Audio EQ has no effect on line input

[ultrarunner100]

Hi;
I have an MSI P67A system with Nvidia GeForce 750 ti vid.
I am playing a source from the (analog) line input on the onboard Realtek HD sound to my headphones. This works fine, but when I try to adjust the EQ in the Realtek HD audio manager, there is no effect from the EQ setting.
I believe I understand why: This sound "card" does not process analog audio throughput from line-in to line-out (speakers/headphones). It only processes audio from the (digital) system bus (from software).

OK. So I am trying something else. I thought that if I connect my audio device to the line-in on the monitor, I will be able to pass that signal from the NVidia 750 ti through the system bus, and thus through the Realtek EQ, just as it works with iTunes and other audio software. But I get nothing at all when I try this. No sound coming in from the DVI to the 750 ti. There isn't even a device listed in Windows mixer for the 750 ti as a recording device. So I guess I'm out of luck.

I suppose that if I wanted DSP on line-in to line-out signals I would need a second sound card, or a professional sound card (to replace the on-board sound)

Before I spend any more time on this, I would like someone to confirm or deny my conclusions.

Thanks
Frank

 

[TMTOWTSAC]

Have you gone into your playback devices, selected your headphones Properties, and checkmarked the Equalizer under the Enhancements tab?

 

[ultrarunner100]

Have you gone into your playback devices, selected your headphones Properties, and checkmarked the Equalizer under the Enhancements tab?

Eq was already ticked.
The Eq is functional when playing iTunes and any other software based source. I'm going to try a software based Eq, setting its input to the Realtek and output to the NVidia. If that doesn't work, then... I'll have to get a hardware EQ if I really want it.

 

[TMTOWTSAC]

What's the source input coming from? The EQ may work with your mic input, but if it's a line out source it's going to be too strong of a signal and there is a slight risk of causing damage. If it's just a standard out, that possibility still exists if you have the output volume set too high, but is almost zero as long as it's set low enough.