Can my luck be THIS bad?

[big deal]

I recently replaced my Yamaha RXV1500 with a Marantz SR5003 because the 1500 was randomly refusing to start up. It goes into protection mode within a few seconds of powering up. If you leave it for a few hours it usually works again, but occasionally it takes a couple days so it got moved into the bedroom and the Marantz took its spot in the rack. Today, after less than 3 months of use, the shiny new Marantz did the same thing.

I have been trying to figure out if there is something in my system that could be causing the same failure. To start, my HT is set up like this: all source audio and video from my PVR, DVD player, Computer, and game systems go through the AVR and a single video out goes to my TV via HDMI. As for audio out, the AVR only powers my surrounds and center channel, the front signals are output to an Anthem PVA2 which powers the front speakers. The sub channel is split and output to a Yamaha RXV550, which powers a custom built dual 10" sub enclosure. (I realize the 550 is a poor choice to power subs but it works quite well and so I wait for a good deal on another dedicated amp to come my way).

Everything I can find relating to this issue is related to the power circuits so my troubleshooting started here. Since the Yamaha started to fail, I have moved to a new house, so the house wiring can't be the issue. I have tried replacing the power cable, tried removing the power conditioner, tried multiple circuits in the new house with no success. Next I looked at my source inputs. I have upgraded (where possible) to HDMI cables from optical and components, with the exception of my DVD player which does not have HDMI output. This is one common item to both failures but I am unsure how my DVD unit could cause it. Next I checked my outputs and speaker wiring. I have replaced my TV since the Yamaha started to fail, as well as upgrading the output to the TV to HDMI so that is out. All speakers and wiring are all the same but since I have moved, everything has been reconnected and double checked. The speakers and wiring worked flawlessly with my backup receiver (Yamaha RXV550) for more than 2 months between the 1500 and the 5003.

It should be noted that although the RXV1500 gets used very rarely in the bedroom (maybe a dozen times), it has never failed to work since removing it from the main system. However, there were stretches of 1-2 months in the main system where it was also fine before I got sick of wondering if it would work on any given day and replaced it.

Does anyone have any insight on this issue before I ship it off for service? Is there anything that is known to cause this issue? Anything you can spot in my setup? Or is this just my luck? At least this one is still under warranty...

Sorry for the long post, just trying not to leave anything out.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Additional Info? and an Idea.

big deal,

Very through post--actually helps not hurts with problem analysis. Based on what you wrote, in my mind the speaker(s) or speaker wires connected directly to the V1500 and SR5003 are the most likely suspects.

A couple questions/ideas:

1) How are your speaker wires terminated at the receiver (bare wire, banana plugs, etc.)?

1a) Is the speaker terminal spacing both vertically and horizontally larger on the V550 than the V1500 and/or SR5003?

2) If you have'nt already, I would try disconnecting all the speakers connected directly to the V1500/SR5003's speaker terminals, but leave all the rest of your amps/speakers/subs intact.

2a) If no issue over a period of time you feel representative of the problem normally occuring (I hate intermittent problems!) this would isolate it to the speakers/speaker wire connections.

2b) If that works, connect one speaker at a time and again give it a reasonable period of time, until you add one which causes the failure response.

 

[myu]

First and foremost, it is very curious how the same problem has happened to both of your receivers in the same location. Have you tried leaving your Yamaha RX-V1500 on for a few days straight? See if it continues without shutting down. That would eliminate any internal problem independent of connected components and setup.

The fact that you're in a new home does eliminate the possibility for house wiring issues. That info really helps. It may very well be how you have the system hooked up... or, perhaps proximity to another component.

I would swap the receivers again. See if the Yamaha fails and the Marantz continues without issue. After that, gradually connect each component, checking power-on after each. You should be able to isolate the cause.

 

[big deal]

First let me say thanks for the quick replies!

big deal,

1) How are your speaker wires terminated at the receiver (bare wire, banana plugs, etc.)?

1a) Is the speaker terminal spacing both vertically and horizontally larger on the V550 than the V1500 and/or SR5003?

2) If you have'nt already, I would try disconnecting all the speakers connected directly to the V1500/SR5003's speaker terminals, but leave all the rest of your amps/speakers/subs intact.

2a) If no issue over a period of time you feel representative of the problem normally occuring (I hate intermittent problems!) this would isolate it to the speakers/speaker wire connections.

2b) If that works, connect one speaker at a time and again give it a reasonable period of time, until you add one which causes the failure response.

1) I had used banana plugs before but I re-stripped the wires and am now using them bare. The terminals are almost identical on all 3 AVRs.
2) I have tried every combination of connected hardware from all of it to nothing at all but nothing I do will reset the Marantz. It still refuses to power up even after removing all wiring, and unplugging the power cord for hours. So now I have no means of troubleshooting.

From what I have read, I may need to have it serviced to reset the protection circuit to allow it to operate again. Anyone know how to do this at home?

Looks like I will be digging out some old wiring to try out the 1500 again. No HDMI... what a pain in the ***!

 

[big deal]

Well, deep in the manual I found a short paragraph labeled "PROTECTIVE FEATURE" that states how to restart the unit in case of protect mode. It says to unplug the power cord, wait and then use the remote to turn the unit back on after plugging it in. This didn't work. But on the same page happened to be the way to reset the unit's memory to factory settings. By holding down surround mode and clear buttons on the front panel for 3 seconds it clears all user settings and restores factory defaults AND it seems to have reset the protection circuit! Now I get to reconnect everything a piece at a time to see if I can reproduce the problem. Unfortunately I also have to go through and rename all my inputs, redo my room EQ settings etc. Oh well, better than 2 or 3 months out for service I guess. Thanks again for the replies... who would have thought to look in the manual!

 

[Thunder18]

I had a similiar deal with my Pioneer at one time and it turned out 2 of the banana plugs on my left front speaker were actually touching each other. At low to mid volume levels everything was business as usual, but when the volume spiked, the unit would go into protection mode. I unplugged the speakers one at a time with just the tuner playing the radio until I finally found that the left front speaker at high volume on it's own caused the unit to shut-down. Further investigation revealed the speaker cable was kind of tight and caused the 2 banana plugs at the speaker to come into contact with each other causing a short.

 

[okay.see]

I had a similiar deal with my Pioneer at one time and it turned out 2 of the banana plugs on my left front speaker were actually touching each other. At low to mid volume levels everything was business as usual, but when the volume spiked, the unit would go into protection mode. I unplugged the speakers one at a time with just the tuner playing the radio until I finally found that the left front speaker at high volume on it's own caused the unit to shut-down. Further investigation revealed the speaker cable was kind of tight and caused the 2 banana plugs at the speaker to come into contact with each other causing a short.

I think I had a similar issue with banana plugs recently where they were connecting at the back of my subs in my chain. Can banana plugs be protected/shielded by wrapping the housing with electrical tape? Since banana plug metal housings are so conductive, why aren't they sold with a rubber outer layer? This seems like a major oversight in hi-fi! I know this thread is over a decade old, but the problem still persists.

 

[Pogre]

Check your speaker wires and look for bare spots or stray strands at the binding posts. I had a similar issue when a puppy got behind our couch and chewed a speaker wire.

 

[okay.see]

thanks. i've since replaced the fuses in my amps, tested with regular speaker wire and everything was fine. i then wrapped all the monoprice banana plugs in e-tape and tested the new cables. they now work without a hitch even when the plugs touch (tape to tape). i'll never install banana plugs without e-tape around the metal housing again.