QuestionI have a Realistic turntable LAB440, year? Trying to hook up to Sony home theatre DAVHDX675 new. Have done red and white connections but get only humming. thanks.
AnswerIt is an old model. Well, just about any LP turntable is old nowdays; there are only a handful even available anymore!
Most TT, even low end single player stand-alone units, had magnetic cartridges in them and require a preamp with built-in RIAA equalization. Now days it is near impossible to find an audio entertainment system with RIAA inputs.
You said there is no sound only hum. If the TT does have a magnetic cartridge and if it is working correctly you should be able to hear (if everything is connected properly) a thin sounding audio if the volume is turned up all the way. But, in your case the hum might be drowning out the audio. Try a separate ground line from the ground wire on the TT to the metal chassis on the Sony. If the hum does not go away check the connections inside the headshell on the tonearm to make sure there is a) a cartridge in it and b) the wires are connected to the 4 terminals on the back of the cartridge.
If you get a ground connected and the hum goes away and you can hear the audio coming through with full volume then you will need to add a preamp in between the TT and the Sony audio inputs.
http://www.rackmount-devices.com/003-2301.html
Above is one you can purchase for this job. You can google for others.
If you want to build your own (from parts at Radio Shack, for example) you can follow these instructions (and there are other designs and kits you can find with a google search):
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/roderick/riaa/RIAA.htm
Any more questions, let me know.
C
