Sony STR-242S issue when equaliser attached

[arendedwinter]

As the title says, I have a Sony STR-242S that runs flawlessly until I attach any equaliser (have tried 3 different devices from 3 manufacturers, one Technic, one Genexxa, and an Akai).  Once I attach the equaliser, all sound becomes ridiculously quiet, normally I would have the volume at '2' (there's no numbers on mine, so I'm guessing), but need to crank it up to 10-15 just to hear it.  Also the sound is very scratchy, almost like it's clipping.  It's the same results whether I use output 1 or 2 and no matter the input.  The equalisers work fine on other amplifiers, so I'm hoping someone knows where I should start looking inside the Sony, maybe a worn out component, maybe it just can't put out enough power for an equaliser but the sound through the speakers I have is pretty good (it will make things fall off the walls if I turn it up enough).

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

Are you placing it in the tape loop?   Try hitting the tape monitor switch with a few blasts of DeOxit.

[arendedwinter]

If by tape loop you mean the tape input, then this is the main one I use but the player input acts the same (although much louder and over the top bass, don't know what that's about. Also noticed when using the tape input, if I switch to player with no device attached to the input I can hear the tape input if I turn the volume up enough as well as a lot of rhythmic noise). Gave everything a good blast with deoxit twice just to be sure, no change.

[MacGeek]

I took a look at an on-line photo of the Sony.  It appears there is no tape monitor function, or pre-amp/power-amp in/out capability.    As such, if you are connecting the EQ unit to the tape in/out jacks, there is no signal to monitor-the receiver is "playing" the equalizer.

I don't think this receiver allows for the use of an outboard EQ