HELP - Static noise, some crackling coming from a Channel. Don't know how else to troubleshoot.

[danprs]

I've been battling this for over two months now. Had some free time yesterday and troubleshooted it again.

SETUP: Marantz SR5010, 5.1 Config Aperion Verus Speakers, LG TV with ARC enabled, HSU Sub self powered

ISSUE: FL Channel has static. If I start the system at low volume, it's fine, but as I increase it to an audible level it comes back.

If I pause the source/sound, the static noise sometimes stops with it, sometimes not.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

• Switched speakers - same noise on the same channel
• Switched audio cable from FR with FL - same noise on the same channel
• Switched HDMI on ARC from TV - same ...
• The Receiver's power cable does not have ground, nor does the plug in the receiver itself. Is this nornal for an AV?!
• Tried playing only on the receiver (Spotify app, radio, Pandora...), no external source. This sometimes works actually, but playing anything from the TV immediately brings the static noise back.
• Yesterday I removed everything and opened the AV to see if I could spot any issues. There's minimal if any dust inside that I could see. Here's some pics.

  • http://imgur.com/8Wss6eW

  • http://imgur.com/Y7RQ1rT

  • http://imgur.com/hsOilnd

  • http://imgur.com/E9qEohr

• On a recommendation from reddit, I connected all speakers and components one at a time. Turned off the system and connected another one by one. By the end all was connected and the issue no longer existed. I played music all day (finally!) yesterday and at night we watched Parasite. No issue. Then I we were watching some Netflix and suddenly it came back. I turned off the system and listed from the TV only.
• This morning, ready to take everything apart again, the issue is gone. I'm sitting here blasting it as I type. This is beyond frustrating in a way.

I really down't know where to go from here. There's no serious dust issues that I can tell. I do see some capacitors a little bent, not sure if that's normal. Overall the receiver looks fine inside, I think. Not touching anything, specially the PSU...

Should I get my receiver serviced/looked at? what else can I do to troubleshoot this?

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd maybe consider a full reset (microprocessor/factory) before doing much else....

 

[Hench4Life]

Boy, really sounds like the receiver, but you know that.

Next thing I'd try is hooking it up from a different source. If that's a PIA, run a 50ft extension cord from a different room/breaker. You've done the cable swap for interconnects/speaker. I've seen wonky power affect just one channel. And on that subject, just for sh*ts and giggles, try reversing the FL/FR, just to verify there's nothing wrong with the actual speaker. It wouldn't be the first time.

Another thought is use some contact cleaner on the RCA outs. Back in the day I used to have a magic touch with my Yamaha gear and somehow was always killing switches/connectors. Good stuff to have on hand regardless.

Sometimes getting it to act up, and eliminating what doesn't (or as you've noticed, when it starts) can help narrow things down. Good luck!