Does a graphic equalizer show where your amp is lacking?


 I am a fringe relatively unknowledgeable audiophile. I purchased a year ago on  Audiogon both a Technics SUG700 integrated amp and Canton 9k reference speakers with shaker cables, my source is a Marantz CD player all interconnects are 35-year-old monster cable. It is a very revealing system. Having said that I recently purchased a Schiits Loki equalizer and was surprised at the amount of added detail it provided to the music most noticeable in the higher frequencies i.e. violins have more sparkle and inner detail.  My question does this mean the sug700 is lacking in that regard.Also since the Loki alters the sound is this like having different speakers simply by altering the sound signature of the Cantons by boosting or suppressing its various frequencies? What is the downside to equalizers other than adding another piece of gear the signal travels through?

As an aside I read a post on here about Chinese knock-off audio goods so for the fun of it my price of admission was around $20 for a pair of knock-off Van din Hull interconnects normally costing a few hundred bucks. Well, I got what I expected JUNK wrapped in a Van din Hull cover. It played ok until I turned up the volume when my amp told me "signal overflow" whatever that means( clipping ?). Anyway removed the ripoff and attached my old Monster interconnects and no more signal overflow just sweet music. If these were the real deal they are defective as evident when taking it apart, just sloppy workmanship! One example the center pin on one RCA interconnect was not only poorly coated but half of one pin was cut through! The copper strands were sloppily crimped with many strands not where they should be  and no soldered connections just press fit. 

scott22

Hi Scott 22! You're learning! Good for you! If an added piece of equipment increases your enjoyment, Hooray! Yes, it is like getting different speakers; and much cheaper.  There is good stuff available from manufacturers you haven't heard of, but a company's reputation is worth something. Some outfits have not much to sell besides their reputation and don't mind taking your money for the "pride of ownership." When you read reviews, remember sombody is paying for that review. When they say, "I bought the review sample," you can believe them. When they say, "If you are looking for an XYZ in this price bracket, this is worthy of consideration." it means "eeenh." It is very risky to buy something you have not heard - in person. Be sure you can afford (or return) the gamble. Your grandmother could have told you that. Good gear is available used for much lless $$. Keep Smiling.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. Imhifiman and Yogi42 yes ears for sure hearing is shot at 75. bomerbillone Schiits seems not to be Shi$ and for $150 it was a good toy for being a pandemic shut in and boomer keep on keeping on. holms agreed I bought 600 classical CDs for $200 mostly from the 1990 and late1980, Oh my what fun this has been listening to all these recordings what an education.

Here's to my 7th grade music teacher Charles Higgins from Trenton NJ. A wonderful man we would come to class put heads down on the desk close our eyes and he would play the masters Beethoven, Bach, Mozart etc. who know decades later the lessons learned in that class would bear fruit later in life.

Nekoaudio thanks for the explanation. 

I never used a graphic equalizer until a year ago. I got a Bellari EQ570 and really glad I got it.  The Bellari is just enough to take the edge off of some of the bad recordings. A pure audio fie person will disagree on using one. I listen to all kinds of music and why suffer through a bad recording.