakers-in whatever form you’ve chosen-let’s go over some preliminary terminology of your particular setup before we can… set up.

Turntable amplifier how to#

We’re going to guide you through the step-by-step process of how to hook up record player speakers so that in no time, you’ll be hooked up to your music! The Goodsįirst things first: a little tutoring session on the components that are (hopefully) unboxed and surrounding you. And all you want to do is hear the sweet sounds of vinyl soaring through your home.įirst, take a deep breath and don’t even think about opening your iPhone playlist. Well done you! But now you’re surrounded by empty boxes, foam corners, bubble packaging, random wires, and expensive equipment.

You’ve decided to give vinyl a whirl, literally.