What’s The Difference Between LINE And PHONO On A Turntable?

The Problem In One Line

You hooked up a new turntable, pressed play, and heard almost nothing, or a loud fuzzy mess. The tiny switch on the back marked LINE and PHONO is often the cause. It decides whether the record’s signal is boosted and equalized inside the turntable, or sent out raw for another device to handle. Set it right, and the music opens up. Set it wrong, and you get confusion.

The Ten Second Answer

PHONO means the turntable sends a very small, uncorrected signal from the cartridge. It expects a dedicated phono input that adds gain and applies the RIAA curve.

LINE means the turntable has already done that job with a built in phono preamp. It sends a normal source level signal that any AUX or LINE input can use.

Why Records Need Special Treatment

A stylus generates only a few millivolts as it traces the groove. To cut a side cleanly, bass is reduced and treble is boosted during mastering. A phono preamp reverses that curve with the RIAA standard and raises the signal to line level. Without that step, bass is weak, treble is sharp, and volume is far too low. With it, the sound becomes full and natural.

What The LINE Position Does

Flip to LINE and the turntable’s internal phono preamp engages. It applies the RIAA curve and adds healthy gain, so the output looks like any other source. This works well with powered speakers that have an AUX input, with stereos that lack a phono input, and with compact setups where you want fewer boxes.

What The PHONO Position Does

Switch to PHONO and you bypass the internal preamp, sending the cartridge signal straight out. You then plug into a dedicated phono input on a stereo receiver or integrated amplifier, or into an external phono preamp. This path often lowers noise, gives you control over gain and loading, and makes upgrades easy.

Pros And Cons Of LINE Output

• Pros
  Fastest path to sound, fewer cables, consistent volume when you move the system between rooms. Great for simple setups on a media console.

• Cons
  The built in phono stage is fixed. You cannot change loading or gain, and noise performance is limited by the small circuit inside the deck. If you later buy an amplifier with a strong phono input, you will want to switch to PHONO.

Pros And Cons Of PHONO Output

• Pros
  Maximum flexibility and often lower noise, especially with a separate phono stage placed away from motors and power bricks. You can match gain to your cartridge and upgrade the phono stage without replacing the turntable.

• Cons
  More parts and a bit more thought. You must use the correct input and attach the ground wire, or you will get either very low volume or heavy distortion and hum.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

PHONO into AUX gives you a whisper thin signal, because the needed gain and EQ never happen.
LINE into PHONO overloads the phono input, because you are amplifying an already amplified signal. The result is noisy and harsh.
Ground wire forgotten leads to hum. When you run PHONO, attach the ground wire from the turntable to the ground screw on your phono stage or amplifier.

Which Setting Should You Use

Choose LINE if your speakers are powered, or your stereo lacks a phono input, or you want a compact, plug and play system.
Choose PHONO if your amplifier or receiver has a phono input, or if you own an external phono preamp and want the best control over gain and loading.

Real Gear That Makes It Easy

Turntables With a Switchable LINE or PHONO Output

• Audio Technica AT LP120XUSB gives you a solid direct drive deck with a clear LINE and PHONO switch. Many owners start on LINE with powered speakers, then move to PHONO later with a better phono stage.

• Sony PS LX310BT offers the same switch and adds simple Bluetooth for casual listening. Setup is quick and reliable.

• Fluance RT85 skips the internal preamp, which pushes you to PHONO from day one. Pair it with an external stage for lower noise and better parts.

Powered Speakers That Love a LINE Signal

• Edifier R1280T keeps things tidy on a desk or console. Plug the turntable set to LINE into the rear RCA jacks, set volume once, and you are done.

• Audioengine A5 Plus fills a medium room without strain and stays friendly for daily use.

• Klipsch The Fives add an HDMI ARC input, so a TV remote can run everyday volume while the turntable on LINE gives real stereo width.

External Phono Preamps For PHONO Output

• ART DJPre II is tiny, quiet for the price, and has a handy gain knob.

• Schiit Mani 2 offers low noise and flexible loading that suits common moving magnet cartridges and many high output moving coil designs.

• iFi Zen Phono adds a gentle subsonic filter that helps with wavy records and keeps hum at bay when grounded correctly.

Receivers And Integrated Amps With a PHONO Input

• Yamaha A S301 delivers honest power and a capable phono input. Pair it with passive speakers like ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 or Polk ES20 for a classic, scalable stereo.

• Sony STR DH190 is a budget friendly stereo receiver with a phono input and Bluetooth for quick streams between sides.

• Denon AVR S670H suits living rooms that want TV, streaming, and vinyl in one rack. Add an external phono stage for the best vinyl performance.

How To Set Gains And Keep Noise Down

Using LINE is simple, treat the turntable like any other source. Set your powered speakers to a comfortable midday volume, then ride level from the speaker knob.

Using PHONO takes a moment of care. Place the phono stage away from power bricks, connect the ground wire, and keep cables short. If your phono stage has gain settings, start in the middle, then raise or lower until the music is lively without hiss between tracks.

Do You Need To Worry About Cartridge Type

Most new turntables ship with a moving magnet cartridge. That works with every built in phono stage and with the external models listed above. If you later try a low output moving coil cartridge, make sure your external phono stage supports it, or plan on a simple step up device.

Room Scenarios That Make The Choice Obvious

Small bedrooms and desks favor a turntable set to LINE feeding powered speakers, fewer boxes, fewer cables, clear voices at sensible levels.

Family living rooms can go either way. If you want a compact system near the TV, use LINE into Klipsch The Fives. If you prefer a traditional stereo with more scale and an easy upgrade path, use PHONO into a Yamaha integrated and passive speakers.

Party spaces and open plans benefit from PHONO into a sturdy receiver, then add a sub later for headroom and even bass.

A Quick Decision Guide

Use LINE when you do not have a phono input, when you want plug and play, or when the system will move around.

Use PHONO when you have the proper input or an external phono stage, when noise performance and upgrades matter, or when you want to tune gain and loading for a favorite cartridge.

Bottom Line

The LINE and PHONO switch is a routing choice, not a mystery. LINE uses the turntable’s internal phono preamp. PHONO bypasses it and relies on your amp or an external stage. Match the setting to the input you have and to your upgrade plans. Keep the ground wire attached when you use PHONO, keep cables short, and make changes one step at a time. Do that, and your records will move from polite background sound to music that feels alive.

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