Help, Need help debugging my receiver

[bigbot45]

<font color='#000000'>Hi Everybody,
&nbsp; &nbsp;I think I have a problem with my system. &nbsp;I have a Sony DTR-DA30ES receiver, Energy 4.1e main speakers (the ones with plastic drivers, 6ohms), Yamaha NS-AC200 center channel (8 ohms), Radio Shack box rears (8 ohms), and a Yamaha 80 Watt powered stereo subwoofer.
&nbsp; &nbsp;Normally, in the past, I have set the system up such that the center channel is louder than the rest. &nbsp;If I equalize the front speakers (with a RadioShack decibal meter), so that the fronts and centers sound the same, I constantly get a large amount of sound on the main speakers. &nbsp;At the same time, I also get that sound repeated through the rears. &nbsp;This happens even if there is no sound being steered to the rears.
&nbsp; &nbsp;I don't have any special sound modes on; it is just normal surround. &nbsp;The sound going to the rear doesn't seem to be affected by changing the volume on the rear's; even going -10db doesn't seem to do much. &nbsp;This problem seems to be much worse with a Pro-Logic decode than a DD or DTS.
&nbsp; &nbsp;I think the decoding section may be broken. &nbsp;The people who I spoke to over the Internet at Sony didn't know much, and I don't want to blow a lot of cash on a repair if I'm setting it up wrong.
&nbsp; Do you think my ES is broken? &nbsp;Is it worth spending $220 + shipping out to Pennsylvania to get it fixed?

&nbsp; Thanks everybody for their help,
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-Benjamin

PS - Sometimes at power-up no sound will come out. &nbsp;I've also had my DD sound just drop out for a second at random times.</font>

 

[zumbo]

<font color='#000000'>Does your receiver have an option for 5-channel stereo? I think this is the sound you are looking for. In surround mode, your system sounds like it is working fine. Surround mode in a 5.1 sends six different signals. Left, right, center, sub, surround left, surround right. If it is not from a surround signal, it tries to mimic it. This is why most listen to music in 2-channel stereo.</font>

 

[zumbo]

<font color='#000000'>BTW, what is the source?</font>

 

[zumbo]

<font color='#000000'>I playback exactly what the source is.

If it is 2-channel cd, I use direct stereo or 2-channel stereo.

If it is dvd with dts, I use dts.

If it is dvd with dolby 5.1 surround, I use dolby surround.

You get the idea!

</font>

 

[bigbot45]

<font color='#000000'>Hi Zumbo,
&nbsp; Thanks for your help. &nbsp;The sources this comes from are a Hughes DirectTV DRV and a HD Hughes DirectTV tuner, both coming through optical cables. &nbsp;I only use normal surround mode. &nbsp;All of the others distort the output; I don't know why Sony included them.
&nbsp; So the sources are all TV signals, where one expects a Dolby Pro-Logic signal at any time. &nbsp;The cheap AIWA I have at my parents house, just a simple Pro-Logic combo-unit, doesn't send anything to the rears unless the sound is obviously sent there. &nbsp;I have those speakers equalized too.
&nbsp; If you're watching TV, does your system always send a signal to the rears?

&nbsp;Thanks,
&nbsp; &nbsp; Benjamin</font>