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Macwell
Contributor I
January 4, 2023

poor sound quality playing vinyl with Port

  • January 4, 2023
  • 10 replies
  • 986 views

Sound quality overall poor, particularly vocals. Sound is scratchy. Sound quality is worse playing older records. I use a vintage Yamaha turntable through a preamp 

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10 replies

Belly M
Belly M
January 4, 2023

Sonos line level input  needs to be set around 10, check this first.

    jgatie
    jgatie
    January 4, 2023

    Make sure the pre-amp is set to Line level.  If set to Phono, the audio will be quiet, with the lows de-emphasized and the highs emphasized.

      MacwellAuthor
      Contributor I
      January 4, 2023

      Thanks. I’m not familiar with Sonos line level. My pre amp doesn’t have a selection for line or phono.

       

      MacwellAuthor
      Contributor I
      January 4, 2023

      Ok. Found line in level

       

      Belly M
      Belly M
      January 4, 2023

      Thanks. I’m not familiar with Sonos line level. My pre amp doesn’t have a selection for line or phono.

       

      It may have a MM/MC switch or jumper which does need to be set depending on your cartridge type.

        MacwellAuthor
        Contributor I
        January 4, 2023

        It does have an MM/MC switch but goes from bad to worse

        Belly M
        Belly M
        January 4, 2023

        Well… 

        Is the cartridge MC or MM ?

        Is the phono stage actually working correctly? 

        You also need to check the tip of stylus to make sure it not worn and no damage to the cantilever. With the cartridge disconnected you need to check continuity of the tone arm leads. Then tracking weight, arm height and cartridge alignment, anti skate and then revisit some of those again.

         

        Finally if all OK just remember a £500 turntable will still sound worse than a £50 CD player. A vinyl cleaner goes a long way to help older records and even new ones.

         

        EDIT you can test the Ports line inputs using a CD player or something that has a line out such as a tuner,  cassette player or even an iPad etc.

        MacwellAuthor
        Contributor I
        January 4, 2023

        It plays perfectly through my speakers. It sounds terrible through the Port. I appreciate your responses. 

        Belly M
        Belly M
        January 4, 2023

        Your existing amplifier… may have either a pre out or tape out, you could try connecting these to the Port’s in and see how it sounds. Keep the volume down low initially in the Sonos app in case your amp sends a full signal.

        106rallye
        106rallye
        January 4, 2023

        It does sound your turntable does not have a preamp and that you where using your amp’s phono stage (built in preamp) before…..

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