Connecting a Graphic Equalizer
I know these things are not in use much these days so I am not not sure how to connect/what to connect. I picked this up at a thrift store and do not have the manual. The model is a TEAC EQA-5 if that helps. It has a line in connection (left and right) and output and under tape it has a play connection and mic connection. I am looking to hook it up to a Kenwood VR-307 for now. Thanks in advance for any help.
You have a separate "Tape Monitor" button, right?
A tape monitor loop is not the same as simply having an output to a recording device and another input marked tape. These can be totally separate. This configuration is common in newer receivers.
True tape monitor loops are rare on AV receivers. These require two sets of jacks, one pair to break the internal signal path and send the signal out to the external device. The second pair to receive the output of the external device and reinsert it into the signal path.
A Tape Monitor is a two position switch that, in one position (usually marked "out), sends the signal from the tape monitor output directly to the tape monitor input. The signal path is all internal so nothing needs be attached for you to hear something in that position..
In the other position (usually marked "in" or some such), the signal path is broken, the signal is sent out of the receiver to the external device's input and the external device's output is then fed back into the receiver. If nothing is connected to those tape out/tape in jacks and the switch is in that position, you'll hear nothing.
By flipping that switch you can hear the effect of he eq. as opposed to no eq instantly.
One way to tell that you've got a "real" tape monitor loop as opposed to just inputs and outputs is to connect an interconnect between the outputs and the inputs. When you press the "tape monitor" button, you should hear the selected input in both positions. If it's not a tape monitor loop, you'll hear nothing in at least one position.
If you do have a tape monitor, the tape monitor jacks on the eq would replace the ones it used on the receiver. That's where you would hook up a tape recorder.