Question

Turntable

  • 27 January 2016
  • 23 replies
  • 3517 views

I'm in the process of buying a Pro-Ject Essential II Digital turntable and I was wondering which Sonos I will need to buy to make it work? Will it work with Play 1 or 3?
Can someone help with this query?
Thanks!

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23 replies

You need a Sonos device with a line-in, which would be the Connect, Connect:Amp, or the Play:5. Of these, only the Play:5 is a standalone unit with speakers.
Thanks for the reply!
So If I buy Play5 will I need to buy any extra cables/parts to make it work?
You will need an RCA to 3.5 mm stereo cable to go from the turntable to the Play:5. Like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Male-2-Male-Adapter/dp/B004YEBK66/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1453934387&sr=8-4&keywords=rca+to+3.5mm
I am curious to know why you are doing this - do you have a large collection of vinyl records that you like to listen to?

I ask because the first thing that stopped being used once I installed Sonos was my turntable. Followed in a year by my CD player.

Also, what is digital in a turntable?
I checked the digital thing - the turntable will also convert its analog signals to digital. But you can't use this feature because the 5 unit will accept only analog signals from the TT, which the 5 will convert to digital and then back to analog again to drive its built in speakers.

If you are paying extra for the digital feature in the TT, it isn't for something you will be able to use with Sonos. FYI.
Hi Kumar,
Are you saying that even if I buy The Pro-Ject Essential 2 I will be able to use it with Play:5? will it work with just an RCA cable or will I need to buy an external amp as well?
Are you saying that even if I buy The Pro-Ject Essential 2 I will be able to use it with Play:5? will it work with just an RCA cable or will I need to buy an external amp as well?

No, if you just buy the standard Essential 2 you will need a separate phono stage, as the Essential 2 doesn't have one. The essential 2 digital DOES have one precisely because it has the optical output, which needs to be digitized from a line level signal, rather than a phono level signal.

So you have a choice, buy the digital and probably not use the optical output (although you may be able to plug it into a PC in order to rip your vinyl) or buy the standard Essential plus a separate phono stage. Project do a suitable one for that TT unsurprisingly and you may find that combination is cheaper than buying the digital. Of course you'd then need an extra power supply etc, it's up to you really.
Are you saying that even if I buy The Pro-Ject Essential 2 I will be able to use it with Play:5? will it work with just an RCA cable or will I need to buy an external amp as well?

No, if you just buy the standard Essential 2 you will need a separate phono stage, as the Essential 2 doesn't have one. The essential 2 digital DOES have one precisely because it has the optical output, which needs to be digitized from a line level signal, rather than a phono level signal.

So you have a choice, buy the digital and probably not use the optical output (although you may be able to plug it into a PC in order to rip your vinyl) or buy the standard Essential plus a separate phono stage. Project do a suitable one for that TT unsurprisingly and you may find that combination is cheaper than buying the digital. Of course you'd then need an extra power supply etc, it's up to you really.


Thank you!! Now I understand better. I will do a bit more research but I think the digital TT sounds like a good option for me. I've got already a TT, amp and speakers but they are very old and not in great condition so I'd like to upgrade the entire sound system.
Another quick question, someone mention I will need RCA to 3.5 mm stereo cable to go from the turntable to the Play:5, Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Male-2-Male-Adapter/dp/B004YEBK66/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1453934387&sr=8-4&keywords=rca+to+3.5mm

do you know any other available in UK? as these particular one I can only find them in USA.

Thanks
would this cable be okay as well?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00V441I3O?keywords=3.5mm%20Male%20to%202-Male%20RCA%20Adapter%20(6%20Feet)%20-%20Step%20Down%20Design&qid=1453983617&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4
No phono stage? Are you sure?

From: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015KQ90F4?keywords=Pro-Ject%20Essential%20II%20Digital&qid=1453929858&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

Built-in phono pre-amplifier with analogue & digital out Gold-plated RCA interconnect cable included


EDIT: Apparently the Amazon listing is incorrect. The user's manual states there is no pre-amp, only a phono output. So you will need to purchase a phono pre-amp with the Essential II Digital.
would this cable be okay as well?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00V441I3O?keywords=3.5mm%20Male%20to%202-Male%20RCA%20Adapter%20(6%20Feet)%20-%20Step%20Down%20Design&qid=1453983617&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4


Yes, that will be fine.
There are some other budget TTs that aren't digital but have a built in phono stage, but another one similar to the Project digital that you may want to research is the one by Flexson UK, made by Rega. Flexson markets it as made for Sonos, but that isn't a unique thing, the digital Project would work with Sonos just as well. I think that Flexson includes RCA cables in the box though. See:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexson-VinylPlay-High-Quality-Digital-Turntable/dp/B00NA4TI0G
You need to see if the RCA cables are terminated at the Sonos end based on what Sonos product you will connect it to - the play 5 will need a multijack for its single line in socket, Connect/Connect Amp have a jack each for left and right. Other than ensuring this, any RCA connector cable will do.
No phono stage? Are you sure?

From: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015KQ90F4?keywords=Pro-Ject%20Essential%20II%20Digital&qid=1453929858&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

Built-in phono pre-amplifier with analogue & digital out Gold-plated RCA interconnect cable included


EDIT: Apparently the Amazon listing is incorrect. The user's manual states there is no pre-amp, only a phono output. So you will need to purchase a phono pre-amp with the Essential II Digital.


That seems unlikely:

http://www.henleydesigns.co.uk/Essential-2-Digital-p1441

Henley are the UK distributor for Project and they know their stuff, the digital DOES include a phono stage. It would be nonsensical to have an optical output at phono level and it would be equally as absurd to include a phono stage for the digital output but not the analogue output.

That seems unlikely:

http://www.henleydesigns.co.uk/Essential-2-Digital-p1441

Henley are the UK distributor for Project and they know their stuff, the digital DOES include a phono stage. It would be nonsensical to have an optical output at phono level and it would be equally as absurd to include a phono stage for the digital output but not the analogue output.


I'm just quoting the users manual:

If your amplifier does not have an input suitable for phono cartridges you will require a separate phono amplifier stage for MM or MC cartridges which is then connected between the record player and a free line level input of the amplifier.


http://project-audio.com/inhalt/en/manual/manual_essential2digital
Well, the what hi-fi review suggests it does have the phono stage as well and you'd hope they'd actually tested it. I can imagine most of the digital's manual was copied from the basic essential 2, perhaps it wasn't sufficiently well proofread?
Well, the what hi-fi review suggests it does have the phono stage as well and you'd hope they'd actually tested it. I can imagine most of the digital's manual was copied from the basic essential 2, perhaps it wasn't sufficiently well proofread?

Looking at it, I'm not even sure that is the Digital manual in the link, though it was right there on the Digital's info page. I'm thoroughly confused.
I don't know which manual you guys are looking at; the link takes me to links to product specs and a manual for the digital TT that does say that a phone preamp is built in, and line level outputs provided that are NOT suitable for phono sockets. In other words, these ARE suitable for standard line in sockets such as those on the Sonos kit. There are links within the provided link to get to those pages.

As seems logical too.

I think the OP could be equally ok with it as with the Flexson. The latter includes both kinds of RCA cables in the box. I had a Rega P5, the Flexson is a P1 but I think it is just as easy to set up for the balancing and anti skate. Reviews say that the Project is a little fiddly on this count. A nice comment was from someone that says he took 30 minutes to set up the Project - 5 to set it up and 25 wondering/worrying whether he had done it right!
Hi all, will this connect to my play 5 ?http://www.pioneerdj.com/en/news/2016/plx-500-direct-drive-turntable-for-djs/
Already answered this.
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Answer yes can feed into Play5 - there will be a 70ms delay of the input to Play:5 and the output on your Sonos speakers throughout house.
I checked the digital thing - the turntable will also convert its analog signals to digital. But you can't use this feature because the 5 unit will accept only analog signals from the TT, which the 5 will convert to digital and then back to analog again to drive its built in speakers.

If you are paying extra for the digital feature in the TT, it isn't for something you will be able to use with Sonos. FYI.


hi, i have a play 3, so that won't work with any TT? the pro-ject digital sys it's for sonos, but you say you can buy the cheaper usb version and make it work with play 5?
if i buy the pro-ject essential digital, won't that work with the play bar?

hi, i have a play 3, so that won't work with any TT? the pro-ject digital sys it's for sonos, but you say you can buy the cheaper usb version and make it work with play 5?

No, nothing will work with the 3, it does not have any input jacks. I don't know exactly what a cheaper USB version does, but a cheaper standard -ie non digital - turntable with a built in phono amp has what are called line level output jacks that will allow a RCA cable to carry the necessary analog signal to the input jack on a 5 unit, which definitely has no USB input.

I can't help you with the play bar question, but someone else will soon do so,hopefully.
PS: I think it will work with the play bar - optical out to optical in - but don't take this at face value until someone else confirms. Better still, get the TT on a trial, returnable basis!