Path of signal from turn table to speaker

Mijo, was it really necessary to further confuse the OP? It’s fine to know that you have a analog system that incorporates digital processing and/or is controlled by a digital processor. We all understand that, but it most likely will confuse the OP. To the OP, all the advice you have received above is basically correct. There is no need for conversion to digital or from digital to analog in the pathway from a phono cartridge to your speakers. As someone else wrote, you need a phono stage or a phono section to amplify the signal from the phono cartridge and equalize it according to a certain algorithm that is standard. That amplified and equalized signal then is fed to a line stage. The line stage is really there only to allow you to Select from among several input sources, to include your record player, your CD player, your  tape recorder. The line stage does very little else besides switching, but most of them add a little gain as well. Then the line stage drives an amplifier. In many cases a device that we call a pre-amplifier will contain a phono stage and a line stage all in one box. There are many ways to do that.  Amplifiers do not commonly have any digital electronics inside. A classical amplifier is an all analog device. Like Chakster said, you need to choose an amplifier that has sufficient power to drive your speakers to sound pressure levels that are suitable for you in your particular listening room.

There is one more variant that probably ought to be mentioned. There are also products called integrated amplifiers. An integrated amplifier can sometimes contain a phono stage, a line stage, and an amplifier, all in one box. Other integrated amplifiers would contain a linestage and amplifier all in one box, but no phono section. And that latter case you would have to purchase a phono stage separately.

I think I now understand the source of your confusion. I looked up the Cambridge audio CXA 81, which you say is your amplifier. The product is an integrated amplifier of the type I just described. It incorporates a line stage and an amplifier on one chassis. But it also incorporates a digital to analog converter(DAC). That section of the amplifier should be regarded as an accessory to its major purpose. You can feed the DAC section a digital signal direct from for example a CD player or a CD transport and it will convert the digital signal to analog to feed the line stage and amplifier. This has nothing to do with the basic pathway of the amplification system. I am not sure whether your Cambridge Audio device also has a built in phono stage, but if it does not, you need that also to play records.

Good answers  guys. No Dac is needed .But you need a phono stage pre amp.If there is none built into your amp. Play your vinyl and enjoy.

Lewm thank you so much for the description. Its a funny thing but I have read all kinds of forums and such but it still gets me confused when I start looking at components again. I am using the rega phonostage so I would not need the amp to have a phono. It is functioning only as the preamp and amp. I might be referring to the fact like you said some amps have a phono stage. I'm glad I posted because everyone's answers have helped me get some of the details down. My concern was always that the amp would itself process the signal through all these digital pathways which defeats the purpose. As long as I am running the phonostage from rega I just need to connect to the analog line in and be done with it. I'm overthinking things.