Marantz sr8012 amp issue/good repair center near Orlando

[slmaudio]

I recently purchased a used Marantz sr8012. When I checked it over, the 11th channel (rear height) has an issue where it doesn't work until the volume is turned up to about 30%. Once you turn it up, then it works like normal until you turn the unit off. I reached out to Marantz and they said that there is something wrong with the amp channel. I reached out to the seller, and he said he'd refund part of the money to partially cover repair. The channel had never been used previously and the unit is 3 years old. I don't plan on using that channel anyway because I don't have room for a full atmos system. I tested all the other channels and they seem to be working fine. My questions are:

1. Would it be risky to keep the unit and just use the other channels? Is there a chance that if the channel failed that it could have a cascade effect and take out other parts of the receiver?

2. Do you have any thoughts on what might be going bad and why?

3. I reached out to an authorized Marantz repair center and they said that with shipping and fees it would cost $170 to diagnose since they're not located in my area. Is there a good place near Orlando, FL where I could take the unit to get it diagnosed? I want to make sure that nothing else could fail, but I also don't want to have to pay to ship it off if possible.

I appreciate any advice you can give me! Thanks!

 

[TLS Guy]

I recently purchased a used Marantz sr8012. When I checked it over, the 11th channel (rear height) has an issue where it doesn't work until the volume is turned up to about 30%. Once you turn it up, then it works like normal until you turn the unit off. I reached out to Marantz and they said that there is something wrong with the amp channel. I reached out to the seller, and he said he'd refund part of the money to partially cover repair. The channel had never been used previously and the unit is 3 years old. I don't plan on using that channel anyway because I don't have room for a full atmos system. I tested all the other channels and they seem to be working fine. My questions are:

1. Would it be risky to keep the unit and just use the other channels? Is there a chance that if the channel failed that it could have a cascade effect and take out other parts of the receiver?

2. Do you have any thoughts on what might be going bad and why?

3. I reached out to an authorized Marantz repair center and they said that with shipping and fees it would cost $170 to diagnose since they're not located in my area. Is there a good place near Orlando, FL where I could take the unit to get it diagnosed? I want to make sure that nothing else could fail, but I also don't want to have to pay to ship it off if possible.

I appreciate any advice you can give me! Thanks!

If you are not going to use that channel, just forget about it. It will not cause further problems. That is almost certainly a bad solder joint some place. That would be the devil to find, and there would be a high chance that you would pay money and the unit still do the same thing. I would strongly recommend you leave the unit alone.

 

[PENG]

2. Do you have any thoughts on what might be going bad and why?

There isn't enough info to even speculate. For example, if when it worked, it behave normally, such as same output level as the other channels when using test tones, then the cause could have something to do with the protection circuitry. In that case, a few factory default reset may (or may not as it depends) fix it.

Otherwise, it could be some defect in the preamp volume control circuitry, or as TLSGuy suggested, a bad solder joint. It is more likely the preamp volume, just guessing, because you said it would work when you turned volume up, if it is protection related that would not make sense but still possible because we would be talking about a defect.

The SR8012 is not cheap, so imo, it should be repaired especially if the seller would pay for it, even if only partially. That is if the issue is highly repeatable, if not Marantz may not be able to fix it without seeing it happens.

 

[slmaudio]

So, just a clarification on this. The issue that I'm having is that when the unit is first turned on, there is no sound until I turn the volume up to 30%. Once I do that, the channel works as normal, meaning I can turn it down to 20% or 10% and it will continue to produce sound. All other channels are fine. I apologize for not being clear on this. I guess my thing is, I'm trying to determine if keeping the amp is going to cost me more than it's worth. That's why I'd like to get it locally diagnosed to ensure that I don't have to spend $170 and shipping it off only to figure out that the cost of fixing the channel isn't worth it considering that I won't be using the channel for the foreseeable future.

 

[PENG]

So, just a clarification on this. The issue that I'm having is that when the unit is first turned on, there is no sound until I turn the volume up to 30%. Once I do that, the channel works as normal, meaning I can turn it down to 20% or 10% and it will continue to produce sound. All other channels are fine. I apologize for not being clear on this. I guess my thing is, I'm trying to determine if keeping the amp is going to cost me more than it's worth. That's why I'd like to get it locally diagnosed to ensure that I don't have to spend $170 and shipping it off only to figure out that the cost of fixing the channel isn't worth it considering that I won't be using the channel for the foreseeable future.

But is this behavior repeatable, every time? If it is, it seems a no brainer to get it repaired, then you can decide if you want to trade it in for something else, or sell it. That, imo is the best option because you can still get good money or trade in value for the SR8012 right now, but not so much in a few years time.

If you intend to keep it for a very long time, then leaving it alone is a good option since you don't see yourself having to use that channel.

 

[-Jim-]

Gents, if the Seller is going to partially fund the diagnosing and repair, then I'd get it fixed. It would bug me forever if I didn't and each time I turned it on I'd be waiting for the smoke to come out.

 

[j_garcia]

Get an amp, use preouts. It sounds like the issue is the internal amp, not the signal. Are you using the heights (guessing you are since you noticed this)?

 

[TLS Guy]

Gents, if the Seller is going to partially fund the diagnosing and repair, then I'd get it fixed. It would bug me forever if I didn't and each time I turned it on I'd be waiting for the smoke to come out.

The smoke is far more likely to come out, after a tech has been digging around in the unit for a couple of days or more. If he is not going to use that channel leave it alone. AVRs are literally thrown together, with everything crammed in like a can of sardines!

 

[slmaudio]

So, the issue is repeatable and I am not using the height channels. I tested them because I like to make sure that anything that I buy used is 100% functional because that's what I'm paying my money for. I tested each height channel amp individually with a spare center channel that I have. I also plan to either keep it long term or return it to the seller if it's going to be more trouble than it's worth. I don't want to keep it if it's going to damage my current 5.1 system. Speakers are not cheap to replace!

 

[TLS Guy]

So, the issue is repeatable and I am not using the height channels. I tested them because I like to make sure that anything that I buy used is 100% functional because that's what I'm paying my money for. I tested each height channel amp individually with a spare center channel that I have. I also plan to either keep it long term or return it to the seller if it's going to be more trouble than it's worth. I don't want to keep it if it's going to damage my current 5.1 system. Speakers are not cheap to replace!

That receiver will not damage your speakers. I think you choice is to return it, or keep it as is. It stands a high chance of being a problem unit if you send it for repair. Receiver units are close to unserviceable.

 

[lovinthehd]

Did you try a soft reset of the avr (unplug it from power for a bit)? A full/factory/microprocessor reset?

 

[slmaudio]

Did you try a soft reset of the avr (unplug it from power for a bit)? A full/factory/microprocessor reset?

I did try a factory reset, but still had the same issues. Not sure how to do the other resets outside of that.

 

[lovinthehd]

Full/factory/microprocessor are the same, just some of the more common names to refer to it....altho I tend to agree if you're not planning on that amp channel being used, it's not likely to be an issue. Local repair guy may not be the best one, too.