How to cheat on the phono input?

March 5, 2006 2:01 PM

I have a Pioneer PL-518 turntable and an Onkyo HTS-780, they don't work together. Basically the Pioneer has the left/right audio component cables and a little metal prong thing, it looks to be a ground of some sort.

I believe, from my reading, that I need a "phono stage" on my receiver, which I do not have. Is there an inexpensive way of getting these two to work together? I mean, without buying a preamp or another receiver?

posted by geoff. to technology (6 comments total)

I don't really understand - the pioneer has RCA (the red and black) cables, correct? Do you have any type of input on your reciever? There are various converter cables that convert RCA to quarter inch, etc. available...
posted by iamck at 2:05 PM on March 5, 2006

You do need a phono preamp. Turntables with magnetic cartridges (like most modern ones) need additional amplification to work with standard audio inputs. Older receivers used to have them built in, today not so much.

Don't be fooled by the price of the audiophile preamps. You can get them for $20-$40 off of eBay, or evan possibly at your local thrift store.
posted by I EAT TAPAS at 2:21 PM on March 5, 2006

Does your receiver have an input explicitly labeled "phono"? I'm assuming not, or otherwise you'd probably not have asked the question. I do know that phono inputs are substantially different than inputs coming from other components - much lower signal amplitude, I think. So, I think your options are to get a receiver/amp that is set up for that, or buy one of these.
posted by deadcowdan at 2:26 PM on March 5, 2006

This is phono hookup day then?
posted by meehawl at 3:06 PM on March 5, 2006

phono preamp!
posted by stratastar at 8:39 PM on March 5, 2006

That other wire is a ground. A good phono preamp will have a terminal for it. Cursory reading suggests you can also ground it to the chassis of your receiver (and probably anything else that is sufficiently grounded). So you could get a cheap amp (there are very cheap amps out there) and ground the wire yrself. AFAIK, there's no fundamental difference between a runofthemill amp and an explicitly phono preamp. So, yeah.
posted by drewbeck at 10:13 PM on March 5, 2006