How can I tell if my Turntable has a preamp built in or needs a separate one. It's a Fisher MT-125, it has red and white rca cables in the rear with a ground wire connected to it. Also it has no volume knob.
You will need to purchase a phone preamp for this turntable. When it was made electronics always had a phono preamp built in.
Newer turntables which do have phono preamps built in usually have a switch under the platter or on the back to allow you to defeat the phono preamp if you don't need it.
The only turntable (rather than record player) that has a volume control is the soon to be released VPI Nomad which not only has a phono preamp built in but a headphone amp so you can listen to your vinyl without additional equipment.