![]() Passive speakers are speakers that cannot power themselves and need an external power source such as a stereo receiver to function. These speakers will typically have a volume knob on the back and need to be plugged into a wall outlet. What are Active Speakers or Powered Speakers?Īctive speakers or powered speakers are speakers that can power themselves without a stereo receiver. We won’t get too caught up in that for now, but we do need to cover the difference between active and passive speakers. The obvious one – it’s how you hear your vinyl record being played! Speakers come in a range of shapes, sizes, and specifications. Whether you have a stereo with a built-in phono preamp or you’re running a standalone unit, stereo systems are a great way to easily control the variables of your music such as volume, panning, and EQ.Īdditionally, stereos are used to power passive speakers.Īs an added bonus, stereos can be multi-purpose entertainment centers and allow you to play audio from your phone, computer, or TV with an aux cord, Bluetooth, or wired connection. Stereo systems, while at times optional, is highly recommended as it will allow you to craft and equalize the signal coming from your turntable to your speakers. Now that vinyl is experiencing newfound interest from younger generations, manufacturers are starting to produce stereo systems with a phono built-in preamp.ĭepending on the quality of your stereo system, it can be beneficial to purchase a standalone phono preamp to increase sound quality, loudness, and clarity. Vintage stereo systems usually came with a built-in preamp for phono, but as time went on and people lost interest in listening to vinyl records, many manufacturers removed them as they felt they were an outdated piece of technology. Being able to toggle phono off in order to use an external phono stage can be an easy way of increasing the sound quality of your record player or turntable quickly.įor stereo receivers, find this by looking at the backside of your stereo for a phono input – a corresponding set of plugs for the RCA cables of your turntable as well as a pin or knob to hold the ground wire. While a turntable preamp is convenient, it’s usually a sign of a lower-quality record player. If connected to powered speakers, you will not need a phono stage or stereo amplifier.Īn easy way to find out if your turntable has a built-in phono preamp is to look for a switch on the back marked “Phono / Line.” This typically means there is a built-in phono preamp you can toggle on and off. Additionally, some turntables are manufactured with a built-in preamp. If you have an all-in-one record player with built-in speakers, you will be able to play music just fine without a phono stage. The short answer is no, phono preamps and stereo amplifiers are not always necessary. Do I Need a Preamp and an Amp for My Turntable? ![]() These phono preamps can range in price, but typically are a small box you plug your turntable directly into, a knob for your ground wire, and an output for your stereo or speakers. A phono stage converts the PHONO signal into a line-level signal. While we won’t go into the nitty-gritty details over the technicals in this guide, just know this PHONO signal must be converted to a line-level signal so it can be played and heard through your speakers. Turntables produce what is called a PHONO output signal. If not, don’t worry, it might not be necessary as it’s often a built-in preamp. If you have one of these, great – your bases are covered. The second piece of equipment that will be needed in some capacity for your turntable setup is a phono preamp AKA phono stage. Phono Preamp (Phono Stage) – Sometimes Optional There will also be a power cable used to power the turntable on. This grounds the electrical signal and prevents unwanted buzzing and humming when listening to music. Turntables will also have a small cord with metal prongs called a ground wire. While modern turntables sometimes have additional USB cords, we’re just concerned with the phono cable which looks like your typical RCA cable. If it’s a standalone turntable, meaning there are no built-in speakers or volume knobs, you should notice a cord or two dangling from the back. For now, just think of the turntable as the equipment that plays your vinyl record. We won’t get into the difference between belt drive and direct drive in this article. Turntables come in all shapes in sizes with various features and characteristics. The TurntableĪs to no surprise, the turntable is the first piece of equipment you’ll need for your setup. While some of these pieces can be combined into one, such as record players with built-in speakers, it’s a good idea to understand the basics first so you can not only expand your setup but your vinyl knowledge. Traditional turntable setups usually consist of 4 major pieces of equipment.
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