

One disadvantage of this system is that you need to adjust the volume on the rear panel of the speakers.So you’ve got yourself a new turntable, great! You’re just minutes away from enjoying your vinyl records, but first, you need to connect them to your speakers. Both Audio-Technica and U-Turn Orbit turntables have a switch to select between phono and line level output, so you can bypass the built-in phono preamp and use an external one, or connect it directly to an amplifier that has a phono input. All you need to do is to hook the turntable's line level output to the speakers using an RCA audio cable, and you're good to go. This is the most simple turntable setup you can put together. Turntable with phono preamp + powered / active speakers Here are four possible solutions to build a turntable setup on a budget.ġ. If you want to learn more about the role of each part of the chain and how they work, or feel the need for upgrades in your setup, you can always refer to the these articles: turntables under $500, cartridges, phono preamps, amplifiers, bookshelf speakers. In previous posts we've already gone into details about many audio equipments needed in a turntable setup, so the following guide is to walk you through some of the most budget options and combinations to build a nice starter system.
TURNTABLE SETUP DRIVERS
Also, speakers usually feature crossover components that split the frequency band of the audio signal into low, high, and sometimes mid-range, which are then sent to individual speaker drivers designed to handle those frequencies. Active/powered speakers on the other hand, contain a built-in power amplifier and can be directly connected to the phono preamp (external or built into the turntable). Passive speakers have only basic speaker functionality, and require a separate amplifier in order to produce sound. Depending on their capacity to amplify audio signal, speakers fall into two categories: active or passive. The speakers are the final stage of a hi-fi setup, which convert the electrical signal from the amplifier into an audible sound. Some amplifiers include other features like equalization, compression, or overdrive, that can color the audio signal in an audibly pleasing manner. This can be a simple amp or a receiver/integrated amplifier which also may contain a phono pre-amp, allowing you to directly plug a turntable in the phono inputs. The power amplifier is the component responsible to further increase the low-power audio signal coming from the preamp and deliver it to the speakers.
TURNTABLE SETUP UPGRADE
In this case, you can upgrade to better, stand-alone one if you want. If you decide to get a turntable with internal preamp, make sure it has a bypass or line/phono switch that allows you to turn the built-in preamp on or off.

If your turntable has a USB output then it most certainly features a built-in phono stage. Many budget turntables come with built-in phono preamps, so you don't need to buy a separate one at first. The phono preamp serves two purposes, to amplify the low electrical signal coming from the turntable up to line-level (1 Volt), and to apply a specialized ( RIAA) equalization to this signal. Most good, budget turntables come with an entry-level factory-mounted cartridge, and can be played almost straight out of the box, without no further adjustment. This gives you the ability to change and upgrade cartridges, and balance the tonearm for accurate tracking force. When choosing a turntable, it's important to look for one with replaceable cartridge, and adjustable counterweight at the rear end of the tonearm. The cartridge, mounted on the end of the tonearm, picks up the tiny variations of the record grooves and converts these vibrations into an electrical signal, that will be later passed through amplification. The turntable is going to be the foundation of your system, the source of music. Simply put, any turntable setup can be broken down to four essential parts, the turntable, the phono preamp, power amplifier and the speakers. Unless you know exactly what you're looking for and trust the source, we don't advise beginners to go down this road.Īs this guide is focused on budget equipment, and mostly intended for people new to the vinyl game, there are several things to know before buying components. If you're on a tight budget, many people recommend buying used, but that can have its own downfalls. However, not everyone is able or wants to spend thousands of dollars on a higher-end system, especially at the starting point of a new hobby. If you are just getting into record collecting or you've already been introduced to the world of vinyl by using a cheap, plastic all-in-one record player, the next logical step would be to put together a good turntable setup that will last you quite a while and allow various upgrades over time.
