Connecting a Turntable to a Receiver: Phono Inputs

Check your receiver for a phono input

Look at the back of your receiver for a set of RCA jacks labeled PHONO. They are usually paired with a small screw terminal nearby, often marked GND or GROUND. The PHONO input is not the same as AUX, CD, or TAPE inputs: it includes a phono stage that applies the RIAA equalization curve and brings the cartridge's small signal up to line level.

If you see PHONO jacks, your connection is straightforward: plug the turntable's RCA cables into those jacks, attach the ground wire, and select PHONO on the receiver. Many receivers that include a phono input also have a moving magnet (MM) phono stage, which works with the majority of turntable cartridges. See what is a turntable phono stage for more detail.

Connect the RCA cables

Most turntables have a pair of RCA cables permanently attached, or a set of RCA jacks on the back. The red plug carries the right channel, and the white plug carries the left. Match them to the corresponding red and white PHONO jacks on the receiver. Push each plug in firmly until it seats; a loose connection can cause hum or a weak signal on one channel.

If the turntable has detachable RCA cables, use a pair of good quality cables with low capacitance. High capacitance in the cable can interact with a moving magnet cartridge and roll off the high frequencies. For more, see RCA cables for turntable.

Attach the ground wire

The ground wire is a thin bare or insulated wire that comes from the turntable, often with a spade connector at the end. It is not an audio signal wire: it connects the turntable chassis to the receiver's ground to reduce hum from electromagnetic interference. Attach it to the GND terminal on the receiver, usually by loosening the screw, slipping the spade under it, and tightening the screw again.

If your receiver has no ground terminal, try attaching the wire to a metal screw on the receiver chassis. If the turntable has no ground wire at all, connect the RCA shields as usual; some turntables ground through the RCA cable and do not need a separate wire. For a longer treatment, see how to ground a turntable.

When your receiver has no phono input

Many modern receivers, especially AV receivers and compact stereo units, omit the phono input. If your receiver only has AUX, CD, or similar line-level inputs, you cannot plug the turntable directly in. The cartridge signal is much smaller than line level, and without RIAA equalization the audio will sound thin and quiet.

The solution is an external phono preamp. Connect the turntable's RCA cables and ground wire to the preamp's inputs, then run another pair of RCA cables from the preamp's outputs to any line-level input on the receiver. This is the same result as a receiver with a built-in phono input, just in a separate box. See built-in phono preamp vs external and phono preamp vs receiver phono input to decide which route fits your system.

Some turntables include a built-in phono preamp and a switch labeled PHONO or LINE. If your turntable has that switch, set it to LINE when connecting to an AUX input, and set it to PHONO when connecting to a receiver's phono input. Do not use both the built-in preamp and the receiver's phono stage at the same time, since that doubles the gain and distorts the signal.

Select the right input and test

After connecting everything, turn the receiver on and select the input you plugged into. If you used the phono input, you may need to press a button or turn a dial to PHONO. Start with the volume low, place a record on the platter, and lower the stylus. If you hear no sound, check that the RCA cables are fully seated and that the ground wire is attached.

If you hear a continuous hum, the ground wire may be loose or missing. Reposition the ground wire and make sure it makes good metal-to-metal contact. A hum that changes when you touch the tonearm can also indicate a cartridge wiring issue rather than a grounding problem, but this is less common. For more setup steps, see how to set up a turntable tonearm.

Bluetooth and wireless options

Some turntables can send audio over Bluetooth to a receiver or speaker that supports Bluetooth. The Bluetooth Classic radio is commonly used for wireless audio streaming. Connecting this way skips the phono input entirely, because the turntable converts the audio to a wireless signal before it reaches the receiver.

A Bluetooth connection is convenient, but it is not a phono connection. The audio is digitized, transmitted, and converted again, so it does not follow the same analog path as a wired phono hookup. If your receiver has no phono input and you prefer wireless, Bluetooth turntables are an option, but for the most direct signal path use a wired connection with a phono preamp. See Bluetooth vs wired turntable for a comparison.

What to pick for your setup

Questions

What is a phono input on a receiver?

A phono input is a set of RCA jacks on a receiver that includes a phono stage. That stage applies the RIAA equalization curve that vinyl records are cut with and amplifies the cartridge signal from a very small voltage up to line level.

Can I plug a turntable into a regular AUX input?

Only if the turntable has a built-in phono preamp and you set it to LINE. Without a preamp, a turntable plugged into an AUX input produces audio that is very quiet and lacking in bass, because the RIAA equalization is not applied.

What does the ground wire do?

The ground wire connects the turntable chassis to the receiver's ground to help reduce hum caused by electromagnetic interference. It does not carry audio. If you hear a hum and no ground wire is attached, try connecting one from the turntable to the receiver's ground terminal.

Do all receivers have a phono input?

No. Many modern receivers, especially AV receivers and compact stereo units, omit the phono input. If your receiver lacks one, you can add an external phono preamp and use any line-level input.

What is the difference between PHONO and LINE on a turntable switch?

PHONO sends the raw cartridge signal without RIAA equalization, meant for a receiver's phono input. LINE sends the equalized, amplified signal through a built-in preamp, meant for AUX or other line-level inputs. Use one or the other, never both.

Why does my turntable hum when connected to the receiver?

A hum often comes from a missing or loose ground connection. Make sure the ground wire is attached to the receiver's GND terminal. If your receiver has no ground terminal, try attaching the wire to a metal screw on the chassis.