Vinyl records have made a comeback in recent years, and many music enthusiasts are rediscovering the joys of listening to their favorite albums on a turntable.
But what if you want to enjoy your vinyl collection throughout your home with a Sonos sound system? Connecting a turntable to Sonos may seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process step-by-step, so you can start enjoying your vinyl collection on your Sonos speakers in no time.
Whether you have a Sonos Five, Play:5, Port, Amp, Connect, or Connect:Amp, we’ve got you covered. So dust off your old records and let’s get started!
How To Connect A Turntable To Sonos
First things first, you’ll need a phono preamp to connect your turntable to your Sonos system. The preamp’s job is to amplify the low-level “phono” level signal from your cartridge to a “line” level signal that will work with your speakers. Without a preamp, the volume from your speakers would be far too low for you to enjoy your music.
If your turntable doesn’t have a built-in preamp, you can purchase a standalone preamp like the Pluto 2 Phono Preamp. Once you have your preamp, you can connect your turntable to any Sonos device that has either a 3.5mm AUX jack or RCA input.
If you have a Sonos Five, Play:5, Port, Amp, Connect, or Connect:Amp, you can plug the turntable directly into the AUX input on the back of the speakers using an RCA to 3.5mm y-cable. Simply connect the single end of the cable into the line-in port of the Sonos device and attach the split colored end into the respective colors of the left and right outputs on the back of the turntable.
If your turntable comes with cables attached, then simply purchase a pair of adapter RCA cables to make your life easier.
For Sonos speakers like the Move, One, Play:1, Play:3, Beam, Playbar, or Playbase that don’t have any physical inputs, you’ll need an additional Sonos device with a physical input such as a Five, Play:5, Connect, Amp, or Port to wirelessly transmit the signal from your turntable to additional Sonos speakers.
To connect a turntable to a Sonos Play:5 specifically, connect the single end of an RCA to 3.5mm cable into the line-in port of the speaker and the other ends into the L/R audio outputs of the turntable or preamp. An RCA to 3.5mm adapter will be needed if the turntable has a built-in RCA cable.
Once everything is connected, simply play something on your turntable and select “Line-In” from the Browse tab in the Sonos app. Select the Line-In source name and enjoy your vinyl collection throughout your home with Sonos sound quality.
What You’ll Need
To connect a turntable to your Sonos system, you’ll need a few things. First and foremost, you’ll need a phono preamp to amplify the low-level “phono” level signal from your cartridge to a “line” level signal that will work with your speakers. If your turntable doesn’t have a built-in preamp, you can purchase a standalone preamp like the Pluto 2 Phono Preamp.
You’ll also need an RCA or RCA to 3.5mm cable to connect your turntable to your Sonos device. If your turntable comes with cables attached, then simply purchase a pair of adapter RCA cables to make your life easier.
If you have a Sonos Five, Play:5, Port, Amp, Connect, or Connect:Amp, you can plug the turntable directly into the AUX input on the back of the speakers using an RCA to 3.5mm y-cable. Simply connect the single end of the cable into the line-in port of the Sonos device and attach the split colored end into the respective colors of the left and right outputs on the back of the turntable.
For Sonos speakers like the Move, One, Play:1, Play:3, Beam, Playbar, or Playbase that don’t have any physical inputs, you’ll need an additional Sonos device with a physical input such as a Five, Play:5, Connect, Amp, or Port to wirelessly transmit the signal from your turntable to additional Sonos speakers.
Setting Up Your Turntable
To set up your turntable for use with Sonos, you will need to ensure that it has a built-in phono preamp or purchase a standalone preamp like the Pluto 2 Phono Preamp. This will allow you to amplify the low-level “phono” level signal from your cartridge to a “line” level signal that will work with your speakers.
Next, connect the audio cable that comes with your Sonos Amp or purchase an RCA to 3.5mm cable for use with the Sonos Line-In Adapter. Plug one end of the cable into the back of your turntable or preamp, and the other end into the corresponding colors of the L/R audio inputs on the Sonos Amp or Line-In Adapter.
If you have a Sonos Five, Play:5, Port, Amp, Connect, or Connect:Amp, you can connect the turntable directly to the AUX input on the back of the speakers using an RCA to 3.5mm y-cable. Simply connect the single end of the cable into the line-in port of the Sonos device and attach the split colored end into the respective colors of the left and right outputs on the back of the turntable.
For Sonos speakers without physical inputs such as the Move, One, Play:1, Play:3, Beam, Playbar, or Playbase, you’ll need an additional Sonos device with a physical input such as a Five, Play:5, Connect, Amp, or Port to wirelessly transmit the signal from your turntable to additional Sonos speakers.
Once everything is connected, select “Line-In” from the Browse tab in the Sonos app and choose the Line-In source name to start playing your vinyl collection throughout your home with high-quality Sonos sound. Don’t forget to label your new turntable line-in input on the Sonos app for easy access and enable the Sonos Autoplay Room setting for seamless switching between streaming and turntable audio sources.
Adjusting Your Sonos Settings For Vinyl Playback
Now that your turntable is connected to your Sonos system, it’s time to adjust your Sonos settings for the best vinyl playback experience.
First, label your new turntable line-in input on the Sonos app so it’s easy to find. This will help you quickly select the turntable as your audio source. To do this, go into the settings of your connected Sonos speaker via the Sonos app and adjust the label feature.
Next, enable the Sonos Autoplay Roomsetting. This feature is turned off by default, but when activated, it can automatically switch the audio source from streaming to turntable as soon as the needle hits the groove. This means you won’t have to manually switch between sources every time you want to listen to vinyl. Additionally, when autoplay is enabled, the designated speaker will drop out of a group it may be part of unless Include Grouped Rooms is enabled.
Finally, consider adjusting the EQ settings on your Sonos device. Vinyl records have a unique sound profile that can benefit from some EQ adjustments. You can experiment with boosting the bass or treble to enhance your listening experience.
With these adjustments made, you’re ready to enjoy your vinyl collection on your Sonos system with optimal sound quality and ease of use.
Tips For Optimal Sound Quality
To get the best sound quality out of your turntable when connecting it to Sonos, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First, make sure your turntable is properly grounded to eliminate any unwanted noise or hum. This can usually be done by connecting a grounding wire from the turntable to the preamp or receiver.
Next, adjust the audio delay in the Sonos app to minimize any lag between when the stylus hits the record and when you hear the sound. This can be found under Settings > System > Audio Delay. Start with a delay of zero and gradually increase it until you no longer hear any distortion or skipping.
Finally, consider investing in high-quality cables and components to ensure the best possible sound. Look for cables with gold-plated connectors and oxygen-free copper wiring for optimal signal transfer. And if you’re using a standalone preamp, choose one with a high signal-to-noise ratio and low distortion to minimize any unwanted noise or distortion in your music.
By following these tips, you can enjoy your vinyl collection in all its analog glory with the added convenience and versatility of Sonos wireless speakers.
Enjoying Your Vinyl Collection On Sonos
If you’re a vinyl enthusiast, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s perfectly possible to enjoy your vinyl collection through your Sonos system. With the right equipment and setup, you can have the warm, rich sound of vinyl playing through your Sonos speakers in the same modern and convenient way as your digital music.
To get started, you’ll need a turntable with a built-in preamp or a standalone preamp, as well as a Sonos device with either a 3.5mm AUX jack or RCA input. If your turntable doesn’t have a built-in preamp, you can purchase a standalone preamp like the Pluto 2 Phono Preamp.
Once you have your preamp, simply connect your turntable to the Sonos device using an RCA to 3.5mm y-cable or standard RCA cable. For Sonos devices like the Five, Play:5, Port, Amp, Connect, or Connect:Amp, plug the turntable directly into the AUX input on the back of the speakers using an RCA to 3.5mm y-cable. If your turntable comes with cables attached, then simply purchase a pair of adapter RCA cables to make your life easier.
For Sonos speakers like the Move, One, Play:1, Play:3, Beam, Playbar, or Playbase that don’t have any physical inputs, you’ll need an additional Sonos device with a physical input such as a Five, Play:5, Connect, Amp, or Port to wirelessly transmit the signal from your turntable to additional Sonos speakers.
Once everything is connected, simply play something on your turntable and select “Line-In” from the Browse tab in the Sonos app. Select the Line-In source name and enjoy your vinyl collection throughout your home with Sonos sound quality.
With these simple steps and equipment recommendations, you can enjoy your vinyl collection on Sonos just like any other digital music source. So go ahead and dust off those records – it’s time to bring them back to life!
