Chendizzle Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Hey guys, I know quite a few of you out there play vinyl and are also...umm old. My girlfriend bought me a record player and a bunch of records recently, so yeah this is the first time I've used one and I'm having an issue with the sound. I hook it up to my speakers that I normally use for my computer, and I put the output jack into the headphones port. However, while the music sounds fine the vocals sound really distant, and it's the same thing with every record I've played. Am I not using the correct port? I'm confused as to why just the vocals are coming in quietly yet the music sounds fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HighFives Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 I'd try it with some other speakers if you are able. If not it could be the record player itself... Don't take my word for it tho I'm not sure. Just what I would do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicburto Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 I had that problem when I hooked mine up to our stereo system - it was because dolby was turned on. That might not be the problem with yours...I'd check to see if the preamp is turned on in the record player or you might need an external one. What kind of record player is it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chendizzle Posted February 20, 2007 Author Share Posted February 20, 2007 I had that problem when I hooked mine up to our stereo system - it was because dolby was turned on. That might not be the problem with yours...I'd check to see if the preamp is turned on in the record player or you might need an external one. What kind of record player is it? It's an audio technica. There aren't many options on it besides speed, size, start and stop. And I dunno what the preamp or dolby is. If a preamp is an amplifier actually in the player, I don't believe it has one or if it does I can find no switches for it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Turntables do need some kind of preamp ... some have them built in. If yours doesn't, you'll probably want to run it into a stereo receiver (or a boombox with a phono input, or whatever). It's important to use an input that's specifically for phono, because that's designed to handle the signal from a turntable. Or you could buy an inexpensive preamp ... talk to the Radio Shack folks and see what they can suggest. I bought a no-frills one there a few years back for something like $20. Most of what I just said above is based only on years of amateur dorking with turntables and may be complete bullshit, but I think I'm right about this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yraenkcin Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Turntables do need some kind of preamp ... some have them built in. If yours doesn't, you'll probably want to run it into a stereo receiver (or a boombox with a phono input, or whatever). It's important to use an input that's specifically for phono, because that's designed to handle the signal from a turntable. Or you could buy an inexpensive preamp ... talk to the Radio Shack folks and see what they can suggest. I bought a no-frills one there a few years back for something like $20. Most of what I just said above is based only on years of amateur dorking with turntables and may be complete bullshit, but I think I'm right about this. Your right, few turntables (except for some brand new ones) have a pre-amp in them. Some older receivers that specifically have a PHONO input that will power the signal. I ran into this problem when I got a new receiver and found out that my records were really really quit. I had to buy a Phono Pre Amp. It was about $20 at the local electronics store. For some reason I think Radio Shack said they stopped carrying them in store when I was looking but its worth checking out It was something like this here (I found froogling phone pre amp):http://store.teptronics.com/pp999.html?zma...amp;zmap=PP-999 But that should take care of it (and this is just stuff I figured out from having the same problem) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicburto Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 circuit city carries them I believe - around 20 bucks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lizish Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Yeah, lacking a pre-amp and then that little 'ground' connection from TT to amp/pre-amp is probably your problem. As someone new to vintage (low end) audiophile stuff, I would consider looking at pawn shops and estate sales to find a pre-amp/amp - worrying that only spending $20 at radio shack is the equivalent to making the weak link in a sonic chain. Besides, nobody wants straight 2 channel stuff anymore and things with names of 'Macintosh; 'Carver', 'Rotel' and 'Sansui' are showing up at baby-boomer garage sales. Just joined this forum to ask about my prospective purchase (a Rotel per-amp and amp) and they were extremely helpful: www.audiokarma.org and by extremely helpful, I mean stuff send in the mail to help with an old speaker connection. For free. I couldn't believe it. I now love my stereo again and am hearing things on CD and Vinyl that I've never heard before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
willywoody Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 here's a well thought of budget phono preamp: http://www.spearitsound.com/Cambridge_Audi..._Audio_540p.asp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chendizzle Posted February 20, 2007 Author Share Posted February 20, 2007 See, this is the kind of basic stuff that escapes you when you grew up in the age of cassettes and cds haha. I will have to go out and get a preamp and see how it goes. EDIT: I guess I do have a preamp. This one is newfangled. "With its built-in switchable phono preamp, the AT-PL50 may be connected directly to your computer, home stereo and to other components that have no dedicated turntable input. " So yeah now I dunno what the problem is again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chendizzle Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 Ok got it! Key was to hook up record player male end to alternate port on my computer, and just have the computer speakers hooked up normally. Sounds perfect! Gotta love these newfangled turntables. Thanks guys! Time to throw on From a Basement on the Hill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
willywoody Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Ok got it! Key was to hook up record player male end to alternate port on my computer, and just have the computer speakers hooked up normally. Sounds perfect! Gotta love these newfangled turntables. Thanks guys! Time to throw on From a Basement on the Hill enjoy. and definitely try to track down agib on vinyl. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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