How To Help with Setup - Vinyl player, amp and speakers

[Peep1981]

Hi

Complete novice here. We've gone from a plug n play vinyl player with everything built in (£69 hmv special) to a full new setup after deciding we liked vinyl again and spent over £3k on vinyl in the last year. We had some recommendations and went for:

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable
NAD d3020v2 Amplifier
Kanto YU6 Speakers

However we are having some issues connecting everything and we have no sound. The manuals are more than useless and we've got nothing to follow to connect all 3 together and now we are debating whether they are compatible, the need for a pre amp etc?

Is there a full guide anywhere? Tried watching loads of various youtube videos but cant seem to find anything.

Peter

 

[A-Line]

Click on "DOWNLOADS" from the link below for set-up info. You'll also need RCA interconnects for your turntable to connect to your integrated amplifier "phono" input as well as speaker cables for sound to your speakers.

Your turntable will need a ground wire from your turntable "ground" screw terminal to the "ground" screw terminal to your NAD integrated amplifier. A simple single copper wire is all that is needed for this and can be easily purchased at your local hardware store, as can speaker cables & RCA interconnects.

Good luck.

Image 1 & 2 = Speaker Cables
Image 3 = RCA Interconnects
Image 4 = Single Copper Wire

T1 Phono SB Turntable w/ Phono Preamp - Pro-Ject Audio USA

The T1 Phono SB by Pro-Ject has a built-in phono preamp, glass record platter, single-piece aluminum tonearm design and simple plug & play functionality

pro-jectusa.com

View attachment 3230

 

[skinnypuppy71]

You seem to have bought active/powered speakers when you really want some passive speakers to connect to the Nad amplifier.

 

[nopiano]

You seem to have bought active/powered speakers when you really want some passive speakers to connect to the Nad amplifier.

I agree. It’s a bit like buying two engines, plus a motorbike and wondering why you don’t have a car!

To Peter: I’m not making fun, honestly, but this is why you should go to a shop for advice. Picking stuff online isn’t how to buy a system - I’m guessing that’s what you did.

You also have two phono amplifier stages - one in the SB version of your turntable, PLUS one in the NAD amplifier (it was added in the mark 2 version). But you only need one.

Can you return the speakers and turntable and start again? The amp is fine, unless you really wanted an all in one system of some sort. Or return everything then pay a visit to Richer Sounds who’ll get you sorted properly?

 

[Al ears]

I agree. It’s a bit like buying two engines, plus a motorbike and wondering why you don’t have a car!

To Peter: I’m not making fun, honestly, but this is why you should go to a shop for advice. Picking stuff online isn’t how to buy a system - I’m guessing that’s what you did.

You also have two phono amplifier stages - one in the SB version of your turntable, PLUS one in the NAD amplifier (it was added in the mark 2 version). But you only need one.

Can you return the speakers and turntable and start again? The amp is fine, unless you really wanted an all in one system of some sort. Or return everything then pay a visit to Richer Sounds who’ll get you sorted properly?

I would agree, even if you could link all that together you would have a sad affair to play decent vinyl through, sad to say.

 

[jjbomber]

Don't need the amp as the turntable will connect to the line-in on the speakers. There is a phono switch on the turntable as well as another on the speakers. Make sure they are both set to the same thing, i.e. both to Line or both to Phono.

 

[Al ears]

Don't need the amp as the turntable will connect to the line-in on the speakers. There is a phono switch on the turntable as well as another on the speakers. Make sure they are both set to the same thing, i.e. both to Line or both to Phono.

I rest my case....

 

[skinnypuppy71]

If you can return the gear you've bought...please do it and start again, I don't think you could have spent your cash in a worse possible way for trying to start a turntable based system from scratch.

 

[nopiano]

Don't need the amp as the turntable will connect to the line-in on the speakers. There is a phono switch on the turntable as well as another on the speakers. Make sure they are both set to the same thing, i.e. both to Line or both to Phono.

Actually, one needs to be phono and the other line, surely?

I’d not appreciated that even the speakers have a phono stage - so, yes, no NAD amp needed. Three phono stages in one system - that’s surely a record?! (Pun intended).

 

[A-Line]

You don't need a ground cable from the turntable because it already is, grounded that is

Here's a quote from the owner's manual regarding the RCA connections & Earth ground to the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable:
"Take care to connect the left and right channels correctly. The right channel is usually marked red, the
left channel black or white. The earthing wire of the tonearm lead should be connected to the earth
terminal on your amplifier (if provided)."

Photo 1 shows the Earth ground location on the turntable.
Additionally, the NAD integrated amplifier clearly has a Earth ground terminal as well.
Photo 2 shows the Earth ground terminal location on the amplifier.

 

[jjbomber]

Apologies, this Rega is obviously different to all the others I have seen.

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable
NAD d3020v2 Amplifier
Kanto YU6 Speakers

What Rega???

 

[Al ears]

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable
NAD d3020v2 Amplifier
Kanto YU6 Speakers

What Rega???

It's one of those days.....

 

[robdmarsh]

It’s a bit like buying two engines, plus a motorbike and wondering why you don’t have a car!

That's quite funny! Do you do stand-up?

 

[Al ears]

That's quite funny! Do you do stand-up?

It's apt....

 

[Bruzli]

Here, clearly says to connect the player to the speakers, skip the amp:

YU6 Powered Speakers | Kanto Audio

Armed with a formidable Class D amplifier pumping out 200-Watt peak power, YU6 powered speakers will have you questioning what it really means to be loud.

www.kantoaudio.com

 

[nopiano]

That's quite funny! Do you do stand-up?

I wish I could. I’m too old now, so I only do sit -down!

 

[Peep1981]

Thanks for that unhelpful advice! It was from Richer sounds! Thank you to those that actually helped though

 

[pete67]

I agree. It’s a bit like buying two engines, plus a motorbike and wondering why you don’t have a car!

To Peter: I’m not making fun, honestly, but this is why you should go to a shop for advice. Picking stuff online isn’t how to buy a system - I’m guessing that’s what you did.

You also have two phono amplifier stages - one in the SB version of your turntable, PLUS one in the NAD amplifier (it was added in the mark 2 version). But you only need one.

Can you return the speakers and turntable and start again? The amp is fine, unless you really wanted an all in one system of some sort. Or return everything then pay a visit to Richer Sounds who’ll get you sorted properly?

I don't want to make a similar mistake! Plus, my name is also Peter!
I have Klipsch powered speakers. I have not picked out a turntable yet. Do I need to get one without a pre-amp? Please excuse me if this is a silly question.

 

[Gray]

I have Klipsch powered speakers. I have not picked out a turntable yet. Do I need to get one without a pre-amp? Please excuse me if this is a silly question.

Not a silly question Peter, welcome.

Have the Klipsch speakers got any input (switchable or otherwise) marked as 'phono'?
That's how you know whether they have a built-in phono preamp.

 

[Al ears]

Not a silly question Peter, welcome.

Have the Klipsch speakers got any input (switchable or otherwise) marked as 'phono'?
That's how you know whether they have a built-in phono preamp.

Appreciate the input but this is an reasonably old thread and it is always best to start a new one....
Plus I don't know of any powered speaker with an inbuilt phono stage so would say yes a phono preamp is certainly required.
The model number of those Klipsch might be useful.

 

[Gray]

I don't know of any powered speaker with an inbuilt phono stage

Pretty sure there's more than one.
Just thought his question was the same as the original 🤔
Maybe he can start another thread then....

 

[Al ears]

Pretty sure there's more than one.
Just thought his question was the same as the original 🤔
Maybe he can start another thread then....

Perhaps there is, powered speakers are not my forte but assumed most required a line level input at the very least....

 

[pete67]

Not a silly question Peter, welcome.

Have the Klipsch speakers got any input (switchable or otherwise) marked as 'phono'?
That's how you know whether they have a built-in phono preamp.

Ah! Yes. There is a switch on the back that toggles between line and phono. I'm thinking about one of the Fluance tables. I just didn't want to blow the thing up by using a speaker AND a turntable that has a pre-amp. Is that possible?

 

[Gray]

I just didn't want to blow the thing up by using a speaker AND a turntable that has a pre-amp. Is that possible?

Well others have put a phono preamp output into another phono preamp input - and wondered why they got hideously loud, distorted sound which wouldn't do speakers any favours at all.

As you've got one in your speakers, you don't need another phono preamp.
However, if you bought a TT with built-in preamp you would just need to ensure only one is being used. In that case you could try both to find out which sounds best before settling on one.

So you want either:
Cartridge direct from a TT > into the 'Phono' input of your Klipsch.
Or:
Cartridge via built-in TT preamp > to the 'Aux Line Input' of your Klipsch.

(Turntables with a built-in preamp will allow you to switch between cartridge direct or via preamp).

 

[pete67]

Well others have put a phono preamp output into another phono preamp input - and wondered why they got hideously loud, distorted sound which wouldn't do speakers any favours at all.

As you've got one in your speakers, you don't need another phono preamp.
However, if you bought a TT with built-in preamp you would just need to ensure only one is being used. In that case you could try both to find out which sounds best before settling on one.

So you want either:
Cartridge direct from a TT > into the 'Phono' input of your Klipsch.
Or:
Cartridge via built-in TT preamp > to the 'Aux Line Input' of your Klipsch.

(Turntables with a built-in preamp will allow you to switch between cartridge direct or via preamp).

Thank you, that is very helpful. It makes complete sense too that different amps will sound different. You'd think I would know that being a guitar player with multiple amplifiers.
Do you have a favorite 'middle shelf' turntable? I'm not a super collector or audiophile but I do enjoy the vinyl.
I'm looking at the Audio Technica LP60 or the Fluance RT81. Can you recommend any?