Denon x3700h AVR and cracking sound in front left speaker

[Gedc]

Hi folks. Had this AVR around 5 months. Based in NZ but that shouldn't be an issue I couldn't find anyone else with the same problems so put it down to something in my setup but have now found others with the same issue. I have replaced an older Yamaha AVR as upgraded my TV to 4k. I'm feeding the AVR with a Sky feed as well as my Intel NUC that i use for streaming - online and from my NAS - Movies and TV shows. I'm using the amp to feed 3 front speakers and 1 subwoofer. Everything connected with HDMI cables.

The two key issues i have noticed -

About 30% of the time, there is a static electricity sounding 'crack' - always through the front left whenever the sound kicks in. An example - watching a recorded sky show - FF through the advert - silence - press play and just as the sound is about to come back - 'crack'. Seems random. It will do it, four times, one after the other, then nothing for 20 goes etc... It's very loud and not subtle. Exactly the same noise at high volume like a sparkplug in a car.

Playing Youtube vids via Intel NUC - Same noise - same speaker. Again, somewhat random - can go a day without issues then the crack comes through the speaker when i start a random youtube video or pause/ restart one i'm watching.

Also noticed it on the netflix streaming app - silence on the main menu - scroll over a trailer - intro start - crack...Move the mouse off the movie, silence, scroll the mouse onto another trailer - intro starts and crack.

I've tried new HDMI cables - all tested using the inbuilt cable tester and all pass. I also swapped the speakers on the back of the AVR to test if it was the speaker failing. The noise moved across to the right hand speaker instead which makes me think it's something on the front left output of the AVR.

I've got a 6 year warranty with the product but prior to returning it ( especially given it appears intermittent), I'm keen to see if there is any other form of fault finding I can do to ascertain if it's me, my setup, something in the wiring etc or does it sound like something in the amp. Of interest, I replugged all the HDMI cables at the weekend past, for about 12 hours no issues - thought it too good to be true - then back it came ! Here is a link to an article where a few others experience some of my issues but i seem to be getting it through one speaker and can confirm I don't use ARC or eARC.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hometheater/comments/ml0ui0
Thanks for any help or advice. Going a bit crazy with this one. I also plan to replace the AVR in my setup with the previous / older yamaha to again check its not something in my setup.

Ged

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah if you switch back to the Yamaha and that eliminates the cracklings, then it would seem something is wrong with the Denon.

 

[PENG]

Thanks for any help or advice. Going a bit crazy with this one. I also plan to replace the AVR in my setup with the previous / older yamaha to again check its not something in my setup.

Ged

First of all, beware of bias/sarcasm remarks, this kind of issue is not unique to Denon. Try Googling for something like receiver crackling.... and you will find users of Yamaha, Arcam, Anthem etc., also have crackling, popping sound related reports by users.

For example, google "Yamaha crackling sound.." you will get multiple pages:

yamaha crackling sound - Google Search

Just for fun, substitute Yamaha with Anthem, Arcam, Marantz you will see what happens..

In my opinion, there are limiting troubleshooting steps you can take but try:

- Factory reset, if that doesn't fix it, then
- Check all accessible connections, banana plugs are prime suspects and you can't rely on visual, you can try to wiggle the connector and see if the crackle sound change, or swap out the cable with a known good one.
- Since you only have two speakers hook up, it is easy to try plugging the one making noise to the other channel( and if the crackling persist then the speaker could be the issue.
- Try using direct mode and see if that makes any difference.

After that, it is time to send it back and try to convince your dealer to replace it with another unit, instead of getting it repaired. Since the unit is 5 months old, If you can't come up with a good excuse, they likely won't/can't do it, then you have to wait for the repair and hopefully they can duplicate the issue and fix it properly. We all heard about the horror stories about the not so perfect service by their service center in Panurgy in the US.

You best hope would be if the cause of the crackling is due to bad connection(s) that is/are easy to find. Unfortunately if it is an internal one such as a bad joint (solder, connectors etc.) inside the box and if the issue is highly intermittent then it would be hard to find.

Other causes could be, as reported by others (not necessarily Denon) something related to the DSP board(s), or a bad capacitor somewhere.

 

[PENG]

Yeah if you switch back to the Yamaha and that eliminates the cracklings, then it would seem something is wrong with the Denon.

Yeah right, try a simple search, you may only get few pages of Yamaha's
Yamaha receiver crackling sound - Google Search

 

[Gedc]

Thx Peng. No banana plugs. Straight wire to terminals. To test the speakers I did swap the speaker connections around on the back and where the noise always came from the left front speaker - it then moved to the right front speaker instead - so I was happy it likely wasn't a speaker issue. Have tried direct mode - but no difference from what I can see. Did the usual firmware updates etc. Didn't do a factory reset so will try that. Cheers

 

[Replicant 7]

@PENG..Yep, my new Yamaha RX-A1080 did that very same thing a very Loud Pop from All speakers! But once Yamaha sent updates Never did it again. My son Matthew had the same issues with his Yamaha RX-A1080 he sent his back to Amazon before the 30 days ran out for a full refund. Picked one up from Crutchfield. I asked him if he did a firmware update told him Yamaha had sent it to him, he didn't. The one he got from Crutchfield never did it, he went with them cause of their 60 day return thing. Dam Gremlins!!

 

[PENG]

@PENG..Yep, my new Yamaha RX-A1080 did that very same thing a very Loud Pop from All speakers! But once Yamaha sent updates Never did it again. My son Matthew had the same issues with his Yamaha RX-A1080 he sent his back to Amazon before the 30 days ran out for a full refund. Picked one up from Crutchfield. I asked him if he did a firmware update told him Yamaha had sent it to him, he didn't. The one he got from Crutchfield never did it, he went with them cause of their 60 day return thing. Dam Gremlins!!

In your scenario, it could be DSP related, or at least not hardware related; and that could be the reason for it to be fixable via FW.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thx Peng. No banana plugs. Straight wire to terminals. To test the speakers I did swap the speaker connections around on the back and where the noise always came from the left front speaker - it then moved to the right front speaker instead - so I was happy it likely wasn't a speaker issue. Have tried direct mode - but no difference from what I can see. Did the usual firmware updates etc. Didn't do a factory reset so will try that. Cheers

Yes, do the reset, and see if that stops it.

My Marantz 7705 pre/pro had lod random pops from all speakers, with the potential to damage them. After a blizzard of firmware updates, it stopped.

Manufacturers really need to sort this sort of thing before release. I think it is the yearly model changes. We do NOT need new models every year. Make it every five, and we would be far further ahead.

 

[PENG]

Yes, do the reset, and see if that stops it.

My Marantz 7705 pre/pro had lod random pops from all speakers, with the potential to damage them. After a blizzard of firmware updates, it stopped.

Manufacturers really need to sort this sort of thing before release. I think it is the yearly model changes. We do NOT need new models every year. Make it every five, and we would be far further ahead.

Agreed, this is one of the main reasons I think it is safer to stick with D+M or Y at the moment because things are getting increasing complex in the design/implementation/build of AVRs/AVPs/AVCs. At least the big guys have the resource to come back and fixed things quicker via FW and in some cases even hardware, such as the temporary kit they offered to deal with the Xbox/HDMI related issues. The little guys may offer better customer service, even affording people with warm bodies to talk to/or complain to but ultimately it is action that counts.

 

[Replicant 7]

Agreed, this is one of the main reasons I think it is safer to stick with D+M or Y at the moment because things are getting increasing complex in the design/implementation/build of AVRs/AVPs/AVCs. At least the big guys have the resource to come back and fixed things quicker via FW and in some cases even hardware, such as the temporary kit they offered to deal with the Xbox/HDMI related issues. The little guys may offer better customer service, even affording people with warm bodies to talk to/or complain to but ultimately it is action that counts.

@PENG, Right! I shot Yamaha va email about the Pop thing, and if I remember right two days later got a firmware update from them. Just a note, had a Onkyo I was updateing and my internet had dropped out messed up my update. Got error across the front display couldn't do nothing with it I jumped on the phone with Onkyo a tech got online after about 10 minutes of waiting I gave him permission to go into settings remotely fixed it talk about great service from Onkyo.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah right, try a simple search, you may only get few pages of Yamaha's
Yamaha receiver crackling sound - Google Search

Wow. I guess I've never experienced these crackling/pop sounds. I didn't realize it was THAT common.

 

[Replicant 7]

Wow. I guess I've never experienced these crackling/pop sounds. I didn't realize it was THAT common.

[USER=27509 yep I had a Onkyo way back that did the (Pop) thing when I would switch between sources, for me, a firmware update took care of the issue.

 

[Teetertotter?]

When I first get my AVR, I make sure the AUTO UPDATE is turned on and registered with the mfg.

 

[Gedc]

Hi. Update time. Did a firmware update. All fine. Reset the beast. All fine. Started watching youtube. 3rd video in. Paused it. Chatted to wife. Unpaused it. Particularly loud crack in left speaker. Will put the old Yamaha back in place for a while and see if i can replicate any of the issues.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi. Update time. Did a firmware update. All fine. Reset the beast. All fine. Started watching youtube. 3rd video in. Paused it. Chatted to wife. Unpaused it. Particularly loud crack in left speaker. Will put the old Yamaha back in place for a while and see if i can replicate any of the issues.

In that case I think it is time to return that unit and have it repaired or better replaced, as that type of fault is virtually impossible to find. That unit you have is unfortunately a dud, and you will end up with a damaged speaker.