Connecting a turntable to the KEF LS60 - A guide

How to connect your analog devices correctly to your KEF LS60

Philipp Buchmann

29.11.2023

Some may think that combining vintage flair with modern technology is complicated, but we've found that the opposite is true. Now let's take a look at how we can connect our beloved turntable to the KEF LS60, shall we? First we need to find out if our turntable has a built-in preamp or if we need an external one. Once that's established, we carefully connect it to our speakers using the appropriate cables - usually RCA or 3.5mm with an adapter. It really is a simple process that adds a lot more warmth to our room. We adjust the settings and make sure they match the specifications of our turntable, and then it's just us, the music and the full, authentic sound we've been craving. Together we create an intimate sound experience that respects both the past and the present.

Understanding your equipment

Before we start connecting, it's important to know the specific requirements of our turntable and whether it has a built-in phono preamp. The delicate nature of vinyl playback requires close attention to such details. If our turntable doesn't have one, a standalone phono preamp is a must in order to boost the signal to a level that our KEF LS60 can utilize.

Next, we need to determine the type of cartridge our turntable uses - MM (Moving Magnet) or MC (Moving Coil). This is not just technical jargon, but crucial for authentic sound reproduction. If we have a phono preamp with both options, we need to select the appropriate setting to match our cartridge. Otherwise, the signal could be too weak or too strong, which we would rather avoid.

We connect the turntable to the LS Wireless either via RCA cable or via a 3.5 mm cable with adapter. Don't be fooled by the idea that one is superior to the other; this is wrong. At the levels and frequencies we are dealing with, both connections work equally well. Finally, let's remember the personal touch - experiment with the setup to find out what sounds best to our ears.

Preparing the turntable

Now that we understand our equipment, let's roll up our sleeves and prepare the turntable for connection to the KEF LS60. First, clean the records and make sure they are free of dust and dirt. A clean record not only protects the needle, but also improves the sound quality.

Setting up the record player correctly is the cornerstone of a great listening experience. We need to check whether our record player needs a phono preamplifier. If it does, we need to match the cartridge type (MM or MC) with the appropriate setting on the preamp, as this will have a significant impact on the output.

When troubleshooting problems with the turntable, we often have to double check our connections and settings. Here is a table to help us do this:

Showroom

4799.00

KEF

LS60 Wireless HiFi Speaker Titanium Grey

Showroom

4799.00

KEF

LS60 Wireless HiFi Speaker Royal Blue

Showroom

4799.00

KEF

LS60 Wireless HiFi Speaker Mineral White

-

4798.95

KEF

LS60 Wireless HiFi Speaker Carbon Black

Connecting to the KEF LS60

How can we seamlessly connect our turntable to the KEF LS60 to achieve a flawless audio setup? The first step is to ensure that the turntable is compatible. This includes checking whether a phono preamplifier is required and if so, whether the cartridge type of your turntable is MM (Moving Magnet) or MC (Moving Coil).

Below you will find brief instructions on how to make the connection:

• Check whether the record player requires a separate phono preamplifier or whether it is already built in.
• Connect the phono preamplifier to the turntable using the appropriate cables.
• Use RCA cables to connect the phono preamplifier to the KEF LS60, choosing between RCA and 3.5 mm connections depending on the space available in your setup.
• If you choose a 3.5mm connection, an adapter may be required.
• Make sure that the KEF LS60 is set to the correct input to receive the signal from the turntable.

The choice between RCA and 3.5mm connections depends largely on the design and space of the connection panel. Remember that the LS60 Wireless can handle high-resolution audio signals, so the quality of your connection will contribute to the overall listening experience. Let's experiment with the settings and adjust them accordingly, keeping in mind our personal preferences for the most satisfying sound experience.

Configuring the audio settings

Once we have connected our turntable to the KEF LS60, we need to adjust the audio settings to suit our preferences and optimize the sound quality. Adjusting the EQ settings is crucial to achieving the warmth and depth that vinyl is known for. We need to adjust these settings to match the unique character of our records and the acoustics of our listening room.

Optimizing the phono preamp is equally important. If we use a moving magnet (MM) cartridge, different settings are required than with a moving coil (MC) cartridge. It's about finding the right balance and making sure that the sensitive signal from our cartridge is amplified with precision and clarity.

Should we encounter any problems, troubleshooting the audio connection is simple. It's all about patience and attention, carefully checking every connection and setting. Below is a chart that summarizes our journey from initial setup to emotional fulfillment:

With these settings, the music is not only heard but also felt, creating a deep connection between us and our beloved pieces of music.

Improve your listening experience

We've fine-tuned our equalizer and optimized the phono preamp; now it's time to explore more ways to enhance our listening experience with the KEF LS60. The interplay between our environment and our audio system plays a crucial role, and we're here to get it just right.

• Speaker placement: Position the LS60s so that they form an equilateral triangle with our listening position. This placement ensures a more accurate stereo image and a detailed soundstage.
• Room acoustics: Treat the listening room to reduce unwanted echoes and reverberation. Absorption panels and diffusers can significantly improve the clarity of the sound.
• Isolation: Use isolating stands or pads to minimize vibrations that can be transmitted through the furniture and distort the sound.
• Cable quality: Invest in high-quality cables to maintain the integrity of the audio signal from the turntable to the speakers.
• EQ settings: Even if the EQ configuration is set at the beginning, fine-tuning may be required as the sound evolves. Pay attention to the balance of frequencies and carefully adjust the settings to suit your personal taste.

These elements work together to create an intimate, immersive and lifelike listening experience. Let's enjoy the nuances of our favorite record knowing that we have designed every aspect of the listening environment ourselves.

Conclusion

On our journey into sonic nirvana, we meticulously navigated the analog wilderness, connecting our turntable to the KEF LS60 as if we were threading a needle with golden thread. Our careful orchestration of cables and settings was the map to our treasure: pure, unadulterated sound. In this harmonic realm we created, every note is a heartbeat, every melody a pulse in the living tapestry of our auditory odyssey. Together, we have not only connected devices with each other, but also art with our souls.

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