Help a vynil newbie play records!

December 4, 2008 8:44 AM

Turntable/speaker question: Help a vynil newbie play records!

I like listening to 7"s and LPs so I want to buy a turntable.

I have speakers at home that I connect to my laptop via the headphone jack (I think it's the standard 1/8" - the size the most consumer headphones are).

Is it technically possible to get a turntable to connect directly to these speakers - just "plug and play" I suppose?

Does a turntable like this, which has headphone output with 1/8” & 1/4” jacks, allow for what I want to do?

Is there stuff out on the market that fits my needs? I don't have much money to spend.

Your suggestions and comments are most appreciated!
Cheers,
Alison

posted by radiocontrolled to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

If you've ever put your ear right next to the stylus on a regular turntable, you can hear the music softly playing as the needle drags over the grooves. That's the same signal that's sent out through the cables. You need an amplifier to hook it up to speakers.

It looks like the turntable you've linked to has a built-in phono stage and amplifier, so it will do what you want. I don't know how much it goes for, but it's probably cheaper than buying a reciever and speakers, since you can't hook your powered speakers up to a reciever.
posted by hwyengr at 9:06 AM on December 4, 2008

The newmark you linked to would indeed work for your scenario, because it has the pre-amp built-in. Other turntables, like the classic Technics 1200, would not work by themselves, because they require a phono pre-amp.
posted by nomisxid at 9:10 AM on December 4, 2008

On second thought, they do sell standalone phono stages that boost the turntable signal up to the same levels as other audio products, so you could connect your speakers to that.
posted by hwyengr at 9:10 AM on December 4, 2008

Yes, the turntable you mention would work with your PC speakers using the headphone jack, but the sound quality will be sub-par.

I would look around at garage/rummage sales and Goodwill stores. You can often find a great turntable for pretty cheap. Usually, older ones sound way better. I constantly see older "Hi-Fi" systems, turntable and speakers, for well under fifty dollars. And the sound quality is way better. (Sometimes these units have a cassette deck and receiver as well).

Stay away from the 80's "plastic" units, they sound like crap, though are usually VERY cheap. Look for something that has wooden sides and silver control knobs and switches. Just saying, generally speaking, that is.

I suppose it depends on how much sound quality means to you.
posted by peewinkle at 9:17 AM on December 4, 2008

If you don't know a whole lot about vinyl, make sure you take someone who has some vague idea with you if you go for the garage sale/second-hand option, as it is fairly easy to pick something up with a borked cartridge that will destroy your records. As regards having a smaller portable table and using PC speakers with the headphone jack, that's what I'm doing at the moment, and while not stellar, the sound quality is as good as anything else I'll ever put through said speakers (and they're pretty damn good PC speakers). It also meant not having to spend more than £15 on the entire setup (sans speakers).

It's a good stop-gap measure, particularly if you're buying old non-mint (i.e. not ridiculously fucking expensive) vinyl...
posted by Dysk at 9:50 AM on December 4, 2008

Hey I have that exact turntable! Love it. You can connect powered speakers via the headphone jack, but it sounds much better put through the RCA jacks to an amp. I use this one, and it sounds great.
posted by Dr-Baa at 10:27 AM on December 4, 2008

If you don't have a true amp, you may have a stereo with an "Aux" input on it. You can use RCA cables to connect the two, then flip the stereo over to that input and rock out!
posted by JuiceBoxHero at 5:52 PM on December 4, 2008

I own that Numark portable turntable you posted, and it suits me fine. I bring it along when "digging" for records, have packed it for trips, and it's even been used for casual listening at home, when i didn't want to feel like setting up my 1200's and mixer after they were packed up for a party. It's a good purchase, if you get it close to $100. What's nice about the numark is that it can run on D cells or, is lightweight, has an integrated speaker and preamp, and packs into a 12x12x3-4" case - perfect for fitting in a totebag/backpack alongside some newly found records or taking along on a picnic.

I'm going to have to disagree with peewinkle on two points - the numark isn't a fisher price, 80's piece of junk, and that Alison, a "vinyl newb" might end up purchasing a crappy yet cheap thrift store turntable, with a worn out belt and destroyed stylus, possibly from a brand no longer produced, so replacement parts would be hard to find.

I would also take Dr-Baa's advice and use an RCA to 1/8inch cable, sometimes these days sold as an "ipod stereo cable". If/when you do decide to upgrade, remember what has been advised here - with a standard turntable, you will need either a preamp or a receiver with a "phono" input.

Somewhat related: With practice and enough time spent hunting for records, you might be albe to do what Mark the 45 King does in this video (on two Vestax Handy Trax turntables, their portable model akin to the Numark)
posted by stachemaster at 12:58 AM on December 5, 2008