Turntable into Stereo

[Darth Idios]

Hi. For years, I've been running a turntable into the phono channel of my old Sony receiver. However, I recently replaced the Sony with a new Pioneer, figuring "Hey, even if it doesn't have a phono channel, I'll be able to run the turntable into one of the other channels I'm not using."
I'll stop until you've finished laughing at me.
OK. I can barely get any kind of signal from the turntable, even when the system's cranked.
Do I need to buy a separate pre-amp, like the kind they used to offer at Radio Shack? Or is there another solution to my problem? I'm perfectly happy with the Pioneer, except for this one issue.
Any help you have to offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[regebro]

Why the heck does Pioneer make a receiver without phono inputs? Are they NUTS?

Yes, you need a separate preamp. I don't know about radio shacks, but you need a phono to line preamp, i.e a preamp and a RIAA stage. Those come in all kinds of types from cheap to the ones that cost $thousands (no, I'm not kidding).

 

[Track Rat]

If you still have the Sony you can use it as your turn table pre amp and run a "tape out" from it to your new amp. And besides, all that gear stacked up has got to look cooler.