Pioneer vsx521 sound issues

[budgie14]

Had this amp for about 6 months, as my pioneer vsx lx70 is now downstairs stereo ,so I know a few things about amps,stereos etc. But this amp has lately started switching inputs by itself,v slow to start sound output when turned on,and last night,when I started to watch Dredd thru my blueray player,the sound was awful,so did the 5.1 sound check that comes with the movie. Well, when it started and it showed say the left spr should be making sound,my right speaker was going. And each time the on screen spr showed what should be making a noise,my right spr was doing it. Ive reset this amp many times. So I brought my big vsx lx70 up,plugged it in did the same spkr sound check. Perfect. So its definitely the amp.somethings going on with the channels. Any advice would be welcome,and I thank people in advance.. just reset it again.

 

[lovinthehd]

That's an older avr, may be having some issues....did you try a soft reset (i.e. unplug avr from power for a bit) or a full factory/microprocessor reset? Often that's all you can do as a consumer....

 

[budgie14]

Yes,did that,it needs to go to a place I use,Trident Electronics. Yet my trusty vsx lx 70 still going strong.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yes,did that,it needs to go to a place I use,Trident Electronics. Yet my trusty vsx lx 70 still going strong.

Hopefully they can help, but if a board is needed not likely to be available. My Pioneer VSX919 avr (slightly older model) lasted a couple weeks beyond warranty....

Sometimes multiple factory/microprocessor resets can have an effect, too....

 

[budgie14]

Hopefully they can help, but if a board is needed not likely to be available. My Pioneer VSX919 avr (slightly older model) lasted a couple weeks beyond warranty....

Sometimes multiple factory/microprocessor resets can have an effect, too....

Well,im annoyed at myself,as I took it downstairs and set it up with same blueray movie,after amplifier reset,and set it up with the 5.1 sound test again, And it behaved beautifully. So the only Id like to know is why do I have to keep doing resets? I might just leave the amps where they are. Thanks for yr help

 

[lovinthehd]

Well,im annoyed at myself,as I took it downstairs and set it up with same blueray movie,after amplifier reset,and set it up with the 5.1 sound test again, And it behaved beautifully. So the only Id like to know is why do I have to keep doing resets? I might just leave the amps where they are. Thanks for yr help

Maybe its the way you set it up? Or the test itself? Hard to know from where I am. AVRs are more like buggy computers than "amps".

 

[budgie14]

Maybe its the way you set it up? Or the test itself? Hard to know from where I am. AVRs are more like buggy computers than "amps".

One last question, if you disconnect the speakers from the amp,when its turned on,but on mute,to reconnect another set of speakers,would that upset it? As Ive been buying English speakers,old, latest pair was monitor audio R652 ,so been seeing what they sound like.?

 

[lovinthehd]

One last question, if you disconnect the speakers from the amp,when its turned on,but on mute,to reconnect another set of speakers,would that upset it? As Ive been buying English speakers,old, latest pair was monitor audio R652 ,so been seeing what they sound like.?

I'd turn it to standby if not simply unplug it from power, mute doesn't mean much.

 

[TLS Guy]

One last question, if you disconnect the speakers from the amp,when its turned on,but on mute,to reconnect another set of speakers,would that upset it? As Ive been buying English speakers,old, latest pair was monitor audio R652 ,so been seeing what they sound like.?

Any time you are changing speakers SWITCH IT OFF. If you don't you ca do a lot of damage.

However I doubt that fault is caused by that. It sounds as if the digital switching circuit has become unstable due to an ageing capacitor.

The unit is at the age where these sort of events are likely to happen. Both the receivers you mention are end of life age.

You really can't fix this type of equipment since they started surface mounting components by robotic hot air soldering. So now repair is by board replacement. Trouble is that only one production run of most ICs and boards is ever done. So repair is seldom possible, even out to the seven years required by law. I just sent a five year old AVP to the recycling center, due to no boards available.

This is the curse of modern electronics.