Turntable problem first I bought my yamaha, later I bought a turntable. never hooked it up. now years later I want to play my LP collection, but I can not get any sound even though it appears that every thing is on and working. what;s up?

It could be a couple of different things.

Do you get any sound, even very faint, if volume is turned up all the way?

If so, you probably have the turntable connected to the wrong type of input or you have the wrong type of turntable for the type of input you have on the receiver.

Older turntables have a very, very low level of audio output which requires an input that has much more gain than the normal type of audio input on a receiver.

Many newer turntables and receivers has the same level phono inputs and outputs as the other inputs and outputs of the receiver like the CD or Tape I/O. When an older turntable with such a low level output is connected to this type of phono input the sound is so low you can only hear it very faintly with the volume all the way up.

If you have the proper type of turntable for the type of input on your receiver, then the problem is most likely in the turntable. To check if it is or not, disconnect the turntable from the receiver, and then connect an RCA cable to the receivers phono input with nothing connected to the other end. Then with the volume turned up just about 1/4 to 1/2 the way up, touch the ends of the male ends of the RCA cable that are not connected to anything with your finger lightly tapping it a few times. You should be able to hear the tapping sound real easy in the speakers. If you hear that noise you know that the receiver is OK. If you don't hear anything the receiver has a pre-amp problem or the receiver is not set to the proper function.

If you determain the receiver is working normal, you have a problem in the turntable. Most times it is the stylus or the wires connected to the cartridge which holds the stylus.

Another thing to check is that if your turntable has a ground wire coming off the back of it near the RCA outputs of it, make sure that it is connected to the chassis of the receiver. Most receivers have a ground terminal right on the back that you can loosen with your fingers and then put the ground wire from the turntable in there and tighten it hand tight. If it has no ground terminal on the receiver you can always just loosen a screw on the back and connect it there. Make sure the ground wire has the insulation cut back to expose the bare metal, that insures that you have continuity from the ground of the turntable to the ground of the receiver.

If your turntable has no ground wire, then you have a newer turntable type that would be able to plug into any of the audio inputs on the back of the receiver. It would be a turntable with a boosted signal that can only be connected to an input with the same level as the CD or Tape input.

I hope this helps you to figure out what your problem is, if you need more help don't hesitate to reply to this post. I will get back to you as soon as I am able.

If this was helpful for you a "FixYa!" rating would be appropriate and very much appreciated, after all, it is the only reward we get for helping people like yourself for free.

Thanks,

Dave