Troubleshooting Yamaha RX-A3010

[dlambert]

I've got a Yamaha RX-A3010 that's acting oddly - looking to see if there's anything obvious I can do to test or remediate before I try servicing it.

The receiver powers on, and displays on-screen through HDMI. Speaker output, though, is a problem. I wasn't able to hear any output through FL and FR until I started some of the steps below. I'm also seeing the "INFO" section display "PHONES" for output, despite no headphones present. I had a Denon once that developed a sticky headphone jack, so I tried plugging and unplugging a set of headphone (after digging for a 1/4" adapter) - no change in display or output. More troubleshooting steps:

• Getting a little more aggressive, I popped the top and unhooked the CB454 connector that carries HP signals. Power on; same display on Info.
• Firmware was 1.6; latest was 1.8, so I upgraded that. No change.
• Performed factory reset; no change.
• Since I had a USB drive out anyway for the firmware update, I dropped an MP3 on it and selected USB input. Nothing. However, upon powering down and powering back up, I hear a series of relay clicks (like, five or so, I think) and with the USB drive in place, I could hear output from the speakers -- very briefly. I'd hear like, one set of clicks, and a super-quick bit of music and then the music stopped with another set of clicks. This repeated through the sequence, but when the clicking is done, there's no sound.
• In the self-test menu, there's a white noise test and a 1k tone test where I can hear output through the speakers, but clicking is constant when running these tests.

Can you think of anything else I'm missing before boxing this up to try to find a repair shop?

 

[TheWarrior]

I've got a Yamaha RX-A3010 that's acting oddly - looking to see if there's anything obvious I can do to test or remediate before I try servicing it.

The receiver powers on, and displays on-screen through HDMI. Speaker output, though, is a problem. I wasn't able to hear any output through FL and FR until I started some of the steps below. I'm also seeing the "INFO" section display "PHONES" for output, despite no headphones present. I had a Denon once that developed a sticky headphone jack, so I tried plugging and unplugging a set of headphone (after digging for a 1/4" adapter) - no change in display or output. More troubleshooting steps:

• Getting a little more aggressive, I popped the top and unhooked the CB454 connector that carries HP signals. Power on; same display on Info.
• Firmware was 1.6; latest was 1.8, so I upgraded that. No change.
• Performed factory reset; no change.
• Since I had a USB drive out anyway for the firmware update, I dropped an MP3 on it and selected USB input. Nothing. However, upon powering down and powering back up, I hear a series of relay clicks (like, five or so, I think) and with the USB drive in place, I could hear output from the speakers -- very briefly. I'd hear like, one set of clicks, and a super-quick bit of music and then the music stopped with another set of clicks. This repeated through the sequence, but when the clicking is done, there's no sound.
• In the self-test menu, there's a white noise test and a 1k tone test where I can hear output through the speakers, but clicking is constant when running these tests.

Can you think of anything else I'm missing before boxing this up to try to find a repair shop?

Possibly related - I have a 3060 that has been slow to make all of its HDMI handshakes over the past year. There are 'box' graphics that appear on the receiver itself to indicate which channels are being used. We have had to slow down our start up process and wait for those boxes to reappear as each HDMI connected item is powered ON. Otherwise the sound will go out at random, and sometimes not come back on. Only solution is to power everything down and try again.

Our process has been: Receiver -> Projector -> Source again, allowing however many seconds for the boxes to illuminate on the receivers display, after turning each one ON.

I've had this receiver a few years now, and we have noticed that over the past year we have suddenly had to be concerned about following the above steps, which we never had to before. Sound familiar?

 

[TLS Guy]

I've got a Yamaha RX-A3010 that's acting oddly - looking to see if there's anything obvious I can do to test or remediate before I try servicing it.

The receiver powers on, and displays on-screen through HDMI. Speaker output, though, is a problem. I wasn't able to hear any output through FL and FR until I started some of the steps below. I'm also seeing the "INFO" section display "PHONES" for output, despite no headphones present. I had a Denon once that developed a sticky headphone jack, so I tried plugging and unplugging a set of headphone (after digging for a 1/4" adapter) - no change in display or output. More troubleshooting steps:

• Getting a little more aggressive, I popped the top and unhooked the CB454 connector that carries HP signals. Power on; same display on Info.
• Firmware was 1.6; latest was 1.8, so I upgraded that. No change.
• Performed factory reset; no change.
• Since I had a USB drive out anyway for the firmware update, I dropped an MP3 on it and selected USB input. Nothing. However, upon powering down and powering back up, I hear a series of relay clicks (like, five or so, I think) and with the USB drive in place, I could hear output from the speakers -- very briefly. I'd hear like, one set of clicks, and a super-quick bit of music and then the music stopped with another set of clicks. This repeated through the sequence, but when the clicking is done, there's no sound.
• In the self-test menu, there's a white noise test and a 1k tone test where I can hear output through the speakers, but clicking is constant when running these tests.

Can you think of anything else I'm missing before boxing this up to try to find a repair shop?

I think it needs repair. There seems to be an issue with these receivers. I could find at least four reports of a virtually identical scenario.

This false report of headphones being connected when they are not runs through it. The problem is not the headphone jack. The thinking is that these receivers have a design fault in the preamp section. Obviously you want to get a receiver like this repaired. However in a couple of cases the problem soon recurred.

I hope you don't have to cut your losses, but you might have to. These units might be duds I'm afraid.

 

[dlambert]

Ugh. Thanks. Since posting, I re-attached the headphone jumper, and tried the self-test again. This time, no sound whatsoever on self-test, so the receiver sure *thinks* there's a set of headphones attached. I also confirmed audio present through the headphone jack via USB input. It certainly sounds like repair time.

 

[Mark E. Long]

Had a Rx-a 3020 that did the same power on clicks then would be idle for a few mins then sound would come on this was after it got jolted in a electrical storm after many resets it seemed to get worse till
It finally said firm ware error sure enough it got erased in the jolt . But after talking to a Yamaha tech he said in the early RX A units like the first 3 or up to the 3040 series the main boards and processors get bad no all but some it’s not unheard of but it’s there . I had mine rebuilt as the cost to fix as cost to replace was a nobrainer at least for me . They had it a month replaced the main processor board and the main hdmi board and reprogrammed it it’s been flawless ever since . I’d say to OP’s processor is done . The more you try the worse it will get . When he did the firmware update he copied bad firmware that was in the unit and stored it in the processor . I was told the more you reset it the worse it gets till like mine there was no firmware left . Excuse the long response but a lot of the early units had no so good processor’s in them .was supposed to be corrected in later models . From 3040’s on up .

 

[TLS Guy]

Had a Rx-a 3020 that did the same power on clicks then would be idle for a few mins then sound would come on this was after it got jolted in a electrical storm after many resets it seemed to get worse till
It finally said firm ware error sure enough it got erased in the jolt . But after talking to a Yamaha tech he said in the early RX A units like the first 3 or up to the 3040 series the main boards and processors get bad no all but some it’s not unheard of but it’s there . I had mine rebuilt as the cost to fix as cost to replace was a nobrainer at least for me . They had it a month replaced the main processor board and the main hdmi board and reprogrammed it it’s been flawless ever since . I’d say to OP’s processor is done . The more you try the worse it will get . When he did the firmware update he copied bad firmware that was in the unit and stored it in the processor . I was told the more you reset it the worse it gets till like mine there was no firmware left . Excuse the long response but a lot of the early units had no so good processor’s in them .was supposed to be corrected in later models . From 3040’s on up .

Well if they know those first units are defective, then they should replace them no questions asked. I can understand having problem units, but not to make it good is irresponsible. Let us know how this turns out. With what we are finding out, demand that Yamaha provide you with a new unit. I think that unit is unavailable. However they owe you a unit of equivalent performance from their current offerings.

The performance of these audio companies in my view is abysmal.

Sound United are no better. I had a DOA calibration mic on the 7705 I bought about 18 months ago. My dealer could not get a replacement. So I tried to get one from Encompass who supplies their parts. They are a useless lot. They said they could not get one. Over a year later, they said they were available and I ordered and paid for one. I had the invoice and a shipping date. I had an Email saying it had shipped, and even one telling me it would arrive the next day. On the day it was due to arrive I had an Email saying it had not shipped and that now it had an EDA unknown. Finally the dealer bugged the rep so much, he left some with the dealer, and the dealer sent me two, in case one fails.

I understand Panurgy who do the warranty work for Denon/Marantz are a total disgrace. This sort of thing is going to destroy this hobby. This whole industry needs a massive shake up. I have a forlorn hope we can get investors to back a new company and build in America and give this Far Eastern junk a deep six.

 

[Mark E. Long]

Well if they know those first units are defective, then they should replace them no questions asked. I can understand having problem units, but not to make it good is irresponsible. Let us know how this turns out. With what we are finding out, demand that Yamaha provide you with a new unit. I think that unit is unavailable. However they owe you a unit of equivalent performance from their current offerings.

The performance of these audio companies in my view is abysmal.

Sound United are no better. I had a DOA calibration mic on the 7705 I bought about 18 months ago. My dealer could not get a replacement. So I tried to get one from Encompass who supplies their parts. They are a useless lot. They said they could not get one. Over a year later, they said they were available and I ordered and paid for one. I had the invoice and a shipping date. I had an Email saying it had shipped, and even one telling me it would arrive the next day. On the day it was due to arrive I had an Email saying it had not shipped and that now it had an EDA unknown. Finally the dealer bugged the rep so much, he left some with the dealer, and the dealer sent me two, in case one fails.

I understand Panurgy who do the warranty work for Denon/Marantz are a total disgrace. This sort of thing is going to destroy this hobby. This whole industry needs a massive shake up. I have a forlorn hope we can get investors to back a new company and build in America and give this Far Eastern junk a deep six.

If it had been under warranty yes I agree but this happened about a year after it had run out so that wasn’t an option for my case the RX-a 3020 was a 2012 unit although I bought it new never had an issue till the storm hit it which I’d say did the damage to my unit none the less after contacting the service reps on many occasions on this trying to reboot the processor it was admitted to me that there was more than a few units that the processor’s went bad in I was like why not recall to fix then or fix for free . They said that they couldn’t do that until a unit went bad and if the warranty is up those units were out of luck which personally I think is kind of shitty . As far as my unit I’ve had it back a year now new main board , new upgraded processor, new hdmi board it works beautifully they said it should last for years we’ll see . I only use it like a pre amp as I use outboard amps it never get warm . I love its features although since it was rebuilt the ypao can get weird readings sometimes but I usually run it on through setting or manual . The guy I talked with said that if they go bad it’s usually in 5 years if not you have a good one . When I bought this unit it was like 2.000 and change the equivalent unit today is the RZ- A 3080 I’ll gladly take one lol !

 

[dlambert]

Good info here -- thanks, everyone, for sharing. I'll make a couple calls and see what I can scare up. Obviously, with the holidays upon us, I may not find anyone to get me in immediately.