Thank you for sharing this story. Sounds like you have a great setup and you will be listening to some classics soon!

You’re welcome. Let me know if there are any other issues you come across. Happy to help!

The turntable must plug into a home audio receiver. The speakers will run from the receiver to produce the sound. What audio receiver are you using? Could you send me a picture?

I read them and I am grateful I could helped!

You’re welcome!

Thanks! Glad it worked out!

Hi there I wondering if you could help I got a Sharp opto mini early 70s model. The sound on the radio is perfect but the sound through the turntable is very low and doesn't come through the speaker. The cables are two din pins. I though the internal preamp might be broken can I buy a preamp and connect it or are those cables too old? I know nothing about record player but this has sentimental value and would really love to fix it. Any help would be really appreciated😊

Yeah it should.

Yes it sounds like a preamp is needed.

Could you send a picture to stillspinning3@gmail.com? It’s hard to follow your setup without seeing it.

Can you email a picture of the wire setup? Stillspinning3@gmail.com

Try plugging your turntable into another input on your receiver and see if it changes the sound quality at all.

Hey Wayne! Yes, you can use the CD input (I do the same thing) but you will need a phono preamp if your turntable doe not have one built it. The turntable proximity to your receiver should not cause distortion. Are you able to hear the music okay even with distortion?

I can only assume your receiver does not have a built in phono preamp. But yes you're right, if it has a phono input, typically it should work.

It sounds like you are plugging it into the right place. Do you have an external phono preamp?

Honestly it sounds like the built-in preamp is either not on or not working. I did a search on this model and couldn’t find anything that suggested it has a preamp built in.

If your Pioneer receiver doesn’t have a phono input then yes you will need a preamp. You can run it into one of your AUX inputs or the CD one, which is what I do.

Could you send me a picture of the back of the amplifier?

Yes.

Your turntable has line/phono switch in the back. If your receiver has a phono input meaning it has a built in phono pre amp you should switch your turntable to the phono switch. This bypasses the turntables built in preamp. The line switch on the turntable utilizes the turntables built in preamp and you should never run a preamp on top of a preamp.

​@@StillSpinning3 wrong , the line level switch on the back of the turntable utilizes the built in preamp. You shouldn't go preamp into preamp. Switch the turntable to phono and bypass the internal preamp then plug the RCA into the phono input of the amp

No.

Yeah shouldn’t be a problem. One of my turntables is plugged into CD.

Definitely sounds like an issue with the Zenith. I had a similar issue with an old Sony unit. Found out the phono input was bad.

Still Spinning I been messing with it for a few days now. Last night I headed to my parents and pulled a old console out of their hot attic that sat for 30+ years, took the turntable out and it wired directly with my Zenith and it sounded awesome! Such a relief and so glad it finally works. Take care.

If there is not ground, you don’t need to worry about it.

Yeah it’s probably in need of a preamp.

My Yamaha receiver had issues with the phono input. I ended up having to get an external phono preamp and run it through another input on my receiver to get good audio. I’m not sure if that’s what’s happening in your case but may be worth a try?

+Thelonious Capricornio it all depends on the equipment. I have heard built-ins sound better and vice versa.

Nope it should work. What audio receiver are you using?

@@StillSpinning3 i am using a stand alone preamp.. the amp may be burned out, because it has been plugged in for a couple years, without use... i forgot it was plugged in.. I heard amps go bad when plugged in, and not being used.. Maybe thats it ??? thanks for reply..

Yeah that's probably it. The preamp will not provide any audio without an amplifier and or audio receiver.

Are they powered speakers or traditional speakers that connect to the receiver with speaker wires only?

Still Spinning they are powered. One active (right) one passive (left) and they connect to each other via speaker wire. I just disconnected the wire to each other and fed them individually to the receiver while being powered separately

Should work on the cd audio.. make sure its on in your settings..

So did you fix it?

It seems the newer tables do not have this. Not uncommon.

Yeah it is enough. Works great when grounded to preamp or on receiver.

TT to preamp is enough, further grounding to power amp can cause hum loop

Hello! Not the Denon has a built in phono preamp than you should be able to use that for listening to your vinyl. If not, purchase a phono preamp and run your turntable through any standard audio input (Aux, CD, etc) and it should work fine. I don’t see the need to buy a whole new setup.

Yeah that should work. Don't plug into phono input on receiver. Does your turntable have an option to turn off the preamp?

@@StillSpinning3 As far as a switch off or on , no. It only has a switch to play between line and phono inputs.......which I would assume will work as a off and on switch for the built in pre-amp. Or at least im hoping.......Its an ATLP5 that I have.

No it should work if the turntable has one built in.

Hello. I’m not sure I understand your question. Are you saying you can’t find the ground wire?

@@StillSpinning3 the cable you use in the video. Is it a 5 pin din to 2 phono rca lead with grounding connection also on it? I can not find one anywhere!

You’re welcome!

Hey Dale! Can you email me some pictures of your setup and how it’s hooked up? stillspinning3@gmail.com

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@@StillSpinning3 Now that was easy! Thanks a lot!

You’re welcome!

Hmm I would need pictures of your setup to assist your further.

@@StillSpinning3 I think I might have figured it out! Going to tinker and if all fails, pics coming your way possibly haha! Thank you!!

I have my current setup going from turntable - headphone amp - powered speakers and it works great. The preamp should provide the powered speakers what they need to do the job.

@@StillSpinning3 very helpful! I’m now ready to move on thanks to you!

@@StillSpinning3 also, may I ask what preamp you bought?

You’re welcome!

Similar to this. They don’t make the model I have anymore. www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=16153&gclid=CjwKCAiA25v_BRBNEiwAZb4-ZZy_m9TOg3twU1laixfYo2BNvfMnIQeyD3VWjwkZhhJVk-yLMX8thRoCQHcQAvD_BwE

Can you email me a picture of the midi setup? Stillspinning3@gmail.com

Are you using an audio receiver?

Are you using an audio receiver?

Are you running your phono preamp outputs into the phono input of a receiver? If so, use a different audio input so you are not running through two phono preamps. If you are running turntable into preamp into active monitors, maybe look at a small mixer or studio monitor volume control so you can get more control of the signal level going into the speakers.

I would feel confident if your receiver has a phono input that it has a built in preamp. You will know right away if it doesn’t and you are not using an external preamp. No, pairing two preamps will make your audio extremely loud and distorted. Not recommended.

@@StillSpinning3 Then on the flip-side of the same token, what is it that when I see audiophiles with "tubes" and a pre-amp and a dedicated, what I can only assume is a kind of receiver or type of something, usually, a ridiculously high-end ""Macintosh" type of receiver, but it's not really a receiver you see. It's like a single unit w/ a single knob in the middle of it that I guess fuels the tubes and the pre-amp? Not sure. Can you break down or describe this kind of a set-up? As opposed to, Denon "some four number model number" Receiver. *Plug in. Then *plug in to your turn table. DONE. Rub my hands together as I proceed to sit down with a beer.

That is a tube headphone amp. I have one of those. It acts as a stand-alone amplifier specifically designed for listening to music with headphones with the added warmth of tubes.

I believe you need to feed it through an amplifier.

you can if they are powered speakers, if not then, no.

Yes! I do the same thing with my Yamaha receiver.

Still Spinning Great thanks

If your unit has a built in phone preamp, whether it’s the turntable or the audio receiver, you don’t need a preamp.

That's hard to say. I have a Yamaha receiver and it made mine sound better. I'm not sure how good the built-in preamp is on the onkyo.

@XtremeGamer I have the same receiver, what did you end up doing? Using the phono input or use a pre amp?

@@trufnk used the phono input..it's completly fine

Hmm the ground wire usually helps with that. Check all of your connections to make sure everything is snug.

Still Spinning okay I will

What kind of speakers do you have? If they are powered speakers, that might be the problem.

Can you tell me a bit more about your setup? Sounds like one of your channels isn’t working right.

You could connect another stereo wire to it to extend it out. I guess it depends on how short?

Curious how this turns out.

@@StillSpinning3 Good, I'd just happened to have a couple of (RCA to TRS 1/4 cable Y-Adaptors) So, I straight plugged the turntable into the guitar amp and listened to the record on it, "fun playing with the Drive" then I realized my amp had a (preamp-out) jack on the back and was able to use another cable Adapter and plugged that cable into my stereo Receiver.👍 (Disclaimer- "I was only looking for Loud volume and not Quality" So I did later purchase a cheap BBE preamp from, of all places "Guitar Center" because my local Best buy stopped selling them. "I'm just having fun playing around and thanks for the video."👍😎

P.s The Album I wanted to listen to was, (LEON BRIDGES, COMING HOME) By the way, "Check out his performance on (Austin City limits) On yt.

Long story short, yes there is a difference. I used to use a cheaper preamp and I found that this minor upgrade made a difference in the quality of sound. There is no "right way" of doing it. But to answer your question this setup will sound better than the factory setup of the AT-LP120.

Still Spinning great! I appreciate the response.....I just purchased a pretty costly moving coil cartridge and for all the positive reviews it gets, no one tells you that you should get one of these preamps in order to take full advantage of what a moving coil cartridges can do. I don't have a problem getting, yet another, piece of equipment, I just want to make sure I'm not trading good sound for bad sound. I've heard the difference between an LP120 with an onboard amp and without one and there is a tremendous difference. I was just concerned that it would be the same thing, except on the outside. Personally, I'm not a fan of turntable onboard amps, but if there's a difference then I can accommodate the additional piece of equipment. Thanks for the input and clarity.

Can you hear it through your speakers at all or just a little?

That's great! Enjoy!!

If the cartridge is red on your unit it sounds flat because that stylus/needle is cheap. I’ve never been a big fan of these because you buy LPs for good sound and those don’t do it justice.

@@StillSpinning3 Thanks. I wonder if the stylus and needle can be upgraded on them, will try and find out. If you have any further insight on a replacement please advise. Or I wander can an add-on be got that has EQ levels on it? The thing about it is, literally anything I put through the units aux sounds great.

No. You can ground to your audio receiver as well.

Still Spinning thanks for the quick response

You should be good. Not all turntables have a ground wire.

@@StillSpinning3 ok thanks

Quick question. Did the unit originally have one or no? Not all turntables have ground wires.

@@StillSpinning3 Nope, didn't have one originaly

You’re good then!

@@StillSpinning3 allright thanks

I would need to know more about your setup to assist.

Sure! I do that with mine.

Most turntables or receivers (unless you go pro) aren’t grounded via the mains, so it won’t make a difference.

What kind of record player do you have?

@@StillSpinning3 it’s an onkyo pl-25f. When I crank the pre amp to its max, it’s kinda loud but when I’m on a cd player, or hooked up to my usb and phone, if I’m anywhere near where I’m at on the record player, it’ll blow the speakers. Wondering if it’s just normal for it to not be really loud.

Does your unit have a ground wire?

@@StillSpinning3 no

Try using another set of RCA cables.

Buy one with a return policy just in case. But I'm confident it will work.

Yeah, maybe i will...Don't know yet what i'm gonna do.

Run it through another input on your receiver like AUX or CD. Should work.

@@StillSpinning3 Tried that, you can barely hear it, and only comes through the center channel speaker

Possibly or it could be the power supply you are using. Does your turntable have a ground wire?

@@StillSpinning3 yes it does have?

Make sure it’s grounded on the preamp.

Thank you for your prompt response I bought my pre amp for £12 but it does not have the grounded section on the back? What do I do?

You’re welcome. Are you using a receiver? You may be able to run it to the receiver and ground it there.

That’s terrible! The ground wire shouldn’t affect the sound other than a possible humming sound. Did you notice the issue after the ground broke?

@@StillSpinning3 actually I think it worked for a while without it.

Maybe your phono preamp went out? Or did the receiver have one built in?

Does your receiver have a built-in phono preamp? If not, you will need to buy a phono preamp.

@@StillSpinning3 yes everything is plugged in right and it's even grounded pretty snug. Maybe the rc jacks are no Good?

Still Spinning I really want to figure this out I was so excited I got a new needle for it but still no sound.

It's possible. Could you email pictures of your unit? Stillspinning3@gmail.com

is the phono option selected on your receiver? check all the connections, move wires around while record is playing. RCA cables are famous for coming loose inside. check speaker wire polarity too, they have postive and negative. make sure you have correct speakers selected too, if you have that option.