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Hi apologies if this is already answered, but I can’t find my specific question. 
 

I have a traditional hifi setup: turntable (no built in pre-amp), cd player and cassette player connected to an amp and speakers. Independent from Sonos. 
 

I then have a Sonos system with paired Play:3s, sub and play base for music and connected to the tv, plus additional in other rooms. 
 

Questions: I’d like to connect the traditional hifi to the Sonos, retaining the ability to use my old speakers, but not at the same time as Sonos (as I suspect this will give delay issues). Is the best way through a Sonos Port, and does this need a pre amp from the turntable, or does it all go into my existing amp then out to the Port. Also, will this play havoc with my TV setup. Finally, I’ve read that using a Sonos amp instead of a Port delivers better sound, albeit at increased cost. The cost increase is not an issue if the sound improvement is significant. But will this setup work for me?

Many thanks. 

Couple of misunderstandings here.

  1. Yes, a Sonos Port can connect to your existing amp, assuming you have a line level out and in available. Most frequently, this is a tape loop.
  2. Yes, when playing input from the amp on both sets of speakers will cause the delay, but when playing a music stream from Sonos, both sets of speakers will be in sync. The delay is on input, not output.
  3. The turntable should be plugged in to the ‘phono’ input on your amp, which already has a built in pre-amp, no need to purchase an external one.
  4. No, the TV ‘room’ would be untouched.
  5. No, the Sonos Amp doesn’t ’sound better’ than the Port. It merely has a built in Amp that can drive third party speakers, like you currently have on your own amp. It also has slightly different ports built in to it, but the sound output from an electrical standpoint is the same…
  6. Yes, assuming your current amp has an available tape loop (line in/line out), it would be as the Port is designed to connect to an already existing system. It becomes challenging if your existing amp has no available tape loop. 

Thank you for the reply.

I think I can summarise your points as ‘I’m worrying too much!’ Sounds like a Sonos Port is just what I want & everything will be fine. I will have no need to play on my Sonos and original speakers at the same time so the delay will not be an issue. I managed to get a pic around the back of my amp (which was a game in itself!), and it looks like I do have an available line in & out. So all good. I’m off to spend some money on a Port…

 


@Krissbi_33 Airgetlam may have been intimating this in his response. Looking at the connections on the back you may well have a ‘tape monitor’ switch or 2 selector switches one marked ‘record’ the other ‘listen’ or similar words. If this is the case then it would be possible to listen to your turntable via sonos and on the existing system at the same time and both would actually play in Sync.

 


Thank you @Ralpfocus. I do, and so that’s good to know. A new Port is winging its way to me as we speak. Expected in 2 days….