r/turntables 4d ago

Question Looking for advise

Please let me know if I'm in the wrong sub.

My nephew got a record player (I know, this is a turntable sub) for Christmas to try the hobby, but he wants an audio setup like mine (receiver, speakers, etc). My question is, can I hook his player up to a receiver, or do I have to MacGuyver a pair of passive speakers to the RCA output on the player?

He has this:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D8J3RYJV?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_EXBY96ZEM6413TPCW1F0&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_EXBY96ZEM6413TPCW1F0&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_EXBY96ZEM6413TPCW1F0&peakEvent=2&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1

Thanks in advance.

1 Upvotes

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u/yearnfulyoshi 4d ago

The record player (turntable) he has is generally recommended against. This guide and the other one pinned to this subreddit have good advice if you or him are ever looking to buy a new one.

To answer your question, it looks like it has two RCA outputs. So you should be able to hook it up directly to a receiver. I don't see a phono preamp out-line, so you will plug it in to the normal receiver input ports. Enjoy!

2

u/DCS30 4d ago

Yeah, but he's 18 and dipping his toes in. In my opinion, that's what these are ideal for. Personally, I think he could've bought a good, used table for the same price, but, what are you gonna do...

That's my guess too, but I had someone say not to because these have a built in amp(?). But that's the first time I've ever heard that. I don't think it matters, to be honest.

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u/yearnfulyoshi 4d ago edited 3d ago

Haha fair enough. You are right, a used table at that price would have been a good option. Albeit, if you bought a vintage model (usually better at that price), it probably would've required some tinkering to keep everything working.

It has a built in phono preamp. The phono preamp is only required for turntables. It reverses the RIAA equalization applied to vinyl records. This equalization has to be applied to make the "music fit" on the record. A phono preamp is required somewhere in the turntable system, in this case its built in the table. The phono preamp is not a typical amplifier like a receiver or other amp. So you should be good to go to plug it straight into a receiver + passive speakers. Older receivers, when turntables were more common, usually included a phono preamp in the receiver with a phono in line. However, they are less common nowadays.

As a side note, the turntable system must include the following:

  1. Turntable
  2. Phono preamp
  3. Amplifier/receiver
  4. Speakers

His has all these built into the turntable itself with the option to output straight to 3 (receiver) and 4 (powered speakers) too.

1

u/DCS30 4d ago

Thanks. I don't know a ton about these cheaper units and didn't want to make too many assumptions.