A/V Receiver "Cooked" or just barely damaged?

Budarow

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Dec 16, 2001
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While using the receiver, a weird sound started coming out of my speakers and the receiver when dead. The standby light comes on, but no other lights and no sound. I tried unplugging the receiver for several hours and still the same results (i.e., standby light with no sound).

I noticed 3 of my speaker wires (left front, right front, and right rear) actually looked "smoked" on the inside of the casing (kind of a "silvery" opaque look).

I called a local repair shop and they estimated the repair would be ~$85 ($20 for "unnamed" part and $65 for labor).

Is the repair shop "smoking something" (i.e., the repair will cost much more and they're baiting me) or does anyone have an educated guess as to what's "broken" in my receiver? I'm guessing it's not the internal fuse since the standy light comes on?

Thanks,

Budarow
 

HGC

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Dec 22, 1999
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Sorry I can't say anything about what might be wrong, but the repair estimate sounds about right. The digital inputs died on my Onkyo TX-DS747 (slightly older) receiver, and the bill was just about the same.

However, after spending that money the same problem came back a year later. You might think about biting the bullet and shelling out for a new receiver. I wish I had.
 
Mar 10, 2005
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i suspect the actual repair costs will approach the price of a new reciever. if several channels are fried, i guess the power supply and each amp is done for.
 

imported_Imp

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Dec 20, 2005
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Dang, I'd cry if that happened to me. Not sure about the repair cost, but generally, repairs are miss. If something went bad, chances are something's going to go bad again. Couple years back, we had a VCR repaired for about $85, POS broke again after a few months (maybe less IIRC). They should be clearing stock for the new line now or soon, so I'd just shell out for something new. Better to spend more now than to gamble $85 on all your equipment. Hope it didn't fry any of your speakers.
 

Budarow

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Dec 16, 2001
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Thanks for the opinions. I already picked up a new receiver for my main system, but if the repair cost was cheap enough, I would consider fixing the receiver for use in the basement.

Besides, when my son was ~2 years old, he got hold of a pair of pliers and proceeded to smash my receiver remote with the handle end of the pliers. After a couple of wacks and before I could stop him, the remote was in pretty poor shape.

Based on the above plus your opinions, I think I'll pass on the repair unless I can fix the receiver myself with a ~$20 parts investment.
 

Budarow

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Dec 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I was worried it was your new receiver when I first read it :Q

I'm sure glad it wasn't my new one:). Since my son is now 9...I'm sure he's glad he didn't smash up the remote AGAIN (i.e., I only give clemency 1 time for breaking up remote controls)! How's it going soundman;) While I've got you "roped" into another thread...can I have your opinion on the X-FI Platnium sound card for use with a HTPC like mine? Any significant advantages over the Audigy2 ZS?

Thanks,

Budarow
 
Mar 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: Budarow

While I've got you "roped" into another thread...can I have your opinion on the X-FI Platnium sound card for use with a HTPC like mine? Any significant advantages over the Audigy2 ZS?

Thanks,

Budarow

If gaming is a priority then yeah the X-Fi will be good, although I'd pass on the Platinum version and get some cables to do direct analog to your reciever (provided it isn't already taken). This is the only way you'll get surround for games out of the X-Fi into a reciever.

If gaming isn't a big deal, then you could just pass everything through SPDIF (a lot of motherboards come with it, and you can get a very cheap card to do it if your mobo doesn't). You could also look at cards that do Dolby Digital Live and/or DTS-Connect (it encodes audio output through SPDIF into Dolby Digital or DTS signals that the reciever then decodes).

For games, there is no doubt the X-Fi is the card to get. For movies and music, I personally prefer an unmolested signal, so SPDIF passthrough would be my recommendation. For say TV, emulator games, or if you like upmixed music, then the DDL/DTS cards would be good.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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I agree. If gaming going to be a big thing, then that would be a good $75 upgrade to do if you connect it up to your multichannel analog input on the Onkyo 604.
 

Budarow

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Dec 16, 2001
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Thanks buds...guess I'll grab one then. Also soundman...I got lucky with the Mitsubishi HD1000U and got the free lamp coupon last week:) At first MIT sent me a rejection letter, then they apparently audited my request and approved the free lamp the second go round. Thought I'd strike while the get'in was good and mailed in the coupon already;) What a great deal that was...$895 shipped with a free lamp!
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: Budarow
Thanks buds...guess I'll grab one then. Also soundman...I got lucky with the Mitsubishi HD1000U and got the free lamp coupon last week:) At first MIT sent me a rejection letter, then they apparently audited my request and approved the free lamp the second go round. Thought I'd strike while the get'in was good and mailed in the coupon already;) What a great deal that was...$895 shipped with a free lamp!

Hot :thumbsup:
 

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
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Just read a review of that projector...I'm jealous :). Maybe that will be the successor to my 4805 in a couple of years.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: SearchMaster
Just read a review of that projector...I'm jealous :). Maybe that will be the successor to my 4805 in a couple of years.

In a couple of years all the current projectors will be old news ;)
 

Budarow

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Dec 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: SearchMaster
Just read a review of that projector...I'm jealous :). Maybe that will be the successor to my 4805 in a couple of years.

In a couple of years all the current projectors will be old news ;)

What's really shocking to me is the cost of stepping up to 1080P from 720P in a PJ. I haven't done much research cause I can't afford one anyway, but it seems to be ~$2,500 (or more) to go from 720P (~$1000) PJ to 1080P (>$3,500) PJ. And to go from 480P to 720P is only about $500 more.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: Budarow
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: SearchMaster
Just read a review of that projector...I'm jealous :). Maybe that will be the successor to my 4805 in a couple of years.

In a couple of years all the current projectors will be old news ;)

What's really shocking to me is the cost of stepping up to 1080P from 720P in a PJ. I haven't done much research cause I can't afford one anyway, but it seems to be ~$2,500 (or more) to go from 720P (~$1000) PJ to 1080P (>$3,500) PJ. And to go from 480P to 720P is only about $500 more.

That's what I'm expecting will change in the next couple years :D