Contributor I

add a turntable

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 12, 2025
20 replies
217 views

Hi all, thanks in advance for any advice given. I’ve read other topics around turntables but not quite got the info I need. You will gather as you read my question that I’m not particularly tech savvy hence asking all you knowledgeable people out in the community 😊

I bought a Beam 2, 2 x era 100 and a mini sub for my LG TV last month and am very happy with it; it sounds fantastic in my living room.
In my kitchen I have my old stack system. A Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 Genie turntable, a Rotel RA-820B amp, cd player and tuner and 2 sets of Tannoy mercury F speakers attached via a switching box for 2 room playing.
I’d like to add my turntable to the Sonos setup. The cd player, tuner and speakers are now obsolete with the purchase of the Sonos but I’d like to keep my LPs.
My understanding is that my amp has a phono pre amp for the turntable (photo for info) the turntable doesn’t have its own pre amp. Therefore if I wanted to connect to the Sonos over my WiFi connection I’d need to buy a Sonos port and connect the amp to that and everything would communicate with my new system?
However, to save money on more purchases am I able to keep the turntable connected to the amp then connect the amp to one of the era 100 via the usb-c in the back? If so what sockets do I use at the back of the amp?
Hope that makes sense? Thank you

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nik9669a

Senior Virtuoso

Just realised even when the turntable is switched off and not in use I get a hum through the speakers so perhaps not the same reason 🤔 there must be something else going on too?

Are the tuner and amp are still powered? Turn them off too.

C

craigski

Local Superstar

Just realised even when the turntable is switched off and not in use I get a hum through the speakers so perhaps not the same reason 🤔 there must be something else going on too?

The RCA interconnects maybe too close to the power cables, try to keep them as separate as possible.

However, to save money on more purchases am I able to keep the turntable connected to the amp then connect the amp to one of the era 100 via the usb-c in the back?

You could also consider a second hand Port from eBay or similar. Would probably cost less vs new Era-100 + USB Line In Adapter. You also have the ability to get Sonos Music Services into your existing Amp & Speakers, and output turntable source via the digital coax on Port to a Bluetooth transmitter, if you have a requirement to listen via Bluetooth headphones. When listening to turntable in this configuration, there will be a small delay in sound coming from Sonos speakers vs Rotel connected speakers, but the Sonos Music Services will be in sync.

Then over time replace the speakers connected to the Rotel with Sonos speakers.

AjTrek1

With the older setup you have one can often run into issues you are experiencing. That’s why IMO going with Era 100 and Pre-amp although requires an expenditure will serve you better in the long run. Who knows you may eventually decide to get a 4th Era 100 and make a dedicated stereo pair for the turntable.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

M

MarkOgdenAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks for all the advice guys. Much appreciated 👍

buzz

Just realised even when the turntable is switched off and not in use I get a hum through the speakers so perhaps not the same reason 🤔 there must be something else going on too?

If the hum is only associated with Phono, make sure that the turntable has a proper ground connection to the ROTEL. Does the hum level vary with tonearm position? Are any other devices connected to the ROTEL, such as a cable box? If so, as a test, connect only the turntable to the ROTEL inputs.

M

MarkOgdenAuthor

Contributor I

The hum is evident as soon as I switch the amp on even when the other units are switched off. I think you are right with the power cables and associated wires are all very close together because of where the unit is located. Not sure I can do much about it but useful to know why it’s happening. It’ll all be resolved when I invest in either a Sonos turntable etc (or similar) or get rid of some of the other kit and make more space

buzz

Do you have hum when listening to Tuner? Does the hum level track the ROTEL Volume control setting?

M

MarkOgdenAuthor

Contributor I

Hi Buzz, obviously have to have the amp on for any of the sources so always hear the buzz until I ramp up the volume. The hum is a constant and doesn’t increase with volume and to be fair I can’t detect it once the music is playing just between the music e.g changing the LP or a cd. There is no hum independently of the amp

buzz

Is the hum coming from speakers attached to the ROTEL or directly from the ROTEL chassis?

M

MarkOgdenAuthor

Contributor I

The speakers. I also have a QED SS21 Parallel 2-Way Speaker Switching Unit between the Rotel and 2 sets of speakers (that’s the black box behind the units)

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