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Originally Posted by !@#$%!
you need a preamp, as phono signal is -20db lower than the regular line level (0db).
OLD stereos hence had a "phono" input that provided the necessary amplification to the signal-- these days, it's more often that the turntable itself has a preamp (switch on/off in some hidden place) OR you just get a preamp, if the turntable is worth it.
am i making sense? so if your turntable kicks ass just fork out $$ for the preamp. if your turntable is a cheapo thing, buy another (more modern) that has a preamp incorporated.
note that most premium modern turntables still require a preamp.
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dude, i bought my turntable in the street (literally the sidewalk) for 200 pesos, that's roughly twenty dollars!
just because i'm in storytelling mood, the thing has a switch between 33 1/3 and 45 and i was seriously blown away when i discovered you could raise a little block in the center to fit 7"s. i had to give it a serious wash because it was muddy; took it three times to the shop to get it fixed (once, line out cables were faulty; second time, i thought the tone arm had a short too, turns out it just needed a new needle; third time, for some reason stopped working randomly, took it to check and magically started to work again). there's no on switch, if it's plugged in, it's on; the line out cables are built in. it's a piece alright.
still, even though i could only listen to it with my guitar amp, it sounded fantastic, considering it didn't need any big reconstruction.
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BOTTOMLINE is thanks for answering, today when i went to pick the stereo, i saw some awesome turntables for as little as the equiv of $150 usd (i also saw a badass pro tape deck for like the equiv of $200 usd), maybe in the future when i have a job; for now, i'll pick up a phono preamp (thanks for the site, terminal!).