Can I Connect A Turntable To A Soundbar?

A turntable is a traditional sort of audio player that plays music records. A soundbar is a sound device that can increase the quality and volume of audio from your computer, TV, or other gadgets.

One of the best ways to enjoy your vinyl records is to play them through a turntable. People often buy these two together since they’re a golden couple in producing great sounds.

You may wonder, ‘can I connect a turntable to sound?’. The process can be complex if you take the wrong steps. So, keep reading for some elementary tips!

Can I Connect A Turntable To A Soundbar?

Indeed, connecting a traditional music player to a loudspeaker doesn’t require professionalism. You can perform the connection smoothly with explicit, accurate directions.

Turntables are tailor-designed to generate a signal named ‘phono signal.’ This signal originates from the turntable’s cartridges and is so weak that it produces terrible sounds when hooked up to a loudspeaker producing line signals.

Line signals are more potent than phono signals generated by turntables. Most modern devices and equipment create those line signals.

It’s essential to transform the phono signals from your turntable into line signals that match those of a soundbar to yield high-quality sound production.

A sophisticated gadget called ‘phono preamp’ will help you convert those signals seamlessly.

A phono preamplifier, also known as a phono stage or phono preamp, is a common electronic gadget that provides the signal originating from the cartridges with the correct amplification.

It transfers the signals to the sound system or input of the power amp at an appropriate level.

If you use a phono preamp, the sound signals from the needle are usually shallow and often need an amp to reach the reasonable line level (AUX) that modern speakers require.

A phono preamp will convert the phono signal into the line signal for greater sound production and quality.

Most turntables have an integrated phono preamp, and some sound bars also come with this feature. But in rare cases, either of these two devices doesn’t include one.

We’ll show you how to run this connection with and without a phono preamp.

How to Connect a Turntable to a Soundbar?

Here are our step-by-step instructions and some tools that help with the connection:

• Built-in phono preamplifier
• AUX/RCA direct connection
• Separate phono preamplifier
• Bluetooth turntable
• Bluetooth adapter + regular turntable
• Analog soundbar

Built-In Phono Preamplifier

• If your record player includes an integrated preamplifier, you need to attach it to a receiver analog input. Otherwise, the audio would be distorted.

Two preamps simultaneously working will result in distorted sound.

• If your loudspeaker includes phono input, you can connect it to the player directly, which doesn’t have one.
• In most cases, soundbars require turntables with integrated preamplifiers and can also work with external preamps between the turntables and soundbars.

AUX/RCA Direct Connection

Another way to connect turntables with an integrated preamplifier to soundbars is by using an RCA or AUX cable to hook them up directly.

First, you turn the switch at the back of the player to switch the original signal to the line signal. Then, connect the RCA/AUX cable from your turntables to the input reading ‘LINE’ on your soundbars.

After completing this step, choose the turntable device option on your soundbars and finish the connection.

Separate Phono Preamp

In most cases, either of the two devices will come with a preamplifier. But if yours doesn't include one, you must buy a separate device. 

With the purchased additional equipment, follow these steps to run your connection:

• Connect your separate preamplifier, the audio cables, and any wires your player has.
• After that, connect the preamplifier audio cabs to your receiver’s (soundbar) analog inputs.
• Lastly, connect the preamplifier to the power supply. Now, simply switch it on.

Bluetooth Turntable

Some turntables offer Bluetooth connectivity.

The Bluetooth feature allows you to play music wirelessly. Turntables with this feature can connect to almost any audio player wirelessly without cables.

Since many soundbars don’t come with analog input options, Bluetooth is probably the best method to perform this connection.

The precise process of hooking a Bluetooth soundbar with a turntable can vary depending on the device.

We suggest checking your equipment’s user manual for detailed instructions on putting them in the ‘pairing mode.’

Bluetooth Adapter + Regular Turntable

While most soundbars offer the Bluetooth feature, turntables rarely include one. 

If that’s the case, you can hook your player to the portable loudspeaker following this quick video: 

If neither of your two pieces of equipment comes with an analog RCA/AUX input, it’s a clever idea to use a Bluetooth adapter to perform the connection. 

This kit will essentially turn an ordinary music player into a wireless device.

Remember that you must connect the adapter to the player’s analog outputs. That way, it can transmit the audio signal to your loudspeaker wirelessly.

Analog Soundbar

Below are quick steps to run your connection if you have an analog soundbar:

• Buy a separate phono preamplifier
• Attach the player’s wires to your external preamp, particularly the sound cables.
• After that, connect the preamp’s sound cables to your loudspeaker and the preamp to an electricity source. Then, turn the power on.

Can You Play A Turntable Without Speakers?

Since turntables don’t come with integrated speakers, you must hook them up to other speakers to play your records.

It’s possible to choose speakers originally coming with an amplifier or passive speakers with an external amplifier.

If there’s no speaker integrated into the cabinet, the needle will read the record precisely, and there will be fewer vibrations inside the cupboard. As a result, the sound quality can be significantly more excellent.

And the needle downforce doesn't have to stay at a high level to avoid harming the records.

Conclusion

If you are a music fanatic who prefers a small, stylish, old-fashioned record player to a bulky, space-consuming sound system in your home theater, our ‘can I connect a turntable to a soundbar?’ will help make your dream come true.

The above techniques all work nicely at hooking a traditional-style player to a loudspeaker to produce clear-quality and impressive sound.