Sometimes it can be tricky to add a turntable to a soundbar. Now we will consider the options for this connection and highlight the main points that every interested user should know.
The reason for the difficulty lies in the following: most soundbars are incompatible with the analog signal output by players. Most soundbars only have digital inputs such as HDMI and TOSLINK. However, there are a few viable ways to connect soundbars to a turntable.
Soundbar with analog input
To make this method work, you need to connect your turntable to a soundbar with an analog AUX input. If your turntable has a built-in phono stage and the PHONO/LINE switch is set to the LINE position, you simply connect the turntable to the AUX input on the soundbar.
In the event that your turntable does not have a built-in phono stage, you will need to add a separate phono stage between the turntable and the soundbar.
Bluetooth vinyl player
90% of all soundbars have Bluetooth connectivity. As you know, it allows you to stream music without the hated wires. The Bluetooth player can connect to most soundbars wirelessly. No cables are required.
Since many soundbars do not have an analog input, using Bluetooth may be the best way to connect your turntable to the soundbar. Nevertheless, the connection process itself depends on the player, so study the user manual to do everything correctly.
Regular turntable and Bluetooth adapter
Almost all soundbars have Bluetooth connectivity, but most turntables do not. If you have a regular turntable and soundbar without an analog AUX input, a Bluetooth adapter is a perfect way to connect them. The Bluetooth adapter basically turns a regular turntable into a Bluetooth turntable.
The adapter must be connected to the analog outputs of the player. Thus, it transmits the music signal to the soundbar wirelessly.
I have prepared the turntable buying guide to highlight the things to look for when choosing a record player.
