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Turntable & Vinyl
The most cable-specific hi-fi system there is. Tonearm connections, phono stage wiring and turntable isolation explained — with the right upgrade path for every deck and budget.
Setting up a new turntable
Upgrading from a built-in phono stage
Improving an existing vinyl setup
Not sure where to start
Turntable & Vinyl at FutureShop
147
products for turntable setups
21+
years of vinyl advice
Turntable cables are the only category requiring system-specific terminations not interchangeable with other hi-fi equipment. Our guides cover every common configuration.
1
Stage 1 of 3 · Hardware
The Core
Turntable, cartridge & phono stage.
The components at the heart of your vinyl system — what each one does and how to choose.
A vinyl system has more components than any other source — and more upgrade opportunities. Signal path: cartridge → tonearm → phono stage → amplifier → speakers.
A turntable system has more components than any other source — and more opportunities to improve it. Here's what each part does, in signal order from needle to speaker.
Turntable & Tonearm
The source. The tonearm converts stylus vibration into an electrical signal. Tonearm bearing quality directly affects cable performance.
Turntable accessories →
Cartridge
Moving Magnet (MM) or Moving Coil (MC) — output level affects which phono stage you need. MM ~5mV; MC ~0.5mV.
Browse cartridges →
Phono Stage / Preamplifier
Amplifies the cartridge signal (RIAA equalisation) to line level. Essential unless your amp has a built-in phono input. Often the highest-impact upgrade.
Browse phono stages →
Integrated Amplifier
Receives line-level signal from the phono stage. If it has a built-in phono input a separate stage is optional — but often still beneficial.
Browse amplifiers →
Turntable & Tonearm
The source. Tonearm quality directly affects cable performance.
Turntable accessories →
Cartridge
MM (~5mV) or MC (~0.5mV) — output level determines phono stage gain.
Browse cartridges →
Phono Stage
Amplifies the cartridge signal by up to 60dB. Often the highest-impact upgrade.
Browse phono stages →
Integrated Amplifier
Receives the line-level signal from the phono stage.
Browse amplifiers →
2
Stage 2 of 3 · Connect
Cables & Wiring
Tonearm, interconnect, speaker and power cables.
Every cable connection in a turntable system — and which one to upgrade first.
Turntable systems use cable types not found elsewhere — tonearm cables with DIN or captive connections. The phono-to-amp interconnect is a major upgrade opportunity.
A turntable system uses cable types not found anywhere else in hi-fi. Two steps: see how your components connect below, then shop each connection ranked by how much it improves your sound.
AMap your system
How your components connect, in signal order — needle to speaker.
Signal path
Power path
# Matches the cable below
Turntable & Tonearm
1
Phono Stage
2
Amplifier
3
Speakers
4
Mains Power → Phono Stage
BShop the connections
Numbers match the map above — impact shown for each.
1
Tonearm / DIN Turntable Cable
The connection from the tonearm to your phono stage. Available in DIN-to-DIN, DIN-to-RCA and captive lead configurations. The most turntable-specific cable — choose carefully based on your equipment.
Turntable-specific termination
Highest Impact
2
RCA Interconnect — Phono Stage to Amplifier
Line-level connection from the phono stage output to your amplifier's line input. Standard RCA, 1m or 0.5m typically sufficient. A significant upgrade opportunity.
High Impact
3
Speaker Cable — Amplifier to Speakers
The final connection. Banana plugs, spade connectors or bare wire depending on your terminals. The most impactful single cable upgrade in most vinyl setups.
Highest Impact
4
Mains Power Cable — Phono Stage
The power supply to your phono stage is often overlooked. A quality mains cable on a phono stage is consistently one of the most cost-effective upgrades in a vinyl system.
Moderate Impact
AMap your system
How your components connect, in signal order.
Turntable & Tonearm
Cartridge output · signal source
1
Phono Stage
RIAA EQ · up to 60dB gain
2
Integrated Amplifier
Line-level input
3
Loudspeakers
Output
4
Mains Power → Phono Stage
BShop the connections
Numbers match the map above.
1
Tonearm / DIN Turntable Cable
The most turntable-specific cable. Available in DIN-to-DIN, DIN-to-RCA and captive lead.
Turntable-specific terminationHighest Impact
Shop Tonearm Cables
2
RCA Interconnect — Phono to Amp
Line-level signal from phono stage to amplifier. A significant upgrade opportunity.
High Impact
3
Speaker Cable
From amp to speakers. The highest-impact cable upgrade in most vinyl setups.
Highest Impact
4
Mains Power Cable — Phono Stage
Phono stages are highly sensitive to power noise. Consistently effective upgrade.
Moderate Impact
3
Stage 3 of 3 · Improve
Upgrades
In honest order of impact for vinyl systems.
The improvements that make the biggest difference to a turntable system — in honest order of impact.
Vinyl systems respond to upgrades better than almost any other source. Start with the phono stage — even a budget dedicated stage beats most built-in stages.
Vinyl systems respond to upgrades better than almost any other source. The starting point is always the phono stage — the internal stage in a £200 turntable is rarely doing the cartridge justice. Beyond that, isolation and power treatment have a consistency that surprises most customers.
Highest impact for most setups
External Phono Stage / Preamplifier
Replacing an internal phono stage is the single most impactful upgrade in most turntable systems. Even a budget dedicated phono stage consistently outperforms built-in stages.
Highest Impact
From
£149
Shop phono stages →
Immediately audible in most rooms
Turntable Isolation Platform
Turntables are particularly sensitive to vibration — footfall, speaker vibration and floor resonance. An isolation platform dramatically reduces this and is almost always immediately audible.
High Impact
From
£79
Shop isolation →
For MC cartridge owners
Cartridge Upgrade (MM → MC)
Moving Coil cartridges offer a more detailed, open presentation than most MM cartridges — but require a compatible phono stage. Address the phono stage first.
High Impact
From
£89
Shop cartridges →
Often underestimated
Mains Power Cable — Phono Stage
The phono stage amplifies a tiny signal by up to 60dB — making it highly sensitive to power supply noise. A quality mains cable is among the most cost-effective improvements in a vinyl system.
Moderate Impact
From
£55
Shop power cables →
Highest impact for most setups
External Phono Stage
Replacing a built-in phono stage is the single most impactful upgrade in most turntable systems.
Highest Impact
From
£149
Shop phono stages →
Immediately audible in most rooms
Turntable Isolation Platform
Turntables are extremely sensitive to vibration — an isolation platform is almost always immediately audible.
High Impact
From
£79
Shop isolation →
For MC cartridge owners
Cartridge Upgrade (MM → MC)
MC cartridges offer more detail — but require a compatible phono stage. Address the phono stage first.
High Impact
From
£89
Shop cartridges →
Often underestimated
Mains Power Cable — Phono Stage
Phono stages amplify by 60dB — highly sensitive to power noise. A quality mains cable is cost-effective here.
Moderate Impact
From
£55
Shop power cables →
Ask a vinyl expert
Unsure which phono stage suits your cartridge? Not sure about DIN vs RCA? We help turntable owners get this right every day.
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Common Questions
Turntable & Vinyl FAQ
Do I need a separate phono stage if my amplifier has a PHONO input?+−
Not necessarily — but a separate phono stage is almost always better. The built-in phono stages in most amplifiers are designed to a budget. A dedicated external stage, even at a modest price point, will typically offer lower noise, better RIAA accuracy and — with MC carts — correct gain loading.
What length tonearm cable do I need?+−
For most desktop or rack setups, 1m is the standard length and works for the vast majority of installations. If your phono stage is in a separate rack position some distance from the turntable, 1.5m or 2m may be preferable. Keep tonearm cable lengths as short as practical — longer runs increase capacitance which can affect high-frequency response with some cartridges.
How much difference does an isolation platform make?+−
On a suspended wooden floor, the difference can be dramatic and immediately audible. On a solid concrete floor it is less pronounced but usually still worthwhile. Turntables are the most vibration-sensitive of all hi-fi sources — the stylus reads vibrations as small as a few nanometres, so external vibration feeds directly into the signal. We recommend the IsoAcoustics Delos range as a starting point.
What's the difference between DIN and RCA connections on a turntable?+−
DIN is a 5-pin multi-signal connector common on European turntables and phono stages (particularly Naim, Linn, Rega). RCA is the standard phono connector found on most equipment worldwide. Many turntable cables are available in DIN-to-RCA and DIN-to-DIN — you need to match your turntable output to your phono stage input.
Does my turntable need an earth cable?+−
Many turntables have a separate earth (ground) wire that needs to be connected to the earth terminal on your phono stage or amplifier. If your turntable produces a hum that disappears when you touch the metal chassis, an earth connection is the fix. Not all turntables need this — check your manual or look for a green/bare wire coming from the turntable.
Can I use any RCA cable between my phono stage and amplifier?+−
Technically yes, but the phono stage signal is at line level at this point so standard interconnects work. In practice, the phono stage-to-amplifier connection rewards quality cable more noticeably than most other interconnect positions — because the signal has been amplified from a very low level and any noise introduced here is then amplified further by the power amp stage.