Hooking up Equalizer to Onkyo 9110

[Hector81]

Hi!

I am a newbie here facing the endless issue of hooking up an equalizer to an amp. I have read many posts but I still cannot figure out how to do it in my particular system.

I have an amp Onkyo 9110 and I just got an EQ JVC Sea-60.
The amp has: 4 RCA Inputs, 1 RCA Line Out, 1 Pre-out for Subwoofer and one RCA Phono. The EQ, as usual, has 1 RCA Line Input, 1 RCA Line Output and 1 RCA Tape Play, 1 RCA Tape Record.

I managed to hook up the devices in the following way:
(1) Source (CD-Player) to EQ Line Input
(2) EQ Line Output to Amp Input X
(3) EQ Tape Play to Amp Line Out

However, as you might notice, the step (1) prevents me from using the other components with the equalizer (Turntable, Bluetooth Transmitter, etc) —unless I switch them every time I want to use them with the equalizer.

Is there any trick for having multiple components?

All the best

 

[Pyrrho]

The trick is to have a receiver, integrated amp, or preamp with something called a "tape monitor." It also can be hooked up between a preamp and power amp, though that is less than ideal, and that is assuming, of course, that one has separates or can access those portions of one's combined unit separately.


Edited to add:

Depending on how the EQ is set up, you can hook up the CD player to the input of the EQ and your tape deck to the tape monitor on the EQ, and then hook up the output of the EQ to one of the inputs on your integrated amplifier. Typically, one can use the EQ for the tape deck hooked up to it, as well as its normal input.

Edited again to add:

If you get a switchbox for selecting multiple sources to one output, you can hook your line level sources up to that and hook that up to the input of the EQ and then the output of the EQ can go to the amp. However, you will not be able to hook up a turntable to that, unless you have a phono preamp for it.

 

[Pyrrho]

Disconnect your # 3.

 

[Pyrrho]

If your EQ works the way most do (I have not bothered to download the manual for it), you can have two sources go through the EQ to your amp without buying anything. You hook up one source to the "line in" and the second source to the "tape play" and you hook up the "line out" to an input on your amp. For selecting the source hooked up to the "tape play," you will select the "tape monitor" switch on the front and probably want to have the "SEA REC" button off.

If you want more sources to run through it, you will either need an input switchbox, or you will want to get an amplifier with a tape monitor.

 

[Hector81]

The trick is to have a receiver, integrated amp, or preamp with something called a "tape monitor." It also can be hooked up between a preamp and power amp, though that is less than ideal, and that is assuming, of course, that one has separates or can access those portions of one's combined unit separately.


Edited to add:

Depending on how the EQ is set up, you can hook up the CD player to the input of the EQ and your tape deck to the tape monitor on the EQ, and then hook up the output of the EQ to one of the inputs on your integrated amplifier. Typically, one can use the EQ for the tape deck hooked up to it, as well as its normal input.

Edited again to add:

If you get a switchbox for selecting multiple sources to one output, you can hook your line level sources up to that and hook that up to the input of the EQ and then the output of the EQ can go to the amp. However, you will not be able to hook up a turntable to that, unless you have a phono preamp for it.

Thank you so much for your kind answer!

I just bought my Onkyo so an upgrade is not an option for the moment . Since I have 4 sources (Turntable —+ Schiit Mani—; Cd- Player; TV-Audio; Bluetooh Transmitter) I think the better solution is the Switchbox. I have to confess I had no idea about this device. I suppose it is this or this.

Correct me if I am wrong —and of course, if you have time — I should hook up my devices as follows:

(1) Sources Outputs to Switchbox Inputs.
(2) Switchbox Output to EQ Line Input.
(3) EQ Line Output to Amp Input X.
(4) EQ Tape Play to Amp Line Out.

Then I should choose X in the Amp to switch the sources in the very Switchbox. Since the EQ is hooked up to the Switchbox I will have all the sources with EQ.

Although it seems to be the only solution in my context: Does adding a switchbox create distortion or loss in the sound quality? I am always concerned with these cheap devices —just €14— but at the same time, I am not sure whether it is worth it buying a more expensive one.

Best,
Héctor

 

[Pyrrho]

Thank you so much for your kind answer!

I just bought my Onkyo so an upgrade is not an option for the moment . Since I have 4 sources (Turntable —+ Schiit Mani—; Cd- Player; TV-Audio; Bluetooh Transmitter) I think the better solution is the Switchbox. I have to confess I had no idea about this device. I suppose it is this or this.

That is the idea. I would go with the second of those, because it is less money and should not degrade anything. You simply ignore the video jacks on the back.

Correct me if I am wrong —and of course, if you have time — I should hook up my devices as follows:

(1) Sources Outputs to Switchbox Inputs.

Phono to its preamp and its preamp and other sources to the switch box.

(2) Switchbox Output to EQ Line Input.

Yes.

(3) EQ Line Output to Amp Input X.

Yes.

(4) EQ Tape Play to Amp Line Out.

NO NO NO. Do not do that. After you have done the connections above, you do not need to have any more connections to the EQ.

Do not hook up anything to the Amp Line Out. The purpose of that is to hook up a recording device (though it is not the same as a tape monitor loop). See your manual for verification of what I am saying about its purpose.

Then I should choose X in the Amp to switch the sources in the very Switchbox. Since the EQ is hooked up to the Switchbox I will have all the sources with EQ.

Yes.

Although it seems to be the only solution in my context: Does adding a switchbox create distortion or loss in the sound quality? I am always concerned with these cheap devices —just €14— but at the same time, I am not sure whether it is worth it buying a more expensive one.

Best,
Héctor

The one at the second link is less likely to degrade the sound than the more expensive one with the volume control. Most likely, all that the second one is, is a bunch of jacks with wires soldered to them going to the switch and wires going from that to the output. That is unlikely to audibly degrade the sound, though if it is incompetently made, or if the switch contacts get dirty, then it could. Such a box can be very cheap and work very well, as the only parts needed are very, very inexpensive.

The more expensive switch with a volume control will have all of that, plus a volume control (which, since it is passive, is simply a variable resister in series with the signal), and it, too, can get dirty and cause you problems. You don't need a volume control on the switch box for what you are wanting to do. It would waste your money AND be more likely to degrade the sound.


I recommend that you download the manual for your EQ (if you can find it) and read it carefully.

 

[Hector81]

Thank you so much again! I think there is no clearer explanation than yours available in internet

NO NO NO. Do not do that. After you have done the connections above, you do not need to have any more connections to the EQ.

Do not hook up anything to the Amp Line Out. The purpose of that is to hook up a different power amp to your amplifier (most likely, for more power), in which case one would be using your integrated amplifier as a preamp (with nothing hooked up to its speaker outputs; your speakers would be hooked up to that added power amp). See your manual for verification of what I am saying about its purpose.

Ok! I thought somehow I had to create a loop (In-out-in-out) between the EQ and the Amp.

The one at the second link is less likely to degrade the sound than the more expensive one with the volume control. Most likely, all that the second one is, is a bunch of jacks with wires soldered to them going to the switch and wires going from that to the output. That is unlikely to audibly degrade the sound, though if it is incompetently made, or if the switch contacts get dirty, then it could. Such a box can be very cheap and work very well, as the only parts needed are very, very inexpensive.

The more expensive switch with a volume control will have all of that, plus a volume control (which, since it is passive, is simply a variable resister in series with the signal), and it, too, can get dirty and cause you problems. You don't need a volume control on the switch box for what you are wanting to do. It would waste your money AND be more likely to degrade the sound.

Good advice. I will try the cheaper one and if I cannot notice any difference I will keep it. Btw, I just found this one—recommended here— and definitely it looks more professional but, as you say, it is a simple device so it is difficult to justify the difference of €50.

Best,
Héctor

 

[Pyrrho]

Thank you so much again! I think there is no clearer explanation than yours available in internet



Ok! I thought somehow I had to create a loop (In-out-in-out) between the EQ and the Amp.

If your amplifier had a tape monitor connection, then you would do a loop (but not with that connection; you would be using a tape monitor loop). Since your amplifier does not have a tape monitor, then you are not wanting a loop. You are simply going from source to EQ to amplifier (or, rather, from source to switch box to EQ to amplifier).

Good advice. I will try the cheaper one and if I cannot notice any difference I will keep it. Btw, I just found this one—recommended here— and definitely it looks more professional but, as you say, it is a simple device so it is difficult to justify the difference of €50.

Best,
Héctor

Slap some wires and a switch in a nice box with a brushed aluminum face, and people will pay crazy amounts of extra money for it. If you want to throw away money on a pretty box, go ahead, but it is unlikely to make any audible difference.

All it is, is a switch, some wires, and RCA jacks, in a box. These things are very, very inexpensive, and there is no need to spend extra on it. I have used one in the past, with a plastic box, and there was no problem at all.

 

[Pyrrho]

One more thing, for clarity. With a preamp that has a tape monitor, the signal path goes from the inputs (in the case of phono, it will first go through the phono preamp, then it will be processed like everything else) to the input switch to the tape monitor switch. With the tape monitor switch, either one selects to keep the signal in the preamp, or one sends it out the monitor and selects the monitor input. After that, it then goes to (not necessarily in this order) the filters (if any), the tone controls (if any), the balance and volume control, and then it is output (in the case of an integrated amplifier or receiver, that output feeds the built-in power amp).

In your case, I just looked at the manual, and I see I made a minor mistake in what I told you previously (it is minor as it does not affect the advice I gave you and does not change any connection whatsoever for what you are wanting to do). That line output is not for feeding a power amp. It is for sending the signal to a recording device. Since you are not wanting to record, it still should not be used in your case.