[Answered] Can You Connect An Equalizer To A Receiver Without Tape Monitor?

The good old days. You turn on your cassette/CD/DVD player or VCR and look at the spectrum analyzer to do its thing. All the red, yellow, and greens go up and down along with the music it’s playing.

If you still have one of those from your parent’s or grandparents’ day, and thinking to yourself can you connect an equalizer to a receiver without a tape monitor because you don’t have one, well, we are here to say, Yes you can.

With a few simple methods, you can connect to any receiver of that time and get an output. Also, we have included how you can get an output with newer devices. 

Is It Possible to Connect An Equalizer To A Receiver Without a Tape Monitor And Get An Output?

As we have said earlier, you can connect your equalizer to a receiver, you need to have an integrated amplifier that has IN and OUT jack on it. Just like a cassette In/Out or VCR In/Out. 

For newer devices, this comes all equipped in one, so the hassle is cut down to nothing. 

Here is how you connect an equalizer to a receiver without a tape monitor

Step 1: Connect  RCA Jack To Input

Connect one side of your RCA jack to the ‘IN’ port of the Equalizer.

Step 2: Connect RCA Jack To Out

Connect the other side of your RCA jack to the receiver (Tape/ VCR/CDR/DVD) ‘OUT’ port.

Step 3: Check The Spectrum Analyzer

If everything works fine and your input source is analog, your spectrum analyzer will light up. 

Note: This will not work with digital sources. The steps are only for older analog devices. 

For devices that are new, like new sound systems, they come equipped with not only equalization but also customizable settings. So there is no need to add any extra devices or anything. 

But no one can deny the fact that how cassettes and CDs sounded on one of those devices. So we have shown you the steps to make it more convenient for you. 

Pro Tips:

If in any case, the method doesn’t work, follow the instructions below. 

• Check if the receiver is tuned off before connecting to the equalizer. 
• Adjust the settings on your equalizer carefully. 
• High-quality RCA cables should be your go-to. Low-quality cables sometimes don’t work at all. 

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers – FAQs

How do you use an equalizer with a tape monitor?

To use an equalizer with a tape monitor, you will have to switch on the tape monitor. After turning on the switch, turn on the receiver, equalizer obviously, and amplifier. When everything is up and running, adjust your equalizer to check and set it to your liking. 

What is a tape loop in an equalizer?

A tape loop-in equalizer means you run audio using the tape-in/out connection of your receiver or amplifier. You can do this by simply connecting a cable to the Tape Out and Inputting it into an equalizer. And then feed it back from the equalizer to the Tape In of the receiver. 

Is a graphic equalizer necessary?

To know the specific tone of a speech, music, or any sound, you need a graphic equalizer. This way you can tell which tone, sound, or noise needs to be removed as they come up in different graphic frequencies. 

Conclusion

The feeling of getting your old sound system up and running is like nothing else. It’s not a record player or anything, but the nostalgia is there. And the ability to equalize your tuning by hand makes it even more realistic and surreal. Just make sure you follow these steps to make it work. And best of all, connect your player to a modern sound system that has it all built-in rather than a receiver.