Phono.. does this mean?

if the rear of the reciever says Phono then your on the money so enjoy the table...

Yes and No
It probably definitely means that a moving magnet (MM) cartridge would work, it might also mean that a moving coil (MC) might not work, depending if it was a High Output(HO) or a Low Output(LO).
Check the specs, if you can find them, and see how much gain you have for the phono, if under 50 low output moving coil is probably not going to work. If under 40 High output may or may not work.
But if under 50 or 40 and over 20 or 25 a moving magnet probably will work just fine.
Hope that helps.
Michael

Not always,some companies install phonojacks for connecting a phono preamp.My Rogue TempestII has phono jacks but no phono stage.Your manual should tell you if you have a phonostage.If you don't have a manual,search the web for one.The company that made your unit will more than likely have one on their web site.Also,post your equipment and someone here will probably help you.Good luck.

I don't know what receiver you have but, an "old receiver" that says/has phono input on the back, with a selector switch on the front that includes phono, means yes, you can hook up a TT with MM cart. If your receiver is capable of MC cart, it will have a selector switch on the front which you can select between MM and MC carts. Never hurts to do what Tpreaves suggest either.

Thanks folks. I have a Yamaha RX-V2300 I have used for years. I want to make a dedicated system for my TT someday, but now is not the time. I will have to search for the owners manual.

Not sure what you mean by MM cart? Dont most "Used" TT's have everything I would need to plug and play?

Oak244 come on seriously you haven't been on the Gon to long. MM for moving magnet and MC moving coil.Some TT such as the Music halls come plug and play and many of the budget Regas{cartridge included}look at these along with any TT on the Gon that the owner is selling used and has a mounted cartridge installed. I would say if you purchase the latter and have it shipped you most likely will have to reset the cartridge because of shipping.

As can be seen from RX-V2300 manual
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/pdfs/moreinfo/rxv2300.pdf
it has phono input (i.e in-built phono amplifier module) with input sensitivity (MM) 2.5 mV and impedance Phono 47 k-ohms.
So you can use MM cartridges or high output MC carts (which produce about 2.5 mV voltage). For MC carts with lower output voltage you would need external phono (pre)amplifier.
A.

Schipo,
This will be his first ever vinyl rig. Why would a novice understand MM, MC, LOMC or any other acronym? Belittling someone for lack of knowledge, when knowledge is what they came seeking, isn't helpful.

Good research by Amater.

Oak244,
Some cautions about buying a used vinyl rig (not to discourage, just so you get what you pay for with a greater chance of it working).

For used rigs, consider buying from a local seller (so you can see/hear it working) or from an Audiogon seller with solid feedback. Buying used vinyl gear from some distant seller on ebay is riskier. Many perfectly honest people do not understand how to pack a turntable/tonearm/cartridge properly for shipping. A collection of loose parts that used to be a turntable will not play your LP's very well!

Used cartridges are a crapshoot. Sometimes they work fine. Sometimes they don't. This is partly because cartridges are a consumable. Many turntables and tonearms will work forever, but no cartridge will. They all wear out, and if you don't know how many hours are on one it's a guess as to how well it'll perform. (A knowledgeable expert could possibly assess, but that gets involved and might cost more than it's worth). Further, cartridges are fragile and easily damaged. Don't be surprised if you have to buy a new cartridge for a used rig. Many people would say it's advisable, since a worn cartridge can destroy your LP's forever.

If you do replace the cartridge, I'd recommend starting with a moving magnet (MM) type for simplicity's sake. That's what your Yamaha was designed for (per Amater's post) so you would have no issues of impedance or gain matching (which can occur with some other cartridge types with basic phono stages like yours).

Vinyl is decidedly not plug and play. At a minimum you must check the downforce the tonearm/cartridge will be applying to the record. This requires some sort of scale or balance. It needn't be expensive, especially for entry level gear, but not doing this would put your entire record collection at risk. If Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) is too low, the stylus won't maintain steady contact with the groove walls. This is the fastest/surest way to destroy an LP. If VTF is too heavy, the sound can be dull and you'll wear out your catridge's suspension (and the LP's) a bit faster.

Lots to learn, but first enjoy the music,
Doug

And don't let Doug scare you out of it, either. ;) For 99% of the population before the advent of CD, Vinyl WAS plug-and-play.
Here on the 'GoN, you're talking with the other 1%. The perfectionists. Keep that in mind.

So go for it.

Cheers.

Tom

Dougdeacon: Do you know how long oak224 has been posting on the Gon? Let me tell you, since 03. You honestly think he has no idea what MM&MC stand for? I might not have an idea how to work an ipod but I know what it is.

Thanks all.. Let me say for folks... I started in Car Audio at age 16, and over the years tuned a car audio system that is awesome. When I bought my house in 2003 is when I got into Home audio of course. I started with the Axiom speaker set-up and Yamaha amp to watch movies, and listen to music. I have always wanted to build a dedicated music system which I will someday, but of course the house expense, along with the 20K decline in pay in this economy its not in the fore front as much. However I do have some music in vinyl that I dont have in CD and would like to play it.

I will be honest and say I have not used Vinyl since the late 80's so yes the ins and outs of TT's are foriegn to me. So I do appreciate the advice. Once I get the table I am sure I will come to you folks for update needs, and as I build my dedicated system for the office.

Ohh for a budget TT I am right on the Rega right? My LP's are Tori Amos, Dave Matthews Band, Rachael Yamagata, Hope Sandavol ect...

Schipo,
In his defense, you must admit that no car made since 2003 is suitable for the installation of a TT. You have to go back to a '69 Mustang or earlier to find a car that's really good for in-dash vinyl!

Tom,
Speaking as one of the certifiable 1% to another, if I really wanted to scare him I'd invite him over. Hah!

Oak244,
Rega makes very reasonable entry level rigs (as do some others). They're widely available used and the company's still in business, in case you ever needed a part or something.