Sound only coming from one speaker?

[First]

My Klipsch RP280FA speakers are hooked up to my Yamaha RXV385 receiver. My receiver is on AV2. I'm getting sound from my left speaker, but not my right speaker. When I switch the wires around, I get sound from my right speaker, but not my left speaker. Why? What can I do to fix it?

 

[TLS Guy]

My Klipsch RP280FA speakers are hooked up to my Yamaha RXV385 receiver. My receiver is on AV2. I'm getting sound from my left speaker, but not my right speaker. When I switch the wires around, I get sound from my right speaker, but not my left speaker. Why? What can I do to fix it?

Will the test tones play from both speakers, or the radio? If neither of these sources play from the left speaker, then the left channel is blown, most likely the power amp.

If nor do a hard rest. If it does not work after that, then you are out of luck.

I suspect that is a pretty new receiver. Is it still in warranty? If so get warranty service. If it is out of warranty then repair could cost more then a new one.

I note that is a 4K receiver right at the bottom of the market. If repair is not worth it, then I suggest you go a little higher up the food chain for a replacement.

 

[First]

Will the test tones play from both speakers, or the radio? If neither of these sources play from the left speaker, then the left channel is blown, most likely the power amp.

If nor do a hard rest. If it does not work after that, then you are out of luck.

I suspect that is a pretty new receiver. Is it still in warranty? If so get warranty service. If it is out of warranty then repair could cost more then a new one.

I note that is a 4K receiver right at the bottom of the market. If repair is not worth it, then I suggest you go a little higher up the food chain for a replacement.

Yes, the test tones play from both.

The thing is, if I use AUX, both speakers play fine. The AV/red and white is supposed to be better, though, which is why I want to use that one, which is the one that's only playing from one speaker.

This problem started as soon as I turned it on, though, before I messed with any settings. I wouldn't assume resetting it would help?

Yeah, I just bought this receiver three days ago. It has a 15 day return policy. I'm going to keep trying to get this thing to work before I make any final decisions, though.

 

[lovinthehd]

Why would aux input be different from AV2 particularly, aside from merely functioning correctly? Where did you read that?

 

[First]

Why would aux input be different from AV2 particularly, aside from merely functioning correctly? Where did you read that?

I'm not quite sure what you mean? Could you further explain?

 

[Pogre]

I'm not quite sure what you mean? Could you further explain?

Why do you think the "A/V red and white" are supposed to be better is what he's asking.

 

[TLS Guy]

Yes, the test tones play from both.

The thing is, if I use AUX, both speakers play fine. The AV/red and white is supposed to be better, though, which is why I want to use that one, which is the one that's only playing from one speaker.

This problem started as soon as I turned it on, though, before I messed with any settings. I wouldn't assume resetting it would help?

Yeah, I just bought this receiver three days ago. It has a 15 day return policy. I'm going to keep trying to get this thing to work before I make any final decisions, though.

One analog input is as good an another. Obviously that left channel of the AV input is not connected, Your unit is faulty.

 

[First]

Well, I meant that the AV/red and white is better/more convenient for me specifically because the other options would require me to use three whole cords, which is way too much of a hassle. It has to do with my specific set-up.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well that really doesn't clarify it. Please explain further as to what connections have been made (or could be made) for your associated sources/gear and give us a photo of the back of your unit....

 

[Kvn_Walker]

Sounds like one of your RCA jacks on the av2 input is bad. First you should try a new set of RCA cables to eliminate the cheap easy fix. If it isn't cables then the receiver has a bad input.

 

[highfigh]

Do this test AT the receiver-

Connect the white plug from whatever is using AV2, to both AV2 inputs- if you hear sound from both channels, your AVR is fine. Reverse the process and use the white plug at the source end, connecting it to both channels, preferably with the AVR turned off- you don't want to make or break connections at the source end of the cables. If you hear sound from both channels of the source, your cable is bad.

 

[BMXTRIX]

For those who haven't looked at the back of the Yamaha...
AV2 & AV3 are composite video + analog audio (RCA) inputs.
Audio 1 is a optical digital audio input.
Audio 2 is a coaxial digital audio input.
AV1 is a composite video input with a coaxial digital audio input.
Aux is a 1/8" mini stereo connection on the front of the receiver, so that's why it wouldn't be as high of quality (potentially) as the RCA connections on the back.

So, it would be great to have @First tell us what source he is using that is plugged into the Yamaha on AV2 and to ensure that he has properly tested the RCA cables, as described above.

My first reaction, always, is that a RCA cable is bad.
Test tones work well to both speakers. So, your speaker connections are fine.
No audio from one channel. But, you must test the RCA cables to ensure that both the cables are good.
You also must test from the source.
That is, if the red cable is good to BOTH channels when you switch it, and the white cable doesn't work to either channel, you must put the white cable where the red cable was at the source and be sure the source is properly putting out audio on both the white and the red cables.

If you are using a source which has a 1/8" stereo output, it could be the breakout cable you are using. Many of them are low quality. If you are using an older player with RCA connections, one of the output connections could be bad.
BUT: Most often, with what you are describing, it is just one of the cables, or an adapter you are using which has gone bad.

Here's a good page with nice big photos of the Yammie...
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-vjHwkdHhD1N/p_022RXV385/Yamaha-RX-V385.html

 

[First]

Neither of the RCA ports worked. I tried both. One speaker made no sound no matter which RCA port I was using.

I tried another RCA/red and white cable, and it worked. I want to say that the old RCA cable was broken, but it worked perfectly with my Pyle receiver, so I don't quite understand that...

Here's my next question. When I set the speakers and receiver up with HDMI, it's significantly quieter than when I use it with the RCA/red and white and the 3.5mm. Why is that?

Here's my whole set-up:

3.5mm to RCA. 3.5mm to Optoma EF200ST projector. RCA to receiver. Projector connected to both computer and cable box by HDMI. Yamaha RX-V385 receiver is connected to both Klipsch RP280FA speakers via speaker wire.

And by the way, I'm a "she," not a "he."

 

[BMXTRIX]

And by the way, I'm a "she," not a "he."

Thanks for letting us know. That's not nearly as common in these types of forums, but always nice to have in the club.

It is unusual to hook up anything to the projector other than HDMI.

Typically:
Cable box to HDMI 1
Computer to HDMI 2
HDMI out to display (projector)
Audio to speakers.

The reason audio may be quieter with certain sources depends on how you have the Yamaha setup. You must follow the manual and ensure it is setup for the correct number of speakers you have. So, if you have only 2 speakers in your system (left/right) then you must set the receiver accordingly, or it may try to run audio to a speaker you may not currently have, like a center channel.

As well, there are natural differences between RCA audio and HDMI audio which can cause pretty significant discrepancies in how audio sounds. So, if you were to hook audio up from your computer using RCAs, then crank the audio up to 100 on the output of the computer, that's actually a fair bit louder than it should be set. It should be closer to 80 as the output level from a PC to blend with other sources like your cable box.

I would shoot to avoid any connections that aren't direct to the A/V receiver via HDMI and I would shoot to keep all the audio as digital over HDMI. And those HDMI connections into the receiver will also carry video which you can then pass on to the projector.

If you have HDMI out of those sources, then there's no reason to be running them directly to the projector. Through the receiver first, then to the projector. That will keep both your video and your audio at the highest quality.

The Optoma EH-200ST projector page:
https://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-EH200ST.htm

 

[Pogre]

Thanks for letting us know. That's not nearly as common in these types of forums, but always nice to have in the club.

Yeah, we don't often get "shes" 'round these here parts and a name like "First" doesn't really shout "I'm not a he" lol.

Welcome to the club!