Receiver HDMI dead. Analog audio use?

[Sylar]

Hi folks,

I have a receiver, Marantz SR 7005, worked well for about 10 years. The HDMI inputs/outputs are now dead. Just don't have the heart to throw it away.

Before I consider disposing it, I was thinking of using it with a 3.5mm to RCA stereo cable.

• With the HDMI unusable, Can I use receiver with just analog audio Inputs? If it works, is there anything that I need to watch out or be aware of?
• If it works, would it be possible to disconnect the HDMI board from receiving power? Just thinking, maybe it's safe to disconnect. I could feel and smell one hdmi chip, getting super hot & burning.
• Will the optical inputs be usable with power not being disconnected from the HDMI board? The optical being digital, is on the same board as the HDMI.

Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Cheers

 

[lovinthehd]

I had a Pioneer avr some years ago where the hdmi ran hot and eventually failed (after warranty expired of course). It worked with analog for sure, and I think opttical as well for a while before it just died altogether. As to whether you could remove or modify a board, have no idea but it might be worth hooking up a cable and seeing what itt does...

 

[j_garcia]

Analog likely to work still as lovin mentioned, so try it out. Should not be a problem using analog only if it is working. Optical may or may not, depending on the unit.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi folks,

I have a receiver, Marantz SR 7005, worked well for about 10 years. The HDMI inputs/outputs are now dead. Just don't have the heart to throw it away.

Before I consider disposing it, I was thinking of using it with a 3.5mm to RCA stereo cable.

• With the HDMI unusable, Can I use receiver with just analog audio Inputs? If it works, is there anything that I need to watch out or be aware of?
• If it works, would it be possible to disconnect the HDMI board from receiving power? Just thinking, maybe it's safe to disconnect. I could feel and smell one hdmi chip, getting super hot & burning.
• Will the optical inputs be usable with power not being disconnected from the HDMI board? The optical being digital, is on the same board as the HDMI.

Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Cheers

There are a couple of issues here.

First, it is generally not advisable to use electonic gear that is not working properly, especially if heat is involved as in your case.

The next issue is whether the unit will funcion if you disconnect the HDMI board. That you will only find out if you disconnect it.

You might ne able to replace the board, but due to its age it is likely unabavialable.

I have found Marantz units in the last years not very reliable and Marantz have now gone to units with a much higher build quality built in Shirakawa, Japan. I have bought an AV10 and an AV30. I am really impressed with the build quality and and performance of these units. They are dead quiet and their S/N ration beyond reproach. They also sound better, especially the bass. That has really puzzled me as the lower distortion is not the likely reason. I am investigating this, and I think the answer lies in the new digital crossover. The crossovers have been digital for some tiime, but these units use a new board and circuit. Now you can not make a phase coherent analog crossover, unless it is forst order, which for most purposes are not very useful. However, you can make digital crossovers phase coherent or close with care, and I suspect this is the reason. I will be having more on this down the road.

My best advice is to "swallow hard" and recycle that unit.

 

[Eppie]

Crutchfield has an internal photo. The ribbon cables will be data cables. I see 3 other white plugs, one in the back, one in the front and one hidden on the right, which may carry power. There is a vertically oriented circuit board in front of the HDMI board with a long row of pins. It appears from that angle that the two boards are joined along that row of pins. That board could possibly be supplying power. Really need a service manual to know for certain.

I think it's unlikely that you can get the HDMI board powered off and still get the unit to function. A skilled repair technician with a hot air solder tool could unsolder the offending chip that is getting hot. That's the only safe way to continue to use the unit. Have to agree with TLS, sadly. This one is destined for recycling. Even if that chip is available for replacement, there could be other issues with the HDMI board that show up afterwards.

 

[Sylar]

Crutchfield has an internal photo. The ribbon cables will be data cables. I see 3 other white plugs, one in the back, one in the front and one hidden on the right, which may carry power. There is a vertically oriented circuit board in front of the HDMI board with a long row of pins. It appears from that angle that the two boards are joined along that row of pins. That board could possibly be supplying power. Really need a service manual to know for certain.

I think it's unlikely that you can get the HDMI board powered off and still get the unit to function. A skilled repair technician with a hot air solder tool could unsolder the offending chip that is getting hot. That's the only safe way to continue to use the unit. Have to agree with TLS, sadly. This one is destined for recycling. Even if that chip is available for replacement, there could be other issues with the HDMI board that show up afterwards.

I opened up the box earlier today, and observed what you have noted. The two ribbon cables seem to be the data interface to the front panel,which is coming from the HDMI board. The HDMI board has multiple other boards connected. I could not locate power cable coming in from the power section to the board. Like you mentioned, I'm suspecting Power might be coming from other boards. In which case, board cannot be disconnected.

Looks like it leaves me with 2 to 3 options,
1. Take it to service center and check what can be done (i have a capable technician near my home. He replaced the previously fried HDMI chip. However the long length of HDMI cable that I was using, fried it again after a while - I'm using Optical HDMI since with my new receiver). This is currently my first option. I Don't intend to replace the chip.
2. Remove the chip. This is an Interesting option, will get this option checked with him if it's possible and more importantly safe to use.
3. Replace the fried BGA chip (not too keen with this option as this particular chip might need to be "programmed").