Add aux output to record player

[Crudeoink]

So Mrs CO was given a record player by a family member. It has 2 small built in speakers but unfortunately no way to 'export' the sound via an aux cable or similar. The two speakers are pretty naff and have no bass at all, so I was wondering how difficult it would be to solder in an aux cable so i can play the music from an external speaker if i want. She's pretty sentimental about this player, so it rules out just buying a new one with an aux output unfortunately. Thanks!

[LordLoveLength]

Crudeoink said:

So Mrs CO was given a record player by a family member. It has 2 small built in speakers but unfortunately no way to 'export' the sound via an aux cable or similar. The two speakers are pretty naff and have no bass at all, so I was wondering how difficult it would be to solder in an aux cable so i can play the music from an external speaker if i want. She's pretty sentimental about this player, so it rules out just buying a new one with an aux output unfortunately. Thanks!

If it has a volume control, you can solder an aux lead across the 2 outer connections BUT you must be sure that the control is isolated from the mains!

[Crudeoink]

LordLoveLength said:

If it has a volume control, you can solder an aux lead across the 2 outer connections BUT you must be sure that the control is isolated from the mains!

Thanks, it has a volume dial so sounds like this might be possible. As for isolation from the mains, it has a momentary spring rocker switch, it turns itself off once a record has finished and the arm isnt moved for a few mins. This leads me to believe its isolated via logic rather than a physical switch, which may make things more difficult.

[ruggedscotty]

Crudeoink said:

LordLoveLength said:

If it has a volume control, you can solder an aux lead across the 2 outer connections BUT you must be sure that the control is isolated from the mains!

Thanks, it has a volume dial so sounds like this might be possible. As for isolation from the mains, it has a momentary spring rocker switch, it turns itself off once a record has finished and the arm isnt moved for a few mins. This leads me to believe its isolated via logic rather than a physical switch, which may make things more difficult.

The record player will have a transformer in it to power the amplifier. Unless its really really old valve powered jobby and then you can have high voltages in there. but Ive not seen anything with valves for years.

Id be cautions though and have a good look before extending leads out of an item of kit. Even iff you take out some aux to an amplifier then the existing speakers will still be making music unless its done as said above with connecting to the outer terminals of the volume slider.

Taking a cable out and then to a phono amp could add all sorts of extra noise to your signal etc. but it is doable..

what is the turntable make a model etc and will see if I can source a schematic for you

[Crudeoink]

ruggedscotty said:

The record player will have a transformer in it to power the amplifier. Unless its really really old valve powered jobby and then you can have high voltages in there. but Ive not seen anything with valves for years.

Id be cautions though and have a good look before extending leads out of an item of kit. Even iff you take out some aux to an amplifier then the existing speakers will still be making music unless its done as said above with connecting to the outer terminals of the volume slider.

Taking a cable out and then to a phono amp could add all sorts of extra noise to your signal etc. but it is doable..

what is the turntable make a model etc and will see if I can source a schematic for you

Thanks for this. After putting my back out a couple of weeks back, i have since managed to drag myself into the loft and find the box with the model number on. It's a Classic Phono, TT-34. Im skeptical if a diagram does exist as i don't believe it was a particularly expensive item, however it has strong sentimental value to Mrs CO. Thanks again

[Mr Pointy]

If it's like this doesn't it have a USB output?

https://www.lenco.com/en/products/classic-phono-tt...

If it does then it's a case of finding a suitable converter.

[GCH]

A quick google tells me that model has a USB output, which should easily solve your problems

[Crudeoink]

It has a USB B port on the back yes, however i assumed this wasn't a simple sound output. I did try searching for a USB-B to 3.5mm but no luck. I cant imagine 2 adaptors plugged together will work or not pick up a bunch of noise though, right?

[Mr Pointy]

I'm no expert on USB converters but this one says it will convert the output from a CD player so there must be other devices that can do it.

https://www.lindy.co.uk/audio-video-c2/converters-...
https://www.lindy.co.uk/downloads/145769550420376v...

I wonder if the DtoA type headphone amplifiers would work?

[SS2.]

You might have to go:

USB-A to USB-B converter - like this

and..

USB-A to 3.5mm jack socket: like this

Never tried it myself, so no idea whether it will actually work !

[Howard-]

The USB port will either be an input (i.e. for a USB stick filled with MP3s) or for connecting it to a computer to transpose records into MP3s. It won't be a straight audio output.

Edited by Howard- on Wednesday 26th May 08:06

[ruggedscotty]

USB wont connect to a 3.5mm by the looks of it.

Trying to connect external speakers through an amp would be the best way but the issue is no phono !

You could as its 2w speakers.... remove the speakers and add in some resistors the same value as the speakers 4 ohm 8 ohm etc... and take signals to the amplifier and your new speakers...

Lot to describe here, and requires a bit of knowledge to do it, and a wee bit of safey to think about aqs there is mains in there... but its not impossible. It would require an amplifier and speakers that are not that cheap... maybe the cheaper option and easiest would be to buy a new one that met with your requirements.

[SS2.]

ruggedscotty said:

USB wont connect to a 3.5mm by the looks of it. .

The USB to 3.5mm jack socket linked in an earlier post is an audio converter. The only question is whether the output from the deck is in a format which is supported by the converter.

[TonyRPH]

Crudeoink said:

Thanks for this. After putting my back out a couple of weeks back, i have since managed to drag myself into the loft and find the box with the model number on. It's a Classic Phono, TT-34. Im skeptical if a diagram does exist as i don't believe it was a particularly expensive item, however it has strong sentimental value to Mrs CO. Thanks again

It looks as though the TT-34 has a cheap ceramic pickup cartridge.

Even after adding improved speakers etc. the sound will almost certainly still be thin and lack body.

The only way you're going to get full bodied sound with decent bass, is to go upmarket and buy a turntable with a magnetic cartridge (also generally far, far kinder to your records) and a separate amp and speakers.

These (not so!) cheap all in one units are neither kind to your records, or produce a decent sound.

As a test - you could disconnect the internal speakers, and connect them to some external speakers of better quality - however I still wouldn't expect a huge improvement in sound quality even after doing that.

These unit are also all low voltage internally - apart from the mains input (if powered by mains - some have an adapter that plugs into the wall).

Therefore so long as you ensure it's unplugged from the mains before attempting any work on it, everything after the mains transformer is low voltage.

NOTE: if there are valves present then there may be a likelihood of high(er) voltages, but I see no mention of valves in the specs.

Disclaimer:As with any electrical device, proceed with caution. If you are not sure what you are doing, then don't do it!

Edited by TonyRPH on Tuesday 25th May 18:19

[Crudeoink]

TonyRPH said:

The only way you're going to get full bodied sound with decent bass, is to go upmarket and buy a turntable with a magnetic cartridge (also generally far, far kinder to your records) and a separate amp and speakers.

These (not so!) cheap all in one units are neither kind to your records, or produce a decent sound.

As a test - you could disconnect the internal speakers, and connect them to some external speakers of better quality - however I still wouldn't expect a huge improvement in sound quality even after doing that.

Balls, I thought the speakers may be a constraint but never even considered the turntable itself. She is sentimental about the turntable itself but more so about the records, i may be able to upsell her on a better unit with a magnetic cartridge instead if it were to protect the records more.

Thank you everyone for your input