Audio Systems: turntable outputs, phono preamp, phono preamplifier

Question
i have an OPTIMIS turntable, i pluged the audio outputs into the back of a PANOSONIC sterio,using the vidioinputs.....the problem is when the volume is turned all the way up on the panosonic,its still not loud.    "the turntable has no volume"  what could i do? thanks

Answer
Dear Lonnie,

Turntables have very weak output power, much less than CD players, tuners, tape decks, and so on. They require extra amplification before the power amplifier section of your receiver sends the signal to the speakers. Some receivers have an input labeled PHONO, which has the extra amplification built in. If your receiver doesn't have a PHONO input, you need to buy a small component that will.

What you need is a "phono preamplifier". You can find one at www.phonopreamplifiers.com. I recommend their $33.50 model (TCC TC-760, shipping included) because it has a grounding screw. That's what you attach the third wire coming out of the turntable to. If you don't ground the turntable, the sound will drowned out by an audible feedback hum. (BTW, $33.50 is nothing to pay for a phono preamp--there are some that cost thousands.)

You plug the outputs from your turntable into the phono preamplifer's inputs, and the outputs from the preamplifier into any availabe input on your receiver. Don't forget to plug in the phono preamp's AC/DC power supply. Everthing should work just fine.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin