Ive bought a record deck but my hi fi has no phono input can anything be done

If you have a Phono input it will provide the additional amplification needed for the ceramic cartridge, and perhaps even more amplification for a magnetic cartridge, made available by a switch. It also has extra bass boost to counteract the lack of bass in the recording, done so as to keep the grooves from making use of lots of platter real estate. By minimizing the bass, the recording time is increased.

If you don't have a Phono input, but you have an aux input, you may have to crank the volume and the bass to get reasonable sound, because the phonograph cartridge doesn't produce much output as compared to "line-level" devices such as a line-out on a tape deck.

For a turntable - apparently, yes - a phono preamp. Tape decks don't require anything special analog-connection-wise. What product are we talking about?

"PHONO" is the only designated connection on an audio device that is literal and exclusive. Nothing but PHONO will work right on it and old-school turntables would require it to preamplify the tiny current produced by a Phono cartridge.

If your unit doesn't have a PHONO connection AND your TT doesn't have a self-contained preamp you will have to get a Phono Preamp to connect between the TT and any Line Level input, like Aux.

eBay always has some...
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http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=phono+preamp&_sacat=See-All-Categories

If your mic isn't made for connection to an AUX or Line Level input you won't get its specified performance.

Perhaps if you defined the mic and looked up a user's guide somewhere (retrevo.com comes to mind) you might find what you need to use it. Mic's usually require microphone preamplifiers.

As long as the phono input is only being used for a record deck the most likely cause is a faulty magnetic cartridge pre-amp. If you are connecting any other device to these sockets, remove it and place it in another socket. If you haven't got enough sockets you can get a switching box to solve the problem. If you are getting the problem due to a record deck, make certain it hasn't got a built in pre-amp first, check the cartridge and wiring to it and all deck connections. If still no luck then you will find that you need to replace the pre-amp. It will be a single IC, which can be found by following the wiring from the phono sockets inside the amp.

If there are no specific phono inputs, then a phono pre-amp must be purchased. These usually cost around $20. This pre-amp will boost the signal level to that of a CD player or tape deck so that either a tape input or aux input can be used. Once you have the pre-amp, just connect its output to an open input on the receiver.

Dan

1. Step 1 Check the back of your Stereo for recording input(in) and output (out), your cassette deck may be plugged into these jacks.
   
2. Step 2 Connect the RCA/Phono wires to your equalizer's input and output jacks on the back.
   
3. Step 3 If your cassette deck or some other component is plugged into the recording jacks in the back of your amplifier, unplug it and plug it into the back of the equalizer under monitor jacks. Be sure that the "out" from the cassette deck goes to the "in" of the equalizer.
   
4. Step 4 Now, take the wires from the equalizer and plug them into the amplifier in the same manner: "in" to "out" and visa versa.
   
5. Step 5 Once all your wires are connected be sure the "tape monitor button" on the amplifier is on. Turning it off will disable the equalizer. You can still monitor your recording devise or cassette deck by the "monitor switch" on the equalizer.
   

What are Ministry of Sound mixing decks? I am familiar with MOS, but was not aware they manufactured mixing decks?

Are you connecting these to a DJ mixer, or a Home Receiver?

If it's going through a home receiver, make sure you have them connected to the PHONO input on your receiver. If your receiver does not have a phono input, and you are connecting to the LINE IN or AUX IN section on the rear, you will not hear much. Most turntables require a pre-amplified signal, and only the PHONO input has this option. So, you will need to purchase a PHONO PRE-AMP, and connect your turntable to it, then connect the PHONO pre-amp to the LINE IN.

If you are connecting to a DJ mixer... same thing. Make sure you have them connected to the PHONO INPUT on the mixer. If you still don't get anything, then there might be something wrong with your mixer.

If you could clarify you exact set up, and the EXACT models, we can help you better.

- OPTiC
The Technics Expert
Technics Repair
DJ Equipment

1. Assuming there is no problem with your amplifier of input cable, the headshell/tone-arm needs rewiring. This is very thin flexible wire and not easy to do, but can be done if you are careful.

2. Turntables require a special input on your amplifier which has a frequency response that is suitable for them. If you connect a turntable to an ordinary input, it will sound tinny. If you don't have a turntable input (known as a phono input [from phonograph]) you will need to use a preamplifier with your turntable.

Hi,

Most if not all turntables would need to be connected to a PHONO INput which is high impedance with a high gain pre-amplifier stage. It will not work when connected to an AUX, CD or any line level inputs. Alternately, if your amp does not have any Phono Inputs, you can feed the turntable output to a preamp which can then be connected to any any line level inputs. An example may be found here or here. Additionally, there are some turntables with a built-in preamp.

Hope this be of help/idea. Pls post back how things turned up or should you need additional information.

Good luck and kind regards.

Your CD recorder has 2 sets of phono (rca) sockets on the back. You probably have the outputs connected to your amplifier & speakers. All you need to do is connect your tape deck (or any source except for a turntable) to the inputs sockets on the back of the CD deck.

You might need to switch to external or analogue recording on the recorder.

If you are going to be doing a lot of this type of recording & want it set up more permanently, it might make sense to reconfigure your hi-fi. Shout if you want help with this!