I am trying to get a Kenwood KD-66F turntable to play through a Pioneer VSX-501 receiver. The two phono jacks and the ground are connected, but no sound is coming out. The receiver works with other components. Why isn't this working?

According to the specs there aren't any phono inputs which would have their own preamp. Everything else is line level so I'm pretty sure you'll need a preamp either between the turntable and one of the line level inputs or built into the turntable.

It could be a bad connection of the earth pins to the cartridge. One turntable I had hummed even with an earth connection. I found out that the cause was the connection of the earth wire in a 3 pin plug.

so you have a pre-amp otherwise you aint trying to use otherbinputs
, but the ground cable goes with your sungle phono soursce to the PHONO-preamp and the output is a Line-level , which you should here

First of all you will need an amplifier, because a turntable has no sound power and its impedance needs to be balanced by a phono input, often found on a receiver or an amplifier. Then you will connect the speakers to the receiver or to the amplifier. I believe that a good start would to buy an old cheap stereo receiver, which has phono inputs, where you connect your kenwood turntable. Hope this will help. Flavio/Brazil

You need a phono stage (phono amp) between the turntable and receiver to boost the lower signal from the turntable. If your receiver has phono inputs, use those as there will be a built-in phono stage.

Appreciate the additional information.

To recap what you need is a receiver that can accommodate:
4 - Pioneer S-DF1-K (15-100W, 8 ohms)
1 - Pioneer PD-F407 25 Disc CD Player
1 - Pioneer CT-300 dual tape deck
1 - Kenwood KD-491F turntable

Possible choices are (keeping in mind that the power output should be less if not equal to 100 watts and a turntable/phono input):
i. Onkyo TX-8522 Stereo Receiver;
ii. Yamaha RX-397 100 Watt Natural Sound AM/FM Stereo Receiver;
iii. Sony STR DE695 AV receiver;
iv. Teac AG-790 200 Watt Stereo Receiver;
v. Denon AVR 888 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel.

Some of the above also includes feature(s) to hook up to your video system. Some may even require a fifth speaker (subwoofer).

Incidentally, you can also choose another brand/model even without a turntable/phono input. As initially posted, a turntable/phone to line level pre-amplifier is only required. Here are some examples:
a. XP200 Turntable Preamp - Nano Series;
b. Pyle® Pro PP999 Phono Preamplifier;
c. Pro-Ject Phono Box Turntable Preamplifier;
d. Radial J33 RIAA Turntable Preamp Direct Box

Good luck with your project.

Hi again,

It would seem that you posted the problem here also. With your kind permission, I will repost my excerpts of my responses that others may benefit on similar concerns.

A. Most current receivers no longer include a PHONO input. Perhaps what could be done is to purchase a phono to line level pre-amplifier to go along in your purchase for a new receiver.

I was made to understand that the Pioneer SX-1600 is prone to speaker output problems which could either be:
1. the speaker relay (protection); and/or
2. the amp, STK4191II Stereo Module.

Either should be relatively easy to work on and perhaps you can try the services of a locally available qualified electronic technician since the repairs would not be too specialized. The service manual may be of help (or at least a schematic , they may be downloaded from here and here).

B. To recap what you need is a receiver that can accommodate:
4 - Pioneer S-DF1-K (15-100W, 8 ohms)
1 - Pioneer PD-F407 25 Disc CD Player
1 - Pioneer CT-300 dual tape deck
1 - Kenwood KD-491F turntable

C. Possible choices are (keeping in mind that the power output should be less if not equal to 100 watts and a turntable/phono input):
i. Onkyo TX-8522 Stereo Receiver;
ii. Yamaha RX-397 100 Watt Natural Sound AM/FM Stereo Receiver;
iii. Sony STR DE695 AV receiver;
iv. Teac AG-790 200 Watt Stereo Receiver;
v. Denon AVR 888 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel.

Some of the above also includes feature(s) to hook up to your video system. Some may even require a fifth speaker (subwoofer).

Incidentally, you can also choose another brand/model even without a turntable/phono input. As initially posted, a turntable/phone to line level pre-amplifier is only required. Here are some examples:
a. XP200 Turntable Preamp - Nano Series;
b. Pyle® Pro PP999 Phono Preamplifier;
c. Pro-Ject Phono Box Turntable Preamplifier;
d. Radial J33 RIAA Turntable Preamp Direct Box

Good luck with your project.

No phono inputs?? You will need a phono to line level preamp to use aux input.

You need to connect most turntables to a PHONO input or buy a PHONO preamp. Many newer receivers do not have a PHONO input. The AUX port you are using would work fine for a device like a CD player, but turntables need to be amplified. You can buy an external Phono pre-amp from Radio Shack. I don't know anything about this site, but something like this device should work for you. http://www.phonopreamps.com/tc400pp.html