Need help connecting up hifi separates

AshleyC

AshleyC

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Ok I have a turntable and EQ and a regular amplifier. And I'm confused to hell as to what plugs into what. This is what I have, can someone explain in Noddy terms what plugs into what socket to get a sound coming out! The turntable just has a left and right cable with an earth.

EQ



Amp



Thanks in advance!
 
Probably....

Phono to amp input phono 1 or 2.

Not sure eq will work with phono without a seperate phono amp, but worth a try.
 
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It’s quite a few years since I had this. I recall something like using the tape rec play loop to connect the eq. Try a dedicated hifi forum?
 
Why do you want to ruin the sound with an EQ ? Just go turntable straight into the NAD amp assuming it has a built in phono stage.

pinkfishmedia is a good hifi forum
 
It's pretty straight forward if all devices have the same phono plug connectors. Output on the device goes to input on the amp, left to left, right to right.
 
OK, connect left and right ouputs from the turntable to L&R line in inputs for the EQ. Take L&R line outputs from EQ to Phono in L&R on the amplifier.

However:
imattersuk said:
Why do you want to ruin the sound with an EQ ? Just go turntable straight into the NAD amp assuming it has a built in phono stage.

pinkfishmedia is a good hifi forum
Click to expand...

This is also a good point - why fiddle with a 'Realistic' used amp when you have the NAD?
 
to be fair the Nad amp is ancient and pretty poor hope you didn't pay much.
Realistic was a terrible brand from Tandy that is equally terribble
on top of that a record player?
just why?
 
You usually run EQ between pre-out and power-in , I dont think you can put one between record deck and amp, the output of a record player isnt like a line out, you need a phono/pre amp on it , basically the signal from a record player isnt the same as the signal from say a CD player or tuner, you might be able to run it on a tape loop but its a bit of a faff.

Both of your amps have phono in so have a phono amp built in, check for MM or MC cartridge switching, if not assume MM.

If you really want to get into vinyl look here , https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/
EQ might run on the NAD between the jumper wires on the pre amp out, check the manual.
 
Mr Bump said:
to be fair the Nad amp is ancient and pretty poor hope you didn't pay much.
Realistic was a terrible brand from Tandy that is equally terribble
on top of that a record player?
just why?
Click to expand...
So nothing to contribute as usual.....if you're such an expert, tell us how to wire it up.
 
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AshleyC said:
Ok I have a turntable and EQ and a regular amplifier. And I'm confused to hell as to what plugs into what. This is what I have, can someone explain in Noddy terms what plugs into what socket to get a sound coming out! The turntable just has a left and right cable with an earth.

EQ



Amp



Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
What turntable are you using?
I'd leave out the equaliser and connect turntable directly to your nad 3020. Which input you use depends on the turntable.
The nad 3020 was a cracking wee amp in its day, and will still be good today. Modern budget amps will be better, but don't let that put you off.....
 
ancient_mariner said:
OK, connect left and right ouputs from the turntable to L&R line in inputs for the EQ. Take L&R line outputs from EQ to Phono in L&R on the amplifier.

However:


This is also a good point - why fiddle with a 'Realistic' used amp when you have the NAD?
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. The NAD is mine , I'm just testing this and the eq to sell on but didn't know where in the chain the eq goes
 
AshleyC said:
Thanks for that. The NAD is mine , I'm just testing this and the eq to sell on but didn't know where in the chain the eq goes
Click to expand...

As said above, normally there's a pre-amp between the deck and EQ, but you don't have that. It's possible the EQ won't handle the low output of the deck well without boosting, but if the circuit has been designed well then that shouldn't matter too much.
 
Turntables put out much lower signals than other hifi separates which is why they have the separate "phono" inputs on the back of the amplifier. Something coming in to those is amplified to normal levels before being fed into the main (pre-) amp stage.

Equalizers expect the conventional signal level that all other hifi separates put out so inserting one into the daisy chain between the turntable and the amp may give interesting but not useful results. Generally an amplifier that has a built in pre-amp will have two pairs of phono connecters for an equalizer that are hard-wired together when no EQ is in use, but those aren't visible in your picture so possibly yours doesn't (maybe the NAD does - take a look round the back),

Also "Realistic", that's a blast from the past, from the heady early 1980s days of the Tandy catalogue.
 
Do look into the tape loop option if you want to hear if including the EQ improves it or not. I used a variation of this when I had a standalone anti mode dsp and it worked with the kit I had then.
 
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