[rewind]

I own a Sony 1070 receiver and a set of Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 speakers. I have owned the complete system for around 14 years now and all aspects have been flawless.

Earlier in the week when I turned on the system, the rear left speaker was making a popping and white noise sound. The amp then turned itself off and Protection was flashing in the display. It keeps doing this.

I have disconnected it from the mains overnight and also disconnected all speakers from the back of the amp and reconnected them. I have also disconnected the wires from the problem speaker and reconnected but the only difference is the amp is now staying on, but I am just getting constant white noise from the speaker.

I also swapped the rear right speaker's wires with the rear left speaker's wires going into the amp but the problem remains so it seems to be a problem with the actual speaker or the connections on the amp.

Any suggestions on what is causing this problem?

[Black Box]

To rule out a cable problem, do you have any other cables you can try? I'd try both the speaker and any input cables.

[rewind]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Box

To rule out a cable problem, do you have any other cables you can try? I'd try both the speaker and any input cables.

Just swapped the cabes over for the rear speakers and the problem went away. I also swapped speakers and when the original cable was connected to the other speaker, the same problem happened albeit the white noise was much quieter.

So I presume I need to buy some new speaker cable? Do speaker cables just stop working like this?

[Black Box]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

So I presume I need to buy some new speaker cable? Do speaker cables just stop working like this?

I've never had any fail on me but just like everything else I guess they can wear out over time. Depending on your amp, I'd recommend speaker cables with banana plugs. Dead easy to fit and better than faffing around trying to get a nice clean connection with "normal" speaker cables.

[rewind]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Box

I've never had any fail on me but just like everything else I guess they can wear out over time. Depending on your amp, I'd recommend speaker cables with banana plugs. Dead easy to fit and better than faffing around trying to get a nice clean connection with "normal" speaker cables.

I believe that is what I have. Mine are similar to this: http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/images.../0/rumour4.jpg

[Nigel Goodwin]

I'm presuming he actually swapped the amp channel as well?, it sounds like the amp is duff on one channel?.

A faulty speaker cable can't make crackling popping noises unless you're playing something through it, and I'm presuming it does this with nothing playing through? - certainly that would be by FAR the most likely scenario.

[rewind]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

I'm presuming he actually swapped the amp channel as well?, it sounds like the amp is duff on one channel?.

A faulty speaker cable can't make crackling popping noises unless you're playing something through it, and I'm presuming it does this with nothing playing through? - certainly that would be by FAR the most likely scenario.

That's correct Nigel - no sound is playing. Sorry, what do you mean about swapping the amp channel?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

That's correct Nigel - no sound is playing. Sorry, what do you mean about swapping the amp channel?

The wire can't make any noise without a signal, so you must have fed the original noisy speaker from a different amp channel to stop the noise.

Presumably you only swapped the wire at one end?.

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

That's correct Nigel - no sound is playing. Sorry, what do you mean about swapping the amp channel?

When you swapped things over did you connect the Rear Right speaker to the Rear Left amp output and the Rear Left speaker to the Rear Right amp output?

If so and the Rear Left speaker is now quiet and the Rear Right speaker is now making a noise then the problem is the Rear Left amp output.

[rewind]

I will try swapping both ends over later to see if it is the channel. If that has broken, does that mean the end of the amp?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

I will try swapping both ends over later to see if it is the channel. If that has broken, does that mean the end of the amp?

Probably, as they are expensive to repair as they are usually a nightmare to work on.

[rewind]

Seems it is the channel. Great! An expense I did not really want. Some questions:

1. Is it just coincidence that this problem has happened around 3 weeks after I moved the receiver into a new AV cabinet? I can't remember bashing it or dropping it but could any movement dislodge something internally?

2. Is 14/15 years pretty good going for a receiver?

3. Would this be a suitable replacement: http://www.whathifi.com/sony/str-dn1050/review. I was looking at a way of getting Spotify through my amp anyway so this would fit the bill. Can I just ask about how HDMI amps work? Currently all of my pieces of equipment are connected using a combination of optical/coaxial leads. Do I get rid of all of these and just use HDMI cables? Do I then just have ONE HDMI lead going into the TV and access everything via HDMI 1?

4. I have no interest in 7.2 at this stage and just have 5.0 (don't use a sub) so will my existing speakers/cables work with the above?

Thanks.

[Chris Frost]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

1. Is it just coincidence that this problem has happened around 3 weeks after I moved the receiver into a new AV cabinet? I can't remember bashing it or dropping it but could any movement dislodge something internally?

More than likely it's coincidence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

2. Is 14/15 years pretty good going for a receiver?

Yes, it's respectable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

3. Would this be a suitable replacement: http://www.whathifi.com/sony/str-dn1050/review. I was looking at a way of getting Spotify through my amp anyway so this would fit the bill. Can I just ask about how HDMI amps work? Currently all of my pieces of equipment are connected using a combination of optical/coaxial leads. Do I get rid of all of these and just use HDMI cables? Do I then just have ONE HDMI lead going into the TV and access everything via HDMI 1?.

That'll be fine.

Amps with HDMI also have coax and optical inputs too; just fewer of them, that's all.

Anything that you can connect with HDMI then that'll be your preferred connection method. Legacy devices using coax or optical connect the same way to the new amp as they did to the old one.

The TV connection from the amp is by HDMI, yes. The amp acts as a source selector and routes picture to the TV and deals with sound itself. If the amp has "standby pass-thru" then when it is in standby then the TV will get both picture and sound via the HDMI so you can use the TV speakers if you wish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

4. I have no interest in 7.2 at this stage and just have 5.0 (don't use a sub) so will my existing speakers/cables work with the above?

Yes. All decent AV receivers/amps can be configures with any speaker combination starting from a basic stereo layout (2.0). Just use the amp's On Screen Display or set-up wizard.

BTW, 7.1 is IMO overrated. Few typical living rooms have the correct layout or space to fully benefit from a 7.1 speaker layout, and there's not a vast amount of true 7.1 material out there so what's left is pseudo 7.1 using Dolby PLIIx to conjure up the extra rear channels from a 5.1 mix.

[Deacon1972]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

More than likely it's coincidence.

Yes, it's respectable.

That'll be fine.

Amps with HDMI also have coax and optical inputs too; just fewer of them, that's all.

Anything that you can connect with HDMI then that'll be your preferred connection method. Legacy devices using coax or optical connect the same way to the new amp as they did to the old one.

The TV connection from the amp is by HDMI, yes. The amp acts as a source selector and routes picture to the TV and deals with sound itself. If the amp has "standby pass-thru" then when it is in standby then the TV will get both picture and sound via the HDMI so you can use the TV speakers if you wish.



Yes. All decent AV receivers/amps can be configures with any speaker combination starting from a basic stereo layout (2.0). Just use the amp's On Screen Display or set-up wizard.

BTW, 7.1 is IMO overrated. Few typical living rooms have the correct layout or space to fully benefit from a 7.1 speaker layout, and there's not a vast amount of true 7.1 material out there so what's left is pseudo 7.1 using Dolby PLIIx to conjure up the extra rear channels from a 5.1 mix.

Bluray is a good source for 7.1, but as you say, if you ain't got the room for correct placement for the surround backs then there is little benefit.

What the OP will benefit from, depending on their main speakers, is a sub. I just bought my son one to replace a really low budget boom box, they couldn't believe the difference it made, they said it sounded like a new system.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon1972

What the OP will benefit from, depending on their main speakers, is a sub. I just bought my son one to replace a really low budget boom box, they couldn't believe the difference it made, they said it sounded like a new system.

A sub is really what sound systems are all about - that's what GREATLY increases the sound quality of the TV sound.

Really you don't need a sound bar to vastly improve TV sound, you just need a sub and use the internal speakers for the left and right.

Sony cleverly brought out just such a system, with a wireless sub that connects to some of their models, but then stupidly priced it FAR too high to make it a viable option.

Many of the old sets (early Plasma and LCD) had physical sub-woofer outputs on the back, where you could plug an active sub-woofer in - great idea.

[rewind]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

More than likely it's coincidence.

Yes, it's respectable.

That'll be fine.

Amps with HDMI also have coax and optical inputs too; just fewer of them, that's all.

Anything that you can connect with HDMI then that'll be your preferred connection method. Legacy devices using coax or optical connect the same way to the new amp as they did to the old one.

The TV connection from the amp is by HDMI, yes. The amp acts as a source selector and routes picture to the TV and deals with sound itself. If the amp has "standby pass-thru" then when it is in standby then the TV will get both picture and sound via the HDMI so you can use the TV speakers if you wish.



Yes. All decent AV receivers/amps can be configures with any speaker combination starting from a basic stereo layout (2.0). Just use the amp's On Screen Display or set-up wizard.

BTW, 7.1 is IMO overrated. Few typical living rooms have the correct layout or space to fully benefit from a 7.1 speaker layout, and there's not a vast amount of true 7.1 material out there so what's left is pseudo 7.1 using Dolby PLIIx to conjure up the extra rear channels from a 5.1 mix.

Thanks. So it sounds as if the Sony STR-DN1050 is good. I can get it tomorrow for £399 which seems like a good price?

Will my Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 speakers be okay? I read somewhere you need speakers with a certain number of ohms?

Re: the sub - I would buy one but I have survived for 15 years without one. I live in a top floor apartment (new build but I have had a complaint fairly recently from a neighbour below) so am worried I spend money on a sub and then never get to use it!

[Deacon1972]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewind

Thanks. So it sounds as if the Sony STR-DN1050 is good. I can get it tomorrow for £399 which seems like a good price?

Will my Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 speakers be okay? I read somewhere you need speakers with a certain number of ohms?

Re: the sub - I would buy one but I have survived for 15 years without one. I live in a top floor apartment (new build but I have had a complaint fairly recently from a neighbour below) so am worried I spend money on a sub and then never get to use it!

Your speakers will be fine...

Top floor apartment makes it tricky to house a sub, they can be very intrusive, even for semi - detached properties. You can get acoustic treatments for the sub to sit on, but there's little point in taming the frequencies or turning it down when you want to hear and feel the low frequencies.

[rewind]

Thanks everyone for your help. Picked up the Sony 1050 earlier from Richer Sounds and all is working perfectly.