How do I connect my turntable to a CD player?
David Jones
Published Mar 18, 2026
How do I connect my turntable to a CD player?
I simply connect the RCA cable from the turntable to one of the LINE inputs on my receiver. In the example below, I have connected the RCA connector from the turntable to the CD input on the receiver. To play records with this setup, I select CD on the source selector on my receiver.
How do I connect an old turntable to my computer?
Connect your turntable to your computer Connect your turntable to your amp’s phono input using the stereo audio cable. Next, connect the amp to your computer using the stereo to 3.5mm cable, by plugging the stereo end into the amp’s OUT port, and the 3.5mm end into the computer’s IN port.
Does a CD player need a preamp?
You don’t need a preamp for a CD player at all. CD players output line level signals, not the tiny phono signals as from a TT.
Can you hook up a CD player to a sound bar?
With the popularization of universal home theater setups, many people have wondered, can a CD player be connected to a soundbar? You can connect a CD player to a soundbar.
Can you connect a record player to a computer?
You can connect virtually any turntable to a computer, although for a standard record player, you must pre-amplify the signal. Some modern turntables have a Universal Serial Bus connector that eliminates the need for a separate preamp, allowing you to plug the turntable directly into the computer.
How do I get my USB turntable to play through my PC?
Configuring your PC:
- Begin by having your turntable properly set up. (
- Turn on the turntable and computer and plug the turntable into the USB port on your computer.
- Locate the Speaker Icon in the task bar on your computer.
- Right click on the Speaker Icon and select “Playback devices.”
How do you hook up a vintage turntable to a phono amplifier?
First things first – the simple setup: If you’re hooking your vintage turntable to a stereo receiver or amplifier that has jacks on the back marked “PHONO,” it’s easy: Plug the matching cables coming from your turntable in the phono jacks. Most likely (but not always) there’s also a skinny single wire coming from the turntable.
How is a phono input used in a record player?
Phono input is an input that can only be used to connect a turntable or a record player. A phono input in a receiver is different from all the other inputs in one important way. And that is that it routes the signal straight to an internal phono preamp.
What happens if you plug a phono into a receiver?
If you plug one of these into a Phono input on a receiver and it’s REALLY LOUD (and probably distorted), this is because the switch is in the wrong position and the signal is going through a phono preamp twice. Turn it to “Off” (or “Phono.”)
Can a broken turntable be used as a phono preamp?
And even an old stereo unit that is “broken” may still be usable as an external phono preamp. If the unit powers on, try plugging the turntable into the “Phono” jacks and take the output from the “Tape Out” jacks, then plug those into an input on another system.
First things first – the simple setup: If you’re hooking your vintage turntable to a stereo receiver or amplifier that has jacks on the back marked “PHONO,” it’s easy: Plug the matching cables coming from your turntable in the phono jacks. Most likely (but not always) there’s also a skinny single wire coming from the turntable.
What kind of audio sources can you hook up to a turntable?
Most audio sources you connect to a stereo (DVD/CD players, iPhones, Bluetooth receivers, etc.) are called “line level” sources — they have electronically amplified signals. Turntables are different — the output from the cartridge on a vintage turntable is MUCH lower.
Can you buy an old phonograph for sale?
Also, you can buy a completely new or preowned phonograph for sale. Model – If you’re looking for parts and accessories for your old phonograph, you should identify the model of the device.
And even an old stereo unit that is “broken” may still be usable as an external phono preamp. If the unit powers on, try plugging the turntable into the “Phono” jacks and take the output from the “Tape Out” jacks, then plug those into an input on another system.