Ground Terminal
The number of dedicated ground posts provided for the turntable or phono signal connection.
A ground post provides a connection for an appropriate ground lead. It is separate from a ground-lift switch and does not replace protective mains earth.
Ground Terminal — Turntable
On a Turntable, a ground terminal can connect the arm or chassis grounding arrangement to the following phono equipment. Its purpose depends on the turntable’s wiring and the manufacturer’s recommended connection.
Read the count as available posts, not as a count of audio channels or cartridge inputs. A fixed ground wire is a different physical arrangement, and a terminal’s presence does not prove that every setup needs another ground connection.
Compare the terminal arrangement with the cable and phono-stage instructions. Follow the intended grounding path rather than adding connections indiscriminately. A ground post can assist hum management, but its presence alone does not guarantee a noise-free system.
Ground Terminal — Step-Up Transformer (SUT)
On a Phono Step-Up Transformer, ground posts can provide connection points for the turntable and following phono stage according to the transformer’s grounding scheme. This is separate from the signal transformation through its windings.
Read the count as the number of physical posts. Multiple posts do not by themselves establish separate electrical grounds, and a ground-lift switch describes a different function. Check the instructions for the intended connections.
Compare the arrangement with your phono cable and stage. Transformer shielding and grounding designs differ, so a generic extra-wire rule is unreliable. The terminal count does not establish hum rejection or justify altering the protective earth of other equipment.
Ground Terminal — MC Head Amp
On a Phono Head Amp, ground posts form part of the connection arrangement between the turntable, head amp and following MM phono stage. Their intended use depends on how those components handle signal and chassis grounds.
Read the count of dedicated posts rather than assuming each input has its own isolated ground. A ground wire supplied with a cable or a ground-lift control is not an additional terminal.
Compare the connection points with the recommended system wiring. Adding an active MC stage introduces another component, but that does not mean every possible ground connection should be made. The post count describes connectivity, not guaranteed freedom from hum.
Ground Terminal — Phono Preamp
On a Phono Preamp, a ground post provides a connection point for a turntable’s appropriate ground lead. It can help establish the intended grounding arrangement alongside the cartridge’s audio connections.
Read the number of posts separately from the number of phono inputs. One ground post may serve the product’s intended setup; multiple posts do not automatically mean electrically independent grounds. A ground-lift switch is a separate feature.
Compare the available connections with the turntables or tonearms you plan to use and follow the wiring instructions. A hum problem can have other causes, so a terminal count is not a noise-performance rating or a reason to disconnect protective earth.