My husband recently purchased a Sonos system -- ARC, sub Gen 3 and Era 300 speakers. He has an old turntable that he wants to connect to it and I would like to get him the equipment needed to do so for Christmas, but i have no idea what is needed.
The turntable is a Technics SL-1200MK2. I think a preamp is needed? Anything else? What preamp would you recommend?
You need to get another Sonos device with line-in to connect the turntable. Read this article for more information:
https://www.sonos.com/en-us/blog/listening-to-vinyl-with-sonos
A couple of good and affordable preamps are the ART DJ Pre II and the U-Turn Pluto 2.
Great info! Sorry for my basic questions, but i know nothing about this kind of stuff! So from the article, it looks like i should either get an amp or a port - and since we don’t currently have an amp, it sounds like i should get the amp and not the port? Am i understanding that correctly? And i would need to get the Sonos amp, correct? Otherwise if i got another amp, i would also need a port?
Great info! Sorry for my basic questions, but i know nothing about this kind of stuff! So from the article, it looks like i should either get an amp or a port - and since we don’t currently have an amp, it sounds like i should get the amp and not the port? Am i understanding that correctly? And i would need to get the Sonos amp, correct? Otherwise if i got another amp, i would also need a port?
If you don’t need another speaker, just get the Port. Then get one of the phono preamps I recommended and you should be good to go.
Are there better preamps that i should consider?
Are you saying that if we ever want to add another speaker somewhere we will need to get an Amp?
There are a lot of different preamp options. It just depends on how much you want to spend. Check out this list:
https://vinylrestart.com/best-phono-preamps/
I would choose one of these preamps. If your husband wants something better, he can always return it and get something else. It’s the thought that counts.
You can add another Sonos speaker to your Sonos ecosystem without the Amp. You only need a Sonos Amp if you plan on powering a set of third-party passive speakers.
If the turntable is in the same room as the Arc, Sub, and Era 300s, get the Port to connect the turntable. If the turntable is in another room, consider getting a Sonos speaker with line-in instead. The Five is a great option for a turntable. And you can group the Five with the Arc to play the turntable audio to all of the speakers at the same time.
AMP is used for operating passive speakers (old world speakers connected with speaker wire). PORT accepts and delivers audio to other audio units (not speakers), such as receivers, tape decks, radio tuners, etc. The signal from you turntable is very small and requires the specialized ‘preamp’. Some turntables include a preamp, yours does not.
Note that you can plug the preamp into a SONOS FIVE and you’ll have another speaker. The FIVE can be physically located anywhere in the house where you have a wireless or network connection. But, if you have an old pair of speakers you’d like to use, AMP is the ticket. An interesting alternate would be a MOVE 2 with the SONOS USB Line-In adapter. This provides the turntable connection, Bluetooth, plus MOVE 2 can be operated cordless.
I spend most of my time listening to a single Sonos Five and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that to you for your turntable input and very good sound too.
Thank you for all this info. It is starting to make some sense to me now! But there are certainly alot of choices!!
Is there value in getting a preamp with both MM and MC?
It really depends on your intentions on collecting phono cartridges, most folks never even consider picking uup an MC Moving Coil one and jsut select one of the many good MM Moving Magnet ones.
I, many years ago tried several different options and you could hear differences in the reproduction between different cartridges. BUT once you stepped up to the better quality ones differences got very difficuly or impossible to pick up.
Some selections to look at with decent information on each type.
Don’t forget to look at the stylus shape in your research.
Some phono preamp possibilities too.
https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/phono_preamp.html?fa=1#&nvpair=YCCartridge_Type|MM,%20MC
MM cartridges are the norm. MC’s are usually considered to be a step up. (And more expensive than MM) MC cartridge output is much lower than MM.
We don’t know which cartridge is installed on the turntable. If you purchase a dual MM/MC preamp, all bases will be covered. If you save boxes, you may be able to find the cartridge box. If you ask your husband for the model number, it’s certain that a discussion will follow that will ruin your surprise. You can visually inspect the cartridge and determine if the stylus is replaceable. MM’s usually use a replaceable stylus, MM’s do not.
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