A Sonos sound system is modern and high tech.
You can stream your music to speakers all over your home, all with the use of an app.
And the sound quality is great, too.
But what if you want to enjoy your vinyl collection?
Does that mean you have to use those weak internal speakers built into your record player? Or buy a different set of speakers altogether?
Of course not!
It is perfectly possible to connect your turntable to your Sonos system and enjoy those warm, rich vinyl sounds in the same modern and convenient way as your digital music.
And it’s not even that difficult, though less technologically minded people may disagree.
That’s we we wrote this guide. It will help even the least technologically minded people get their record player and Sonos system working together seamlessly in no time.
Let’s get started with a little background for those that find themselves on this page with no clue as to what this Sonos thing actually is.
Contents
What Is Sonos?
Sonos is a system that makes wireless speakers for all types of environments and existing sound system setups.
So what exactly is a wireless connected speaker?
These speakers are a great addition to any home setup, and they don’t need wires. To use them, you just plug them into a power outlet and fire them up. The way the system works is by creating a type of custom Wi-Fi network in the home.
This type of setup allows you to stream your favorite music, using music services such as Pandora, Amazon, Google Play Music, and Apple music.
If you purchase a Sonos Arc, you can even add another layer of sound to your home theater setup. The Arc forms the base of the best Sonos setup for a living room home theater experience that is fully immersive.
You can add more speakers to your sound system at any time and control the volume and EQ using your smartphone or tablet.
Put yourself at the center of shows, movies, and games with crystal clear dialogue and two height channels that create an impressive sense of spaciousness.
When the TV is off, stream music and more from all your favorite services. Easily control the soundbar with your existing remote, the Sonos app, your voice, and Apple AirPlay 2.
Build out a full surround system with a subwoofer and pair or rears, and add more speakers around your home for multiroom listening. Everything works together over WiFi.
The system can go in any room and can include as many as thirty-two components. It can also connect to existing sound systems and traditional speakers.
If you want, the system can play a different song in each room. You also have the option of playing the same song in set zones of your home. The system is incredibly versatile and flexible.
Connect Record Player To Sonos
Some audiophiles love playing vinyl for the pristine and warm sound and enjoy the type of nostalgia that comes from hearing their favorite record playing in the background.
Other casual listeners enjoy the entire experience that comes with just placing a record on a turntable, lowering the tonearm and switching to their favorite song.
Whether you’re a casual listener or a serious collector, learning how to connect your turntable to Sonos comes with some great benefits.
Primarily, you can listen to your vinyl in every room of the home. Even better, the Sonos system is also compatible with traditional wired speakers.
Analog And Digital
While streaming music continues to dominate the industry, the interest in vinyl is steadily growing. With Sonos, you won’t have to choose between vinyl and streaming. You can enjoy both.
Aside from working with more than 80 different types of digital music services, your Sonos home sound system can plug directly into your record player, flooding your home with the sounds of your favorite albums.
If you’re a vinyl collector and a music lover, this type of system is the ideal setup. However, it’s not exactly simple to mesh your digital smart home and with your analog components.
As you may know, a traditional setup is made up of a number of different components and tons of wires, which can lead to clutter. This may make you wonder if it’s even possible to use a turntable with a Sonos system.
Fortunately, it is.
Most record players need several components in order to work, unless you have a standalone unit. If not, you need the turntable, a pair of speakers, an amp (usually in the form of a receiver), and a preamp. Of course, many models come equipped with a built-in preamp, but most audiophiles prefer an external preamplifier.
Wired Sonos Setup For Turntable
The setup detailed here is probably the simplest and thus the best option for the casual listener. With this system, all you have to do is take your turntable and connect it to a turntable preamp, unless you have a model with a built-in preamp.
Then connect the preamp (or on the turntable if it has a built-in preamp) to the back of a Sonos Five.
Stream music, radio, audiobooks, and more from all your favorite services, and enjoy easy control with the Sonos app and Apple AirPlay 2.
Use the 3.5 mm input to connect a turntable, CD player, or other audio device, then mix and match Sonos speakers around your home for multiroom listening. Everything works together over WiFi.
Use the single end of an RCA Y-audio cable and plug it into into the line-in port of the Five. Attach the split end of the cable to the corresponding colors of the L/R audio outputs on the back of your preamp or turntable.
The reason you need the Five is that it is currently the only speaker in the lineup to offer a line-in hookup, so you don’t really have many choices here as far as the initial setup goes. Once you’ve got it set up, you can pair the Five with any other Sonos speakers, of course.
Next, choose the line-in input using the Sonos app. It’s a good idea to rename the line-in input in the app, in order to keep things organized and clear. I recommend labeling it turntable.
You’ll probably want to tweak the line-in source level settings, which you can do using the app. The default volume level is two, which is far too quiet for most preamps, but does depend on the output impedance. Six is generally a good setting to start with.
And that’s how you set up the Sonos system to work with your turntable, using the Sonos Five. With this setup, there is no need for a separate amp and speakers.
The main drawback is that you can only connect to the Sonos speakers and not to any other speakers or stereo systems.
Sonos Amp Or Sonos Port Setup
If you want to add your turntable to your existing speakers or stereo system, in addition to your Sonos system, you’ll need to use a Sonos Amp or Sonos Port.
Bring the Sonos experience to your floor-standing, architectural, outdoor, or bookshelf speakers, and connect your TV or turntable. Stream music, radio, audiobooks, and more from all your favorite services, and enjoy easy control with the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, a universal remote or keypad, and your voice with a compatible device. Add Sonos speakers around your home for a more immersive experience. Everything works together over WiFi.
Connect Port to your traditional audio equipment to stream music, radio, audiobooks, and more from all your favorite services. Control is easy with the Sonos app and Apple AirPlay 2. Expand your sound system any time by adding Sonos speakers around your home. Everything works together over WiFi.
If you’re not sure which is right for you, see our complete comparison of the Sonos Port vs Amp.
The older Connect or Connect Amp work as well, if you already have one of those. They are only half as powerful though.
You might want to consider taking advantage of Sonos’ discounts for upgrades and getting newer components. How does Sonos upgrade work? It’s simple. You can learn all about it here.
As the name implies, the Sonos Amp and the Connect Amp both have a built-in amplifier. The other two products do not. If you use one of those, you’ll have to send the output from them to an external amplifier, before sending it to the speakers, unless the speakers are powered.
With any of these options, you still need to send the signal from the turntable to a preamp, before feeding it into the Sonos Amp or Sonos Port. That preamp could be external, or it could be built into your record player.
The Sonos Connect can function as a receiver and send the sound signal to all of your Sonos speakers. If you have non-Sonos wired speakers, the Sonos Port and Sonos Amp both have outputs on the back designed specifically to connect to wired speakers.
How many Sonos Amps do I need? You will usually only need on Amp per room. Since most people only have one turntable, that means just one amp. But it does depend on how many speakers you have and who makes them.
Connecting The Sonos Amp To A Turntable
Use the audio cable that comes with the amp and plug one end into the back of the turntable (or the preamp, if it is not built-in) and the other end into the correct colors of the L/R audio inputs on the Sonos Amp. Now you can connect the speakers to the Amp.
Connecting The Sonos Port To A Record Player
The main difference with the Port is that you need to also connect an amplifier. Use the audio cable that comes with your Port and plug one end into the record player or preamp and the other into the corresponding colors of the L/R inputs at the back of your Port. Then connect the Port to your amplifier and connect that to your speakers.
Using The Sonos Connect
If you already have the Connect, it makes sense to wire your system using this component. Otherwise, you are much better off getting the Amp or the Port, depending on whether you will use an external amp or not.
To use the Connect, plug one end of the audio cable that came with it into your preamp or record player and the other end into the corresponding colors of the L/R audio inputs on the back of the Connect.
Using The Connect Amp
Similar to the Connect, I only recommend using the Connect Amp if you already have it. It is basically the same as the Sonos Amp, but half as powerful. Connecting it is exactly the same, too. The cable that comes with it connects the L/R audio inputs on the unit to the output on the record player or preamplifier.
Finishing The Connection In The App
The next step involves opening the app on your tablet or phone. Go to browse tab and select Line-in and then choose the Line-in source. If you plan on using your record player a lot, you may want to set up AutoPlay. That way your system will switch to vinyl mode automatically, whenever it detects a signal from the turntable.
Using Your Turntable With Sonos Effectively
As mentioned above, if you connect your record player to the Sonos Five, you can group that speaker with other Sonos speakers. This is great for larger rooms, or if you want to listen to records in a different room. Simply use the room tab in the Sonos app to group them together.
But there is a problem with this.
The Sonos network is great for beaming compressed digital files around your home. But the sound from your turntable is uncompressed and thus needs a lot more bandwidth. This can cause the audio to be choppy.
There are two effective solutions.
The best solution is to wire your system using Ethernet. Basically, you want to physically connect all the speakers you will be using to listen to your vinyl connection, so that no data needs to be sent wirelessly.
The other option is to use the app and adjust the settings so that it compresses line-in audio signals. Most of the time, leaving this setting on automatic yields the best results, but if you are having issues, it may help to force the system to compress these large files.
Best Turntable To Pair With Sonos
The good news is that every turntable can work with Sonos. If it does not have a built-in preamp, you will need to get an external preamp, like this one.
The Rolls VP29 is a phono/turntable preamplifier with provisions for line-level output. The VP29 is designed for use with amplifiers, mixers, or stereo systems that do not provide turntable inputs. The preamp features dual RCA phone inputs, ground terminal connection, and dual RCA stereo line-level outputs. A separate 1/8" stereo line-level output is provided for added flexibility.
Sonos recommends the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Sonos Edition, but to be honest, there is no need to spend extra for this so-called special edition. You can just get the regular Pro-Ject DC, which we reviewed here.
It does not have a preamp, though. If you want a version with preamp, the Pro-Ject T1 is a great choice.
- Tonearm and cartridge completely setup at the Factory for simple installation at home
- 8mm thick bead-blasted glass platter
- Premium mechanical parts used throughout for smooth, precise playback of records
- Precise, electronic selection of 33 1/3 and 45 RPM playback Speed
- Built-in, bypassable phono preamp for connection to any audio system
- connector type: RCA
- power source type: Corded Electric
- connectivity technology: Wired
If you are on more of a budget, Audio Technica has two great options with internal preamps, the basic and very inexpensive AT-LP60 and the more advanced AT-LP120.
Connect Record Player To Sonos: Final Thoughts
Since all turntables work with this system, even vertical ones, learning how to connect Sonos to a record player is not overly complicated. Plus, there are a few connection options to choose from, depending on whether you already have certain components like speakers or an amplifier.
If you have trouble setting up your system you can always speak with Sonos staff for troubleshooting tips, or visit the app to make some changes to your setup. Once you’ve got it set up, you’re in for a treat.
You get the best of both worlds: the nostalgia of vinyl records and the convenience of a modern high tech sound system. It is a whole new type of listening experience that.
I have a stereo receiver and wired speakers I would like to connect to Sonos using a Port. I plan to purchase a preamp (between turntable and Port) as you have suggested. However, it seems that there are two options for connecting the Port to the receiver. Do you think it matters whether this connection is digital (coaxial) or analog (RCA) in terms of sound quality or any other possible difference?
I don’t think it would make much of a difference.
If you take the analog turntable signal and convert it to digital (using an ADC in the pre-amp I assume) then send it digitally along the T10 connector (the phone plug) the Sonos5 would then use it’s internal DAC to convert to Analog before getting it to the speakers,
Sooo, just plug your turntable into the Sonos 5 using the phone jack form the RCA jacks on your turntable or pre-amp. Let the Sonos do the DAC once and you are good to go.
David – Thank you for your well crafted article. I’ve been trying to figure out how to play vinyl on my Sonos for weeks and your article was a breath of fresh air. I’m trying to get great sound and decent power without breaking the bank (especially since unemployed during the corona virus, but what better time to listen to some vinyl). So here’s the breakdown:
I have a pair of Play:3’s, which I love.
Now as for adding the record player:
Which is the best way to go out of these more expensive options- the new Play 5 ($499) vs. the Sonos Port ($449) vs.the significantly more expensive Sonos Amp ($649).
Or for half the cost – a used Gen 1 Play 5, Connect or Connect Amp for around $200? Will I be losing much if I go this route?
Thank you for sharing your expertise –
Mike
I think I would just go with the older play 5, since you already have, and are happy with, the Play 3s. No sense in spending more money, especially during this time of uncertainty.
Great article. I just bought a Play 5 and a Sonos Pro-Ject turntable with a Pre-amp. I am able to get sound with it through the Play 5 a PlayBar and a Play 1. The problem is that the sound volume is probably on 20% of what the Sonos is capable of. This happens on all the Sonos speakers. The Sonos system works normally with all other formats (TV, Google Music) I spent an hour on the phone with Sonos and they were unable to solve the problem. Have you heard of this problem before? At this point I am considering returning the Sonos Turntable.
Thanks and great article.
No I haven’t. The only think I can think of is something like a loose connection, but I’m guessing Sonos would have covered anything simple like that in their troubleshooting.
Hi Robert,
Just for information purposes, I have virtually the same setup as yourself. I’ve got play 1, 3 and sound bar and have added a Sonos port. My wife got me the Project T1 for my birthday and I’ve been connecting it all through my Technics amp with reasonable success. Until today, after reading David’s article and other bits around the net, I have now plugged the T1 into the port from the line out, and bang a totally different animal. I’m currently listening to Moody Blues and can hear every tinkle of triangle, every crash of big symbols and guitar string, it is absolutely awesome. The volume is so incredible I’m in danger of blowing next doors pictures of the wall.
Now to your problem, have you used line out, if not you’ll need a pre-amp, also if the volume limit is set to on that will loosing volume, or if the source level is set to less than 10, and finally I’ve set my line out to pass through. All these can be found under settings on the Sonos app, by choosing the port then scrolling down.
I really hope this helps and you take it in the spirit it’s offered, as when you get it working right it will blow your mind, my Project T1 is the BT model.
Good luck
Thanks David and Sonos had me try multiple things with me. I will say Sonos spent and hour and half with me on the phone trying to fix the problem and they were helpful and good. They referred me to Pro-Ject and they were not helpful at all. I am going to try a different brand of turntable.
So I think I have this straight but going to ask away anyway….
I do not have any Sonos speakers but have a U-Turn record player hard wired to two speakers through a receiver. Pre amp connected as well.
Given what you shared in your article can I go the route of buying a Sonos port…..hook that up directly to my setup…..THEN I can add any Sonos speakers and pull through the record player correct?
I’m ok losing some of the audio to digital clean up…..but is this the way I can go?
Or should I do the hardwire connecting with a Five…..but port and add more down the road?
Thanks for your help.
Be well,
Mike
With the Port, you’ll also need an amplifier, but if you have one, that will work fine. Using the Five is the easiest setup, but either way works.
David,
I’m at a loss as to what I’ve done wrong.
Trying to hook a Linn Sondek LP12 up to a Sonos Amp and two new Sonos One speakers I received today and still no sound. Everything in the app seems to be set correctly and everything is connected correctly both to the amp from the turntable as well as to my Sonos system in general.
Still no sound coming through he speakers.
Help.
BTW, full novice here with turntables but a good amount of experience with my Sonos system for years.
Full Sonos list: 4 One Speakers, Original Play 5, Bridge, Sonos Amp.
Thanks in advance and hope you are well.
ash
It’s probably some little thing, that will take a bunch of troubleshooting to figure out. I’d contact Sonos and have them work through it with you.
Hi Ash
Just wondering if you have been able to connect your Linn Sondek LP12. I am looking for solutions to connect mine to a modern amp – and wondered if this was the way to go. I will have Gale speakers on the other end.
Many thanks for any advice you can provide.
Cheers
John
Great article!! I’m a novice trying to get an awesome birthday gift for my husband. What do you recommend as a good option for playing vinyl on/through a Sonos Play: one and a Playbar?
I am looking to buy a new Play 5 when they are released and connect it to my Technics SL-1600. Will the new Sonos Five have a built in pre amp? Will i have to connect my Turntable to a pre amp then have the rca to 3.5 mm out pout from the pre amp? Thank you.
Hi there, thanks for the article very useful. I have purchased the Pro-ject T1 SB (with in built pre amp). I have three sonos speakers currently play 1, 3 and soundbar. I dont really want to have to buy another soeaker ie the play 5 to be able to play records around the house on all my sonos soeakers. Can I just get the Connect to do the job or sending turntable outputs to my current sonos speakers?
Yes, that should work. But I would definitely recommend talking to someone at Sonos before buying one to make sure.
Hi Harry
Just for information purposes, I have virtually the same setup as yourself. I’ve got play 1, 3 and sound bar and have added a Sonos port. My wife got me the Project T1 for my birthday and I’ve been connecting it all through my Technics amp with reasonable success. Until today, after reading David’s article and other bits around the net, I have now plugged the T1 into the port from the line out, and bang a totally different animal.
It is all so clear it’s unbelievable, I’d suggest looking out for a pre-owned port and a good price and you won’t look back.
Good Luck
Chris
Hi
I need help connecting my Sony turntable to my Sonos 1 speakers. I have a Sonos connector and a Sony receiver, but no matter how I try to connect these components, I get no sound at all. Can you please advise me on how to proceed? I long to play some of my parents’ Dixieland Jazz collections fromm the 40’s and 50s
thanks, MJ
If the steps in the article do not work, it will probably take some troubleshooting. Your best bet is to contact Sonos and have them help you.
I have an arc in main room and move outside and want to hook my turntable up. Do I get the amp or the port
I’ve 5 play 1’s and a play 3 can I get a turntable. Any help i be amazing as can’t really afford a play 5
I have a Technica AT-LP60 and a Sonos Soundbar. I understand that I cannot connect the two. What is your best recommendation for a budget friendly speaker to purchase in order to use the turntable? Will a Gen 1 Sonos 5 work?
Hello David thanks for the great article. I have a Pro-Ject turn table (without preamp) Debut Carbon Esprit SB connected to a recently purchased Bellari VP130 MK2 tube phono pre amp and then hooked up to a Sonos Connect Amp with wired speakers. But I have a horrible hum that I just can’t get rid of, The TT ground is connected to the preamp ground and I’ve also tried grounding it to the Sonos and other metal surfaces and also given physical separation between the three components but the hum is still present specially at loud volume. Any idea of how I may get rid of it?
Hey there. Thanks for the article, it was definitely very helpful as I try to upgrade my vinyl system. I have a question regarding audio lag when using both older wired speakers in one room, and sonos one speakers in two other rooms. My current set up –> I have a record player connected to a receiver with a phono port, the receiver is connected to a sonos connect gen 2, which then beams the audio to my other two sonos speakers. I have gotten it to play nicely where I can listen to records on both my old speakers as well as the sonos speakers in the other rooms. However, the audio plays about 2-4 seconds ahead on my wired speakers when compared to the audio played on my sonos speakers. Is there anyway for me to adjust this set up in order to better sink the audio between the two sets of speakers? Thanks a bunch!
Hello –
I have a beam and two SL one’s i want to connect my TV and a record player that i havent purchased yet. What’s my best bet here without having to change all my speakers.
Hi,
I connected initially my Pro-Ject Debut Recormaster to a Sonos Connect which worked fine.
Last week I stumbled on a Denon Avr-f100 amplifier and thought I’d Connect the turntable to the amp and then reconnected the Denon via phones Jack to the Sonos Connect and I would really say that the sound is better. Based on above article I would have thought this not to be logical but I must it does sound better to me. Any thoughts ?
Hi David.
Thanks for a great article.
Just to be sure, when you say “twice as powerful” what do yo mean exactly?
The reason I ask is because I have a turntable connected to a preamp connected to a Sonos connect:amp and connected to speakers. This works fine. But when listening to vinyls I like to use the active sonos speakers in another room as well which is also possible with my current setup. The issue is that the sound of the active speakers sometimes cuts off, which is basically unbearable to listen to. Could I solve this problem with the new Sonos Amp or what would you recommend.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards Martin
I have a Sonos system with 2 connects and speakers,I have used the connect inline to add the turntable to the system and that works fine.
But I want to add a dumb amp and speakers to the Sonos system I’ve tried to use the connect inline plugs but no sound?
The connect I’m using isn’t hard-wired to the internet its what I’ve used for the inline turntable?
What have I done wrong?
Hi David
Just for information purposes, I have the following setup which I’m happy with. I’ve got play 1, 3 and sound bar and have added a Sonos port. My wife got me the Project T1 for my birthday and I’ve been connecting it all through my Technics amp with reasonable success. I’ve been using the vcr out to connect to the Sonos Port, which then magics sound to Sonos speakers of choice.That was until today, after reading David’s article and other bits around the net, I have now plugged the Project T1 into the port from the line out, and bang a totally different animal.
If you can find a port, it will save a lot of agro, because as I understand it you almost get a dedicated network for the Sonos. However if you can get a Sonos Amp, even better as this allows you to connect turntable directly to network without going through pre-amp on your system.
Also be worth checking settings on the connect in case the volume is locked down or the line out level is set v low, and source level should be set to ten for the best results.
It is all so clear it’s unbelievable, I’d suggest looking out for a pre-owned port or amp at a good price and you won’t look back.
Good Luck
Chris
uh… still confused. I have four SONOS ONE speakers, and trying to figure out how to play vinyl through those speakers. Maybe I missed it along the way (there was a lot of intro repeating how easy it is, and then it wasn’t clear at all), but I didn’t catch how to use SONOS with a turntable except if one wants to purchase a whole other Sonos system. Looks like I’m not the only one in the comments looking for same solution (Sonos one speakers, turntable…willing to but whatever turntable — within reason! — but not a whole new set of speakers). Can anyone help, please.
thanks, v
Looking to get a turntable as a gift. I have a play1 play3 and a soundbar. All about 5/6 year old sonos. Will these models for the the cheaper Sonos turntable ?
And does the turntable have in built speakers. ? I know nothing about turntables Thankyou
Hi, I have a Sonos Arc, sub, and 2 play 3s delivering surround sound in my main room and a play 1 in a separate room.
If i want to play vinyl through this system it seems that i have to buy a turntable with a pre-amp and a play-5 to connect the turntable into my sonos system. Then in my iphone app i should be able to choose to play the records through my surround system rather than my new play-5.. Is that correct?
I was hoping that with the new arc and sub there would be a way of connecting a turntable without having to buy a new play-5.
Thanks
Get a sono port. you will not need a pre amp and it is interchangable with my cd player as well
Hey Dave,
Is there anyway to connect my turntable through a Sonos port to my Sonos amp wirelessly? In other words. Can I connect the turntable without hardwiring into the amp or hardwiring the port to the amp?
Hi all, helpful article and discussion. Am I right in thinking that if I don’t have other third party speakers and just want to play a turntable on a few Sonos Play 1 speakers, then I don’t need to buy any amplifier? Old turntable > preamp > Sonos Connect (gen 2) > Sonos Play 1 speakers …right? Or am I missing something? I don’t want to buy a Port, Play 5 or Sonos Amp if I can use an old Sonos Connect (gen 2). Any comments or help would be much appreciated. Thanks
Sonos is cheap, soulless, crap made in China by Uighar slave labor. It will fall apart in a very short time and there will be no accountability by the Chinese company.
Hey there, I dont have an Sonos amp or connect only my play 5 sound bar and speakers. My issue if grounding pin I have no where to plug it into, any suggestions?
Hi,
Thanks for the great info, very well written.
I have a turntable, a preamp (Rolls VP29 Phono Preamp) and a receiver. I do not want cable running around so looking into wireless speaker.
Noted that, I could connect my existing setup (minus the receiver) to a SONOS 5 (line-in hookup):
1. Is there a way to transform the signal from the pre-amp to wirelss and connect to SONOS 1 or similar?
2. if I decide to stay w existing setup, do I need to have a set 2 bookshelf speakers? or will 1 do the trick?
How do you connect a Bluetooth turntable to the sonos system?