Only hearing front channels and subwoofer on a 5.1 receiver.

[itsTime]

So this is the first time I have set up surround sound. Somebody game me some speakers, but it turned out I needed an audio receiver, so I got one. It's a Yamaha RX V383. I followed all the directions and connected the speakers, but no matter what the input, I only get the front 2 channels and the subwoofer. The 6 speakers are connected to the posts on the back, and the subw into the marked RCA port.

First I tried PC. I set the output to HDMI 5.1. Missing channels, even if all 6 channel lights are active, and the mode says PCM. Then I thought maybe it's the PC hardware that was only outputting stereo through HDMI, so I tried a regular old BD player directly, put in some DVD, set everything to surround in the player, bitsream audio selected, audio mode surround, and the receiver display shows all 6 channels active in Dolby Digital when the movie is playing, but only front channels are heard. No center, so can't hear movie dialogue.

I have moved around the connections to check it's not the speakers that are broken. They all play sound when connected to front channels in the receiver.

And this is the 2nd receiver I have tried. First I tried some Pyle receiver and returned it when I couldn't get all the sound channels. I got this other one thinking the problem was some receiver incompatibility. So, did I get 2 bad receivers in a row or am I doing something wrong?

 

[NINaudio]

Did you run through the setup procedure with the Yamaha? If you play test tones from the receiver can you hear all the channels or only the front left and right?

 

[itsTime]

Did you run through the setup procedure with the Yamaha? If you play test tones from the receiver can you hear all the channels or only the front left and right?

The built-in test tone is the same result. Only the front 2 channels and sub. And there was no setup procedure. I just connected all the cables per the instructions and flipped some switches.

 

[lovinthehd]

Probably still in your setup/mode selection. The automatic setup procedure in the Yamaha is called YPAO, did you run that ? What sound modes are you using in the Yamaha?

 

[TLS Guy]

The built-in test tone is the same result. Only the front 2 channels and sub. And there was no setup procedure. I just connected all the cables per the instructions and flipped some switches.

Go to page 52 of your manual and go through to page 55. You have to get the correct set up menu. You have to select the center and surround speakers in the set up menu. You must also select whether you want the speakers large or small and go though the bass management and select the crossover frequencies.

Setting up a receiver takes some time and you have to follow the procedures exactly, or you will have the problems you are encountering.

I can bet you think it is plug and play. No receiver is these days, and they have to be set up.

 

[j_garcia]

If the sound doesn't come out of the manual tones, they are not configured. The default config is likely 5.1 and you would need to enable any other channels in the speaker configuration. it seems odd the center would be off, but not out of the question.

 

[TLS Guy]

If the sound doesn't come out of the manual tones, they are not configured. The default config is likely 5.1 and you would need to enable any other channels in the speaker configuration. it seems odd the center would be off, but not out of the question.

According to the manual the default is 2.1, which is what the OP has got.

 

[Pogre]

What are you listening to test with? Not all recordings have 5.1 content, like almost all music cds and files are in stereo. If you're using stereo recordings the surround speakers wouldn't play anything unless you make it upmix.

 

[Pogre]

If the sound doesn't come out of the manual tones, they are not configured. The default config is likely 5.1 and you would need to enable any other channels in the speaker configuration. it seems odd the center would be off, but not out of the question.

Ah, yes. That's different. I see TLS addressed this tho and does look like changing a setting might fix it.

 

[j_garcia]

According to the manual the default is 2.1, which is what the OP has got.

With different gear, I've seen it go both ways. Years ago nearly all manufacturers would normally default to 2.1, but lately many of mine have come 5.1 as default. Probably varies depending on manufacturer.

 

[itsTime]

If the sound doesn't come out of the manual tones, they are not configured. The default config is likely 5.1 and you would need to enable any other channels in the speaker configuration. it seems odd the center would be off, but not out of the question.

Wait what? Yes, the default was 5.1, but there are no more speakers. This is a 5.1 receiver, no more speakers than that.

And what you asked me about going through the config, I thought you meant some special procedure, not the settings in the receiver. I did look at those, and I have been sure they are all in the correct settings.

If you look at the attached pictures, those are the settings I'm seeing. All the speakers are enabled. In the second pic, you can see all the outputs are lit up in the receiver display. There is another screen with the individual speaker volume. Center is set all the way up.

And again, I have tested this on PC hdmi output and on a DVD player with bitstream mode set.

Same result, always. Only front and subw.

I went to the local store, and they were all out of the lower priced receivers. I'm not going to pay $800 for a receiver when I can't even get these to work. So I ordered yet another one online, a Denon brand.

 

[TLS Guy]

Wait what? Yes, the default was 5.1, but there are no more speakers. This is a 5.1 receiver, no more speakers than that.

And what you asked me about going through the config, I thought you meant some special procedure, not the settings in the receiver. I did look at those, and I have been sure they are all in the correct settings.

If you look at the attached pictures, those are the settings I'm seeing. All the speakers are enabled. In the second pic, you can see all the outputs are lit up in the receiver display. There is another screen with the individual speaker volume. Center is set all the way up.

And again, I have tested this on PC hdmi output and on a DVD player with bitstream mode set.

Same result, always. Only front and subw.

I went to the local store, and they were all out of the lower priced receivers. I'm not going to pay $800 for a receiver when I can't even get these to work. So I ordered yet another one online, a Denon brand.

You seem to have the speakers configured. So do you hear test tones now? If not you should do a reset back to factory defaults and do your set up again.

Is this a new receiver under warranty, or is it a used receiver that may have received abuse?

Lastly, are your sure those speakers work? You should do the battery test. Get a 1.5 volt battery and connect and disconnected across the speaker leads. You should hear a soft pop, each time you make and break the circuit. If you don't hear a clear "bunk" with each connect and disconnect that speaker is burnt out.

 

[itsTime]

You seem to have the speakers configured. So do you hear test tones now? If not you should do a reset back to factory defaults and do your set up again.

Already tried that.

Is this a new receiver under warranty, or is it a used receiver that may have received abuse?

I would hope so. It's going back. Maybe it got damaged during shipping or something.

Lastly, are your sure those speakers work?

Yes. As I said before. I connect them to the front channels and they all produce sound there.

So if nothing else can be said, this thing is probably broken.

 

[mono-bloc]

What setting is the receiver set at, Music, theatre, stereo, etc. Read the instructions again and again and set the thing up to read "Theatre"
Where did you buy this thing, The retailer should be able to help you, or is he selling fridges this week.

 

[BMXTRIX]

If you go through the 'test tones' of the receiver, and it plays sound through the front two and subwoofer, but then indicates it is playing audio through the surround and center speakers, but no audio is coming out, then that indicates an issue with the receiver for sure.

It sounds like you have things wired properly. Your testing of the speakers, by connecting them to the front channels and ensuring audio playback, is a good indicator that you have the basics covered (many don't) in terms of wiring. You could send a photo of the connections you've made to the back of the receiver just to give us all a bit of peace of mind that you've wired things up properly. But, it really does sound like you are running into a bad receiver issue.

 

[Trebdp83]

There are instances when connecting a computer using HDMI that sound will only come from front channels. Though set for 5.1 channel output in the computer and the receiver indicating 5.1 input/output, the audio from a two channel track will be sent only to the fronts and the rest will remain silent even when changing sound modes. A DVD player set to bitstream is the correct setting. However, if the track is 2.0 and the receiver is set to STRAIGHT mode, sound will only be produced from the fronts and sub. Agree about the test tones. They are the only reliable way to check for channel output. If the test tones are not being produced from the other channels, there is an issue with the receiver.

 

[sterling shoote]

There are instances when connecting a computer using HDMI that sound will only come from front channels. Though set for 5.1 channel output in the computer and the receiver indicating 5.1 input/output, the audio from a two channel track will be sent only to the fronts and the rest will remain silent even when changing sound modes. A DVD player set to bitstream is the correct setting. However, if the track is 2.0 and the receiver is set to STRAIGHT mode, sound will only be produced from the fronts and sub. Agree about the test tones. They are the only reliable way to check for channel output. If the test tones are not being produced from the other channels, there is an issue with the receiver.

Ditto!

 

[sterling shoote]

There are instances when connecting a computer using HDMI that sound will only come from front channels. Though set for 5.1 channel output in the computer and the receiver indicating 5.1 input/output, the audio from a two channel track will be sent only to the fronts and the rest will remain silent even when changing sound modes. A DVD player set to bitstream is the correct setting. However, if the track is 2.0 and the receiver is set to STRAIGHT mode, sound will only be produced from the fronts and sub. Agree about the test tones. They are the only reliable way to check for channel output. If the test tones are not being produced from the other channels, there is an issue with the receiver.

Several years ago I purchased a 5.1 FLAC download from Acoustic Sounds of the Firebird performed by the Seattle Symphony. I managed to burn it to Data Disc and that disc could be played in 5.1 gaplessly from my OPPO. I also placed the music on a flash drive which the OPPO could play gaplessly. Next, I tried to play the 5.1 music via HDMI to OPPO from Foobar 2000 running on my laptop. Here things were not so good. As I recall, I could not get 5.1 even when the OPPO's driver was set for it. I cannot remember if I ever worked it out but I do remember that downloading 5.1 was a bitch. Copying to Data Disc was a bitch. And play via Foobar was a bitch. Life with all of these bitches caused me to abandon the notion that downloading 5.1 FLAC was a good means to music and I went back to 5.1 SACDs as fast as my fingers could get to the SACD section of Amazon. At any rate, I guess I was not the only consumer of 5.1 downloads which had butterflies over it since Acoustic Sounds quit making 5.1 FLAC offerings. Now, interestingly enough, of the half dozen recordings of The Firebird that I own it's the Seattle Symphony's version I like the most. It's lifelike, really wonderful. I called them one day to suggest they deliver in 5.1 SACD but it appears that's not a direction they have interest in. Too bad. And, one more thing, just for grins and giggles, I recently played my Data Disc of The Firebird from my Sony UBP-X800Mk2 Universal Player, which touts playing most any disc out there, and sure enough it plays the Data Disc but it does not play it gaplessly, even when set to do gapless, so disappointing. It appears the Sony thinks movements are tracks.

 

[Wardog555]

If your playing 5.1 content. The number one reason why there's no sound is that the speakers are unplugged. Ensure the speakers are plugged in at both ends securely.

 

[itsTime]

The new receiver that I got worked fine, plug and play. All channels on all the sources I've tried. So it was a broken device after all, and I'm glad I didn't quit.