The 8 Best Receivers For Turntables in 2024

Why Do I Need A Receiver For My Turntable

A turntable is the part of a phonograph that rotates a vinyl, generating sound.

A receiver is a device that receives audio and/or video signals from multiple sources and moves those signals through the help of internal power amplifiers (integrated amp) to drive the audio signal to loudspeakers.

While not all turntables require a receiver, and there are ways to connect your turntable to speakers without a receiver, using a receiver — with an integrated amplifier — generally increases the overall sound quality.

In other words, turntables that do not have receivers generally sound thinner, gravely, and cannot reach higher volumes with the clarity that receivers can.

Receivers also allow you to keep your speaker outputs connected to a single device that is connected to all of your other audio sources, (record player, TV, CD Player, Blu-ray player). A basic turntable setup would have the turntable connected to the receiver and the receiver connected to the speakers.

Also, you can control most modern stereo receivers wirelessly using a dedicated remote control, smartphone app, or even via voice commands.

How To Pick The Best Receiver For Turntables

Turntables feed audio signals to external devices like receivers and speakers to best showcase the audio from a vinyl record. That being said, there are a number of factors to consider before purchasing a receiver.

Taking stock of compatibility based on inputs, outputs, phono preamp, flexibility, any additional features, and price are essential to determining which receiver is right for your audio system.

Number & Types of Inputs

In order to use a turntable with a receiver input and speaker outputs, you need to have compatible connections. Since most turntables are analog, they require RCA connectors. In order to use a receiver with a turntable, the receiver must have RCA input ports.

While RCA inputs are required, there are other inputs that are nice to have as well. Having multiple inputs will allow you to connect the receiver to your turntable but also other devices like speakers, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, media streamers, satellite boxes, and cable boxes.

Number & Types of Outputs

Having multiple outputs can allow a wider variety of uses for your receiver while ensuring great sound quality for your turntable.

A receiver with multiple HDMI outputs, for example, can allow you to connect to multiple TVs or projectors at the same time.

For audio-only connections, receivers can have optical and coaxial connections that are used to connect audio from HD and 4k Ultra HD TVs, DVD players, and Blu-ray players.

Phono Preamp

Some turntables and receivers come with built-in phono preamps. Phono preamps are included in a device to boost the weaker audio signal coming from a turntable.

If you are looking for a solid, all-around receiver, make sure it comes with a phono preamp built-in. That being said, it is important to note that there is still a possibility that a built-in phono preamp does not quite get the job done boost-wise.

If the receiver you are interested in has a sub-optimal phono preamp or does not have one at all but has a lot of other positive attributes, you always have the option to buy an external phono preamp to make up the difference in sound quality.

Since most turntables require an external phono preamp anyway, it is important to consider the purchase of a second device, one that has better performance and audio quality.

Flexibility

The number and different types of inputs and outputs can give you greater flexibility in what your receiver is capable of.

While your receiver must be able to connect sound to speakers from the turntable by way of RCA connectors, having a receiver that can also connect to your HD TV, media player, and/or projector, allows you to invest in a multifaceted device that can do more than just boost your turntable’s audio.

Sound Quality

A good receiver can affect sound quality in a number of, mostly indirect ways. A receiver with a built-in phono preamp will boost the audio signal coming from your turntable, giving you a better sound out of your speakers.

However, even if the receiver is not able to boost the audio signal as much as it should or can’t connect to as many hardware devices as you would like, there are still other ways that a receiver can affect the sound quality.

For example, having multiple outputs may allow you to connect your turntable, speakers, and TV with ease, but if the audio is not being sent over high-quality cables or wires, then it will ultimately affect sound quality. Similarly, how the components are put together impacts sound quality. The internal components of any audio device are generally designed to be as high-quality as possible, but there is always variability across products in terms of design and implementation.

Extra Features

If you’re an audiophile who is a newcomer to the world of turntables and receivers, extra features may not be at the top of your list. That being said, investing in a receiver that has Bluetooth, USB ports, Wifi, and/or Voice Control/Assistants can only benefit your listening experience.

Most modern receivers have some or all of these extra features and strive to combine convenience with optimal sound quality.

Amplifier vs. Stereo Receiver: What’s The Difference?

While you may often hear the words “amplifier” and “receiver” used interchangeably, they are not exactly the same thing.

An amplifier takes the low voltage signals from your turntable or sound source and turns it into a signal with enough gain to power your speakers. The preamplifier generally allows you to select the desired amount of gain while also being able to select a range of inputs.

In short, the preamp lets you select how much gain the audio signal will have, and the power amplifier does the actual gain-ing.

A receiver is an amplifier but with a radio built into it with a selectable input. The radio section does not require any other connection, just speakers.

While radio may be less relevant today with the advent of digital listening and streaming platforms dominating sections of the market, having a receiver gives you the option to explore new music as it is being introduced every day.

A receiver — with its integrated amplifier — can also give you a bundle of extra features that a regular amplifier wouldn’t otherwise have.

Can I Use An Amplifier As A Receiver?

Yes and no.

If you intend to use your amplifier to power speakers, then yes, you would technically be using your amplifier as you would a receiver in that situation.

If you are trying to use an amplifier to listen to the radio with great frequency response, input selection, preamp, and other features, the answer is mostly no.

In a nutshell, receivers have radio sections built-in whereas amplifiers do not.

How To Connect A Turntable To A Receiver

While your turntable does a great job of translating high-quality audio from your vinyl records, your receiver is the device that will allow you to boost your audio inputs with the help of its phono preamp and connectivity with your speakers.

If your turntable does not have a phono preamp but the receiver does, just plug your turntable’s audio signal cable into the receiver’s phono input labeled “PHONO.” (Most Modern receivers already have a phono preamp directly built-in to them.)

If your turntable does have a built-in phono preamp, but the receiver doesn’t, plug the turntable audio cable into one of the receiver’s analog audio inputs (usually labeled “aux” or “line in”).

What Do I Do If My Turntable & Receiver Each Have a Built-in Phono Preamp?

If your turntable and your receiver both have phono preamps, make sure to connect your turntable to one of your receiver’s auxiliary inputs rather than the phono input. This will make sure both phono inputs aren’t working at the same time.

You can also try to turn your turntable’s phono preamp off (if there is a bypass switch) to test out which device’s phono preamp gives you better sound quality.

Are RCA and Phono the same connection?

At a glance, both of these connectors look the same, but in fact, they are some differences among them.

The phono connector (short for phonograph) used to be the oldest of the two. Back then it was primarily used to connect a phonograph (also called a gramophone or turntable) to a radio.

It was connected to a radio — which had an integrated amp — to help amplify the audio signal, and nowadays it’s used to connect a turntable to a phono stage i.e, a phono preamp.

The RCA connector is fairly recent. It got its name from the Radio Corporation of America, and during the days of its conception, it was primarily used for the same purpose of connecting a turntable to radio for amplification purposes.

However, times have changed and the RCA connector has improved over the years. Despite having the same physical design, RCA connectors branched out and started servicing more modern and complex devices such as TVs, DVD players, etc.

On top of that, they also improved the interface to work with video and digital audio (such as S/PDIF.) Nevertheless, record players are still used today, so even though the physical interface looks the same, the phono input interface is still seen in modern stereo receivers and amplifiers.

Therefore, it’s always best to use the proper RCA cables and digital inputs when connecting to output devices to ensure that there are no issues with the sound output.

What’s are the differences between MM and MC phono preamps?

In most stereo receivers and phono preamps, you might have come across the phono input having a designation called “MM”, “MC” or even “MM/MC.” In this case, the MM stands for “Moving Magnet.” Therefore, the MM input is meant specifically for turntables that have an attached Moving Magnet cartridge.

The MC designation on the other hand stands for “Moving Coil,” which are cartridges that are more sensitive to vibrations and require a higher electrical signal before they can be reproduced. Therefore, the major difference between MM and MC preamps, is that the MC preamp requires a higher adjustable gain along with an adjustable input impedance.

The advantage of MC phono input is that due to their initial low signal level, it has better noise characteristics, i.e, less noise resulting in better overall sound output.

Unfortunately, the design of MC preamps is more complicated than MM preamps, and that’s why most MC compatible preamps are far more expensive than MM preamps. (also why most receivers we’ve seen on our list only support MM phono input.)

Do I need a receiver with phono input for my turntable?

It depends on your turntable. If your turntable has a phono preamp, then you can use an amplifier without a phono input. If your turntable does not have a built-in preamp, then you would need a receiver with a phono input.