I just acquired a Beogram 3400 turntable from a friend of mine.  I tried to hook it up to my Sony Surround system, but can't get any audio music coming out.  Any suggestions as to what I need to listen to my old vinyls? 

Hi:

I believe that you will need a phono pre-amp to connect a turntable to a modern amp without a phono socket. Cheap ones are available from Maplin but they do "exactly what it says on the tin" and are therefore quite plasticy:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28732

NAD do a slightly more expensive one (although I have been told they come in cheaper than this):

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1441

Pro-ject do a more expensive one.

I believe this is why you are not hearing anything from source (the beogram). Be aware that early recordings will sound ery weird played through a surround setup.

Hope this helps

Graham

PS You may want to wait and see if anyone confirms or refutes my advice as I am only guessing that this is what you need.

If a pre amp is what you need you might also inquire here (US source).

 http://www.phonopreamps.com/