[majorvices]

I have an old Techniques system that I got when I was 16. Still have everything except the receiver, which blew about 10 years back. I hooked up an old surround sound receiver to the CD player, via the EQ, and - man - it jams! Haven't listen to those 200 watt speaker in years. Don;t know exactly what wattage the receiver puts out, but on CD the thing gets plenty loud (though, understandable, not as loud as my old receiver).

Problem is, hooking up the turntable into the same audio outlet, it's only about 1/4 as loud. I've tried by passing the EQ, fiddling with the connectors - when I get feedback it's ear shattering - but when everything is connected properly it is just not loud enough, especially compared to the CD.

What gives? Is there something I could jump the turntable into to amp up the volume (besides another receiver). Why is the CD player loud, but the turntable just audible?

[a10t2]

Sounds like you need a preamp. Old turntables used what's called a "phono" level output, and your old receiver would have had a preamp built in to boost it up to line level. You can buy a separate box and they're cheap:

http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PP-999-Phono-Turntable-Pre-Amp/dp/B00025742A

Not necessarily recommending that unit, it's just what came up in a search.

[denny]

Damn, Keith, I just threw away a phono preamp yesterday as I was cleaning out the studio. 

[majorvices]

Thanks guys. I just picked one up.

[nicneufeld]

You can always "homebrew", too!

[deepsouth]

i love the smell of vinyl.......

[babalu87]

Silly question too but are you grounding the turntable?

I really need to break mine out, have so many good records in the basement.
Problem with mine is my system is in a closet and I didnt make room for a turntable 

[majorvices]

You can always "homebrew", too!

Thanks. I appreciate that. But I would understand Mandarin Chinese before I could figure that out.

[BrewingRover]

Thanks. I appreciate that. But I would understand Mandarin Chinese before I could figure that out.

You mean that wasn't Chinese

[nicneufeld]

Hehe, yes, for me as well the work involved in breadboarding and building a phono preamp is far beyond 30 bucks, in aggravation alone!  But it seemed in keeping with the homebrew spirit...sort of like how brewing American style lagers is one of the most difficult and involved brewing processes to produce what one can purchase for very little.