Diagnose my Sony AVR. Intermitten clicking sounds.

[collegeaudio]

Hi guys,

I bought a used Sony AVR (STR-DB940) for $50 to kick off my music system while I wait for cash to upgrade. However, it makes these strange clicking sounds, seemingly completely at random. The clicking is not coming from the speakers, but from the receiver itself. They can be just a few, or very rapid, lasting anywhere from 2 seconds to 10. Then they go away, not with a song change or anything, just as soon as they came, only to pop up anywhere from a minute to 10 minutes later.

Although the audio sounds fine, it is quite annoying and seems like it may be getting worse. They are driving two Infinity Primus 363's, two 153's, and a Polk 505 sub. However, the clicking does not seem to be related to how many speakers are hooked up, or what they are. It did the same thing when some POS bookshelfs were hooked up as well.

Any ideas? Is the answer to start leaving teeth for the toothfairy and upgrade as soon as possible?

 

[agarwalro]

This sounds like a short. Check the all speaker connections on both ends. It could be an internal fault too.

 

[collegeaudio]

It could be a short, but it's not speaker related. These have been disconnected and reconnected many times and the problem persists.

 

[timoteo]

Whoever you got it from probably sold it because it clicked unfortunately. Sounds like short buddy. I hate to say it & i hope you werent sold a defective piece of equipment. Gonna have to have it looked at but maybe not worth the extra cost

 

[collegeaudio]

It was $50, and I've been running it for months now. He might have known, but it didn't start for a month or so after he sold it, so I doubt it. Even if he did, that's not really a price I can complain at!

So, assuming short, is it running off borrowed time? Will it short itself out sooner rather than later, or will it most likely be fine?

 

[Pyrrho]

It was $50, and I've been running it for months now. He might have known, but it didn't start for a month or so after he sold it, so I doubt it. Even if he did, that's not really a price I can complain at!

So, assuming short, is it running off borrowed time? Will it short itself out sooner rather than later, or will it most likely be fine?

In that case, he probably did not know about it, as most people don't know the future.

Assuming it is a short, yes, it is running on borrowed time and will likely fail completely soon. Given its age and the fact that it can't decode all of the audio formats on BD (Bluray), it is likely not worth paying someone to fix it, and time to shop for a new unit.

Now, if you are "handy", you might want to read this:

Sony STR-DB940 pulled back from the brink - Badcaps Forums

From looking at that, it may not be a short at all, but a bad solder joint causing a relay to click on and off.

 

[psbfan9]

Check your speaker wires or any cables for that matter for frays. Even the smallest of rips, or cracks in the wire could cause this.

I had something similar happen when I had my Onkyo HTIB. Popping and clicking and the receiver was shutting off. I had a speaker that was frayed. I changed the frayed wire and the system worked perfectly.

Good luck.


Barry

 

[collegeaudio]

Check your speaker wires or any cables for that matter for frays. Even the smallest of rips, or cracks in the wire could cause this.

I had something similar happen when I had my Onkyo HTIB. Popping and clicking and the receiver was shutting off. I had a speaker that was frayed. I changed the frayed wire and the system worked perfectly.

Good luck.


Barry

The speaker wire has been changed as well, with brand new Monoprice 14awg. So I don't think it's that.

In that case, he probably did not know about it, as most people don't know the future.

Assuming it is a short, yes, it is running on borrowed time and will likely fail completely soon. Given its age and the fact that it can't decode all of the audio formats on BD (Bluray), it is likely not worth paying someone to fix it, and time to shop for a new unit.

Now, if you are "handy", you might want to read this:

Sony STR-DB940 pulled back from the brink - Badcaps Forums

From looking at that, it may not be a short at all, but a bad solder joint causing a relay to click on and off.

That seems very likely and a possible fix. I'll look into it. Thanks!