Please Help, No Sound from the Receiver.

[TLS Guy]

If your receiver worked fine before, but now doesn't work after you moved, it just seems like it would be a setting to me. It might be a hardware issue, but it might not be. Have you tried unplugging it for a while then plugging it back in? As strange as that might sound, it works sometimes. I had a Pioneer of about that age stop working, and I had to unplug it for about two days (shorter periods didn't work)...then bam, it worked perfectly. Oh, and no, I can't explain it. I didn't mention that before because you had it unplugged for a while, but it might be worth a try.

If you can't get yours to work again, here's my two cents - don't use it as a pre/pro unless you can get the amps for cheap. By cheap, I mean a lot less than it will cost you to get a new receiver. I say this because that receiver is about seven years old, and receivers have come a long way since then (better auto calibration systems, newer connections such as HDMI, and newer audio codecs such as DTS-HD MA).

If the amps are turned on, it would be strange for a setting to stop all power amps working. If the amps are turned on and he can't get the set up tone from the speaker set up menu, then I think the high voltage/current side of the power supply is down. The other possibility is that the internal connector from the power supply to the amp board got dislodged in the move.

I have never been overly keen on receivers. In the current economic situation, and increased complexity and frailty of sophisticated micro processors, receiver become an increasingly poorer bet and a raw deal for consumers.

His preamp processor section works.

I would upgrade his amps, and then when funds permit get something like a Marantz 7005.

I think separates are making more and more sense and will continue to do so over time. Many more HT enthusiasts should give serious thought to going that route.

Seven 100 watt amps and higher packed on with all the rest is not a good idea. The output devices are puny, and not the sort of thing to bring confidence. There just is not the space in a receiver use decent output devices. Class D amps may solve the issue, but they are not good enough to recommend yet except for active speaker designs, were the load the amp sees can be much more tightly controlled.

 

[Adam]

If the amps are turned on, it would be strange for a setting to stop all power amps working. If the amps are turned on and he can't get the set up tone from the speaker set up menu, then I think the high voltage/current side of the power supply is down.

The only setting that makes sense to me is the speaker "A" switch, but that's been checked. With the two fuses, perhaps one of them is for the high voltage/current side, and that might be the issue.

The other possibility is that the internal connector from the power supply to the amp board got dislodged in the move.

That's an excellent thing to check! I hadn't thought about that.

As for receivers versus pre-pro/amp combinations, I respect your opinion on that. I think the right solution depends on the customer, though. Pre-pros cost more than a very good receiver, and most people just won't get the value out of them. Not everyone (well, hardly anybody) has a rig as nice as yours! I only use my amps because I feel compelled to after spending the money on them...although part of me would like to just take an ax to them and mentally wash my hands of the Emotiva nightmare. My Pioneer 1015 ran my speakers just great unless I cranked them, which honestly was only done because I was in the mood to buy something new. So, I'm confident that my Pioneer Elite would power my speakers at my listening levels just great, and I'm extremely happy that I got the new auto calibration and audio codecs.

 

[TLS Guy]

The only setting that makes sense to me is the speaker "A" switch, but that's been checked. With the two fuses, perhaps one of them is for the high voltage/current side, and that might be the issue.


That's an excellent thing to check! I hadn't thought about that.

As for receivers versus pre-pro/amp combinations, I respect your opinion on that. I think the right solution depends on the customer, though. Pre-pros cost more than a very good receiver, and most people just won't get the value out of them. Not everyone (well, hardly anybody) has a rig as nice as yours! I only use my amps because I feel compelled to after spending the money on them...although part of me would like to just take an ax to them and mentally wash my hands of the Emotiva nightmare. My Pioneer 1015 ran my speakers just great unless I cranked them, which honestly was only done because I was in the mood to buy something new. So, I'm confident that my Pioneer Elite would power my speakers at my listening levels just great, and I'm extremely happy that I got the new auto calibration and audio codecs.

What was your Emotiva nightmare?

I have looked at those amps close up and they seem well made. I did note a high parts count.

I'm spoiled as I use Peter Walker's Quad amps, specifically his current dumpers. This superb amps have a very low part count and no internal adjustments.

I posted close up pictures while you were AWOL.

The 909 is nearly all power supply, the regulator board is shown here.

Here is a complete amp board for one channel, 250 watts into four ohms. The output devices are two sets of triples. In a receiver you just get two output devices the size of half a thumb nail, instead of the six robust devices per channel you see here.

That is the thing about genius, it makes the complex simple.

I know of no other high powered amps, with such a low part count, not even close.

Here is a 100 watt amp board from a Quad 405-2.

 

[Adam]

Nice amps!

What was your Emotiva nightmare?

Eh, I should have kept my mouth shut. "Nightmare" is likely too strong. Long story short - poor hardware quality control mixed with poor customer service.

I should have just said this - I could have the same performance with fewer components and ~140 pounds less weight in my entertainment center.