Using a RCA to aux in adaptor

[bungle]

My (very ancient) old hi-fi (almost 20 years old!) has packed in, and I'm looking to get something like https://www.johnlewis.com/roberts-blutune-200-dab-... , but these sort of systems all seem to only have an aux in input, rather than an RCA input (which is what my turntable is).

Am I going to get a reduction in quality if I have to use an adaptor such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/UGREEN-connecting-Smartph... with an aux in input? (as opposed to finding something with an RAC input).

The main use will be the turntable, though I will still use the DAB and CD functionality.

Is RCA just old-skool these days?

[Tony1963]

Do you have a phono amp for your turntable? If you feel a turntable straight into that aux socket I doubt you’ll hear anything.

[bungle]

Now you're asking... I currently just plug the RCA cables from the turntable into the RCA inputs on my ancient hi-fi and it works... I guess the hi-fi has an inbuilt amp... good point

[Tony1963]

What was your “ancient” hifi? Most of my gear is over 20 years old, and it’s going nowhere! What are you trying to add/change?

[bungle]

Old sony unit. Randomly or other of the speakers don't work. And I fancy DAB and Bluetooth for occasional use, and something that is more space efficient/ compact, hence looking at that all in one style.

[Tony1963]

I found a few mini systems that have the RCA aux in, but they have separate speakers.
If you’ve a Richersounds nearby, I’d advise a trip there with your list of requirements at hand.

[markiii]

firstly its not an aux its a 3.5mm. Aux is generic enough it could also be RCA.

Second the Turntable RCA inputs on an amp that supports a turntable are setup to cope with a much lower signal level than the RCA used by CD players or pretty much anything else.

Likely on your existing amp the RCA you plug the turntable into is labelled Phono?

Upshot being plug your turntable into the "Aux" as you described it no matter what cable you use and it won;t work. Signal level will be too low.

Solution, Phono preamplifer in between new system and turntable or find another new system with support for a phno input

[bungle]

Thanks Tony. Yeah one not too far away, good shout. Not completely averse to separate speakers (have that now) but don't want anything huge.

[bungle]

Thanks Mark. Useful stuff.

markiii said:

Likely on your existing amp the RCA you plug the turntable into is labelled Phono?

No, it's just labelled "Aux" where I plug the RCA in.


I was in John Lewis earlier in the week, and asked the lady in the audio department, and she didn't have a clue. Didn't know what RCA was, and suggested "you must be able to get an adaptor, but we don't sell any".

[bbunited]

As Mark says, you'll probably need a pre amp like this (£25):

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/hi-fi-accessori...

Also a 3.5mm to RCA Female adapter like this (£3):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AKORD-Stereo-Female-Split...

And also check out Roberts eBay site for discounted Blutune 200's I have two of these. One for kitchen and one for the bedroom and paid 50% of John Lewis price for each.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roberts-BLUTUNE200-in-w...

[bungle]

^^^ thanks, very helpful! Especially the Roberts ebay link.

Being a hi-fi idiot, I'm struggling to see the whole picture though.

Turntable RAC cables connect into the pre-amp. (I get that bit!).

What goes from the pre-amp to the end-unit with the 3.5mm input? (a cable with what at each end? Presume a 3.5mm plug at one end). And therefore where does the adaptor you posted come in? (I assumed that was only relevant if I didn't need a pre-amp).

Sorry I am probably being thick, I just can't picture the whole set-up.

[bbunited]

Actually I can't see what the outputs are on that pre-amp, I assumed it was RCA but let me look further.

[bbunited]

Right.......I'll start again now I've seen the back.

Your turntable I'm assuming has RCA leads built in so that will plug into the front of the below using the RHS plugs

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/hi-fi-accessori...


Then get one of these that will plug from the back of the phono pre-amp to the back of the Roberts 3.5mm female socket

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3m-3-5mm-Stereo-Jack-Ma...



The rear of the Bluetune 200 looks like this and the green socket is the one to plug into


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[bungle]

bbunited said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3m-3-5mm-Stereo-Jack-Ma...

Thanks. Really appreciate the help. Maybe I'm struggling because the pic and the link are different (above), but yes the turntable has a fixed RCA cable which will go into the RHS of the pre-amp, but after that I am still confused re what plugs into what... sorry...

[bbunited]

bungle said:

bbunited said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3m-3-5mm-Stereo-Jack-Ma...

Thanks. Really appreciate the help. Maybe I'm struggling because the pic and the link are different (above), but yes the turntable has a fixed RCA cable which will go into the RHS of the pre-amp, but after that I am still confused re what plugs into what... sorry...

Then the cable on the ebay link will plug into the two RCA's as shown on the photo above (back of the box) and then the other end of the cable plugs into the back of the Roberts (the green socket)

[bungle]

bbunited said:

(back of the box)

d'oh, of course



Thanks

[bbunited]

bungle said:

bbunited said:

(back of the box)

d'oh, of course



Thanks

No problem! PM Me if you need anymore help!