Setup guide
How to Connect a Turntable to a Soundbar (and Why the TV Usually Won't Work)
A soundbar is often the only speaker system in a living room, so it's natural to want your turntable to play through it. It can work well, but soundbars weren't designed with turntables in mind. The right connection depends on which inputs your soundbar has and whether your turntable has a phono preamp. Here's how to figure it out.
Quick answer
- Your turntable needs a phono preamp (built-in or separate) before it connects to any soundbar.
- Soundbar has an analog AUX input? That's the easiest path: RCA or 3.5mm cable from the preamp's line out.
- Only optical or HDMI? You'll need an analog-to-digital converter between the preamp and the soundbar.
- Bluetooth works if your turntable or a transmitter can send it, with the usual Bluetooth trade-offs.
- Most TVs don't pass an external audio input through to a soundbar, so connect to the soundbar directly, not the TV.
Before anything else, check two things: the inputs on the back of your soundbar and whether your turntable has a built-in phono preamp (often a switch labeled PHONO/LINE). Those two answers decide which setup below you need.
Step 1: Make sure you have line-level output
Soundbars expect a line-level signal, the same kind of signal a phone or TV puts out. A turntable's raw phono output is much weaker and also needs RIAA equalization. A phono preamp converts it.
- Turntable has a built-in preamp: set the switch to LINE. Its RCA outputs are now ready for a soundbar.
- No built-in preamp: add an external phono preamp between turntable and soundbar. Our guide do you need a phono preamp? explains how to tell.
If you skip this step, the sound will be very quiet and thin, with almost no bass.
Step 2: Match your soundbar's inputs
| Soundbar input | Works with a turntable? | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Analog AUX (3.5mm) | Yes | An RCA-to-3.5mm cable from the preamp's line out |
| Analog RCA (red/white) | Yes | A standard RCA stereo cable |
| Optical (Toslink) | Yes, with a converter | An analog-to-digital (RCA to optical) converter |
| HDMI / HDMI ARC / eARC | Not directly | Usually go via optical with a converter, or use Bluetooth or AUX instead |
| Bluetooth | Yes | A Bluetooth turntable, or a Bluetooth transmitter after the preamp |
| USB | Usually no | Soundbar USB ports are often for service or media files, not live audio |
Analog AUX or RCA: the easy route
- Connect the turntable to the phono preamp (or switch the built-in one to LINE).
- Run an RCA-to-3.5mm cable or an RCA cable from the preamp's line output to the soundbar's AUX input.
- Connect the turntable's ground wire to the preamp's ground terminal if it has one.
- Switch the soundbar's input to AUX or Analog.
- Start with the soundbar volume low and turn it up gradually.
Optical only: add a converter
Many newer soundbars drop analog inputs and keep only HDMI and optical. In that case you need a small analog-to-digital converter that takes RCA in and gives optical out. The chain becomes:
Turntable → phono preamp → RCA-to-optical converter → soundbar optical input
These converters usually need their own power, often through USB. Make sure you're buying an analog-to-digital converter. The opposite direction (digital-to-analog) is a common and confusing mix-up, and the boxes can look almost identical.
Optical input in use for the TV? If your TV already uses the soundbar's only optical input, you'd have to switch cables or use HDMI ARC for the TV and free up the optical port for the turntable. Check how your TV and soundbar are connected before buying anything.
Bluetooth
If your turntable has Bluetooth output and your soundbar can receive Bluetooth, pairing is usually straightforward: put the soundbar in Bluetooth mode, put the turntable in pairing mode, and connect. If your turntable doesn't have Bluetooth, a Bluetooth transmitter with RCA input can go after the phono preamp.
Bluetooth involves compression and occasional dropouts, and some soundbars switch inputs automatically when another device connects. It's convenient but not the most faithful option. Our article on Bluetooth turntables explains the trade-offs.
Why not plug the turntable into the TV?
It seems logical: the soundbar is connected to the TV, so plug the turntable into the TV. In practice, most TVs don't route an external analog audio input out to a soundbar on its own, and many current TVs don't have analog audio inputs at all. Even when a TV has some kind of analog input, it's typically tied to a video source.
The reliable approach is to connect the turntable directly to the soundbar using one of the methods above. If your TV is unusual and documents audio pass-through from an analog input, the manual will say so; otherwise, assume it won't.
Soundbar settings for records
Soundbars often add processing that's tuned for movies and TV dialogue. For music, and especially for vinyl, a few settings help:
- Choose a music or stereo mode, or turn off virtual surround. Surround effects can make records sound diffuse or odd.
- Turn off dialogue enhancement or voice modes. They're designed to boost speech and can make music sound thin.
- Turn off night mode / dynamic compression unless you need it for quiet late listening.
- Adjust the subwoofer level. Many soundbar setups default to a lot of bass. Dial it back if records sound boomy.
- Check auto-input switching if the soundbar keeps jumping back to the TV.
Placement: keep the subwoofer away from the turntable
Soundbar setups often include a wireless subwoofer that people tuck under or next to the TV stand. If the turntable sits on the same furniture, bass vibrations can travel into the stylus, causing a boomy, muddy sound or even feedback (a low howl that builds as you turn up the volume). Keep the turntable on a separate, sturdy surface away from the subwoofer if you can. If it has to share a stand, put the subwoofer on the floor at the other end. Our guide to isolation feet covers when extra isolation helps.
Quick troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| No sound at all | Wrong input selected, or converter not powered | Check the soundbar input, then the converter's power and cable direction |
| Very quiet, thin sound | Phono signal without a preamp | Switch the built-in preamp to LINE or add an external one |
| Loud and distorted | Two preamps in a row | Turn off the turntable's built-in preamp when using an external one |
| Constant hum | Ground wire not connected | Connect it; see our hum guide |
| Soundbar switches back to the TV | Auto input switching | Turn off auto-switching in the soundbar settings |
Is a soundbar good enough for vinyl?
For casual listening, a decent soundbar can sound perfectly enjoyable. Many people never need more. The limits are that soundbars typically have narrow stereo separation (the speakers are close together), and some prioritize dialogue clarity over music.
If you find yourself listening to records more than watching TV, a pair of stereo speakers placed further apart will usually give you a wider, more natural sound. Our guide to speakers for a turntable covers powered vs passive options.
FAQ
Can I connect a record player to a soundbar?
Yes. Use a phono preamp (built-in or external), then connect to the soundbar's analog AUX or RCA input, an optical input via an analog-to-digital converter, or Bluetooth.
Why is my turntable so quiet through my soundbar?
The signal is probably missing a phono preamp. Switch the turntable's built-in preamp to LINE, or add an external phono preamp.
My soundbar only has HDMI and optical. What do I do?
Use an analog-to-digital converter (RCA in, optical out) after the phono preamp, or connect by Bluetooth if both devices support it.
Can I plug my turntable into my TV to play through the soundbar?
Usually not. Most TVs don't pass an external analog audio input through to a soundbar. Connect the turntable directly to the soundbar instead.
Why does my turntable howl or boom through the soundbar?
That's often acoustic feedback from bass vibrations reaching the stylus. Move the turntable away from the subwoofer and onto a separate, sturdy surface.
The bottom line
Connecting a turntable to a soundbar comes down to two steps: make the signal line-level with a phono preamp, then match the soundbar's inputs. Analog AUX is easiest, optical needs a small converter, and Bluetooth trades a little fidelity for convenience. Skip the TV, switch the soundbar to a music mode, and keep the subwoofer away from the turntable.