[Chili Con Carne]

Hi,

I am having problems with my sony STR GX315 stereo system. Whenever I turn it on, it just keeps flashing protect. Does anybody know how to solve this, or where I can find a manual for it online?

All help appreciated,

Chili

[Nigel Goodwin]

It's usually a sign that one of the output amplifiers has blown, it leaves the speakers disconnected to avoid them being damaged.

[Chili Con Carne]

The thing is it happened before, but we got it to work

[chrisjr]

Or one or other or both of the speaker leads is short circuiting.

Try disconnecting the speaker leads from the back of the amp and see if it powers up normally (won't do any damage having NO speakers connected).

If it does turn on OK check the speaker leads for signs of damage. Check the connections at the speaker ends. Make sure they are still tight and no stray strands of copper have worked free to potentially touch the other terminal or a stray strand from the other wire.

Once you are satisfied the leads are OK re-connect to the amp (turn off first obviously). Make sure you twist the copper strands tightly together and there are no strays wandering around to make trouble.

If it comes up Protect with no speakers connected then the amp may be faulty. if it comes up with the speakers connected and you are sure the leads are OK one of the speakers may be faulty.

Easy way to check this is to turn off and disconnect one lead at the amp end. Power it up and see if it says Protect. If it doesn't you've found the dodgy speaker. If it does power off and disconnect the other speaker. Reconnect the first speaker. If it doesn't say protect you know the connected lead and speaker are OK.

Now power off and connect the suspect speaker in place of the known good one using the same lead that was connected to the good speaker. If that says protect you know it's the speaker. If it doesn't then it could be the lead. So switch off again and swap the leads. If you now get Protect then you've nailed it down to the lead.

Essentially it's a bit of trial and error removing and swapping bits till you end up with a combination of lead and/or speaker that consistently triggers the protection.

[Chili Con Carne]

Hi, Thanks for your help. I have now managed to get it sorted. I believe that a bit of static had formed between the Sky HD box which had just been installed and the amp, as the hd box is on top. So i took it off, and is now working.

Once again thanks for your help

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chili Con Carne

Hi, Thanks for your help. I have now managed to get it sorted. I believe that a bit of static had formed between the Sky HD box which had just been installed and the amp, as the hd box is on top. So i took it off, and is now working.

Sonds unlikely, I would suggest you may have dry joints in one of the amplifiers, and moving it has caused it to make contact again.

[Chili Con Carne]

I didn't move the amplifier though, I only moved the hd box from on top of it, then put it back

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chili Con Carne

I didn't move the amplifier though, I only moved the hd box from on top of it, then put it back

Any slight mechanical movement may have been enough.

[chrisjr]

The action of moving the Sky box could have ever so gently flexed something inside the amp. I have seen bits of kit where even the lightest of finger pressure can make them play up.

In any case I would not recommend standing your Sky box directly on top of the amp anyway. If the amp has ventilation slots in the top then these really should be kept clear, especially if you like to make lots of noise

[alias alias]

The protect message when it happens one or twice a year for me (kenwood hifi) means "vacuuming the vents"

[craigy132]

My LG DVD player is displaying the 'protection' message and not playing audio. it has done it a few times before and just sorted itself out. When I unplug all the speakers it still has the message so am gonna try hoovering the vents cos I also ( foolishly ) have my sky box permanently sat on top of the dvd. However if I cant get it working I am thinking of buying a new dvd player. this one http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh...ba/sd280.html? says its dolby compatible. Would that mean I could just plug my current speakers and woofer directly into it or am I getting the wrong idea?

[chrisjr]

That's just a DVD player.I suspect what you mean by your LG DVD is actually a home cinema all in one system. That has the DVD player, surround sound decoder and power amplifiers all in one box.

The Toshiba has the DVD bit, may even have the surround sound decoder bit but it hasn't got the power amplifier bit. So won't drive the speakers.

[craigy132]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

That's just a DVD player.I suspect what you mean by your LG DVD is actually a home cinema all in one system. That has the DVD player, surround sound decoder and power amplifiers all in one box.

The Toshiba has the DVD bit, may even have the surround sound decoder bit but it hasn't got the power amplifier bit. So won't drive the speakers.

Ok Cheers. So are my speakers and woofer virtually useless now that the dvd player isnt working. I.e will I have to buy a complete surround system again?

[chrisjr]

What LG system is it? It may have a digital audio input that would let you connect up an external DVD player, such as the Toshiba you linked to. So if the amp section and speakers are OK you might be able to get something out of it.

That is one of the pitfalls of these all in one systems. If one part goes faulty it means you may have no option but to junk the whole thing and start all over again. Buying a separates system (ie stand alone DVD, amplifier and speakers) means you can replace just the faulty part without having to start all over again.

And you can upgrade more simply, for instance changing the DVD to a BluRay player. Or changing the amp for one with more inputs as your equipment list grows - say you get a Sky box or games console and want to hook those up as well.