All Sonos analog line ins are looking for a standard ‘line level’ input. Most phono devices output a ‘phono level’ output, and require a pre-amp to boost that signal to line level. 

These days, many turntables come with a pre-amp built in, so there is a switch to change the output from ‘phono level’ to ‘line level’, so you may not need to keep your older preamp. 

Yeah, this turntable has a preamp built-in and I have no other preamp hooked up before the Port.

On the back is just a power line for the turntable and two RCA jacks I have hooked to the Port.

So if I get a turntable without a preamp, I need a Sonos Amp, I think I get that part.  My question is does the Amp also stream to my Sonos system or do I need to hook it up to the Port for this?

Thanks

The major difference between the Sonos Port and the Sonos Amps boil down to two things. Input/output ports, and the amplifier used to drive other company’s speakers. If you’re not powering someone else’s speakers, there is no reason to get the Amp, and should stick with the Port. 

The Amp does not include the circuitry to act as a pre-amp, you would still need a pre-amp for the turntable, either built in or external, to get that signal from ‘phono level’ to ‘line level’. 

Ok got it.  So the simplest way to go to stream vinyl is a TT with a bulit-in preamp > Sonos Port.

For a more high end TT without a preamp it’s the TT > Preamp > Port.

Right. The only reason you’d want to substitute an Amp is if you were trying to power another set of non-Sonos passive (non-powered) speakers.

In both cases, the pre-amp is required to boost the signal from the turntable. As I said, some of them have them built in these days, but not all. 

When looking at phono preamps make sure to get the right kind or one that supports both types of phono cartridge, MC and MM. Moving Coil and Moving Magnet, the latter being most common.

I’m not sure if the phono preamp’s RIAA equalization curve changes but the amplification level does, the MC need more.