How to Connect Turntable to Bluetooth Speakers | Pairing Steps That Work

Wireless vinyl listening isn’t complicated once you understand the two paths. Turntables with built-in Bluetooth output, like the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT, pair directly with speakers. Older turntables need an external transmitter plugged into their audio output. The exact pairing steps below cover both routes, plus the common snags that stop audio from playing.

The Two Ways To Get Bluetooth From A Turntable

Your turntable either has Bluetooth built in or it doesn’t. That single fact decides your setup.

Built-in Bluetooth output means the turntable handles the wireless transmission internally. You just put the speaker in pairing mode and select the turntable as the source. External transmitters serve turntables without Bluetooth: the transmitter plugs into the turntable’s audio output and broadcasts the signal to your speaker.

U-Turn Audio explains that the Bluetooth path needs a phono preamp plus a Bluetooth transmitter. If the turntable has a built-in preamp, connect the transmitter to the turntable’s RCA output. Without a built-in preamp, connect the transmitter to the preamp’s output instead.

Pairing Steps For A Bluetooth Turntable

Pairing a Bluetooth turntable to a speaker follows the same basic sequence as any wireless audio device.

1. Set the Bluetooth speaker to pairing mode — usually by holding its Bluetooth button until the indicator flashes.
2. Turn on the turntable and set its output to the Bluetooth function, marked BT or BT OUT on some models.
4. When pairing completes, the turntable’s indicator lights blue.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT Quick Start Guide gives the same core steps: set the headphones or speakers to pairing mode, press and hold the wireless function button, and wait for the indicator to turn blue when pairing completes.

Pairing Steps With An External Transmitter

For a turntable without Bluetooth, an external transmitter creates the wireless link after a quick connection to your audio chain.

Connect the transmitter to the turntable’s RCA output (or to the phono preamp’s output if your turntable lacks a built-in preamp), power it on, then put your speaker in pairing mode. The transmitter and speaker should find each other automatically. Most transmitters show a solid LED once paired.

One common failure point: many passive Bluetooth speakers cannot accept analog turntable output directly. The signal must be amplified by a phono preamp before the transmitter can broadcast it. If you hear nothing after pairing, check that the preamp is in the chain and powered.

Troubleshooting: Paired But No Sound

When the devices pair but stay silent, the issue is usually one of three things.

First, check the speaker’s play/pause state. One turntable manual advises pressing play/pause on the speaker if no audio comes through after pairing. Second, confirm the turntable’s output is set to Bluetooth and not to the internal speakers or line output.

To disconnect, simply power off the turntable or turn off Bluetooth pairing on the speaker. The devices will unpair on their own.

If your speaker doesn’t support Bluetooth pairing at all, you’ll need a different speaker or a Bluetooth receiver with an auxiliary input. For tested recommendations on speakers that work well with turntables, see our roundup of the best bluetooth speaker for turntable setups.