AV Receiver dead?

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Gambit

169 posts

Master Geek

#243871 6-Jan-2019 15:04

Hi,
I was watching telly when my reciever (Pioneer VSX 920)
suddenly turned off and the PQLS light started flashing.
I thought it may be a speaker connection issue so I've unplugged everything except the power cable but still having issues.It powers on but turns off straight away and PQLS begins flashing.
I've looked around on the net to see if I can restart it but still no good.
Never had any problems with it so hopefully it's an easy fix?
I've had it 7 years so maybe it's reached the end of its life.
Will take it to a shop in town tomorrow and hope for the best 😀

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Awrrr
18660 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2155329 6-Jan-2019 15:18

I have a very old Yamaha that forms the basis of my HT system. Replacing it would be an enormous hassle because it would also mean replacing everything else. The universal remote would be useless. All the things that interact and depend on each other would have to be done over. Apart from the fact that I can't afford to upgrade it all, just the work involved gives me the shudders.

So imagine how I felt when the Yamaha suddenly refused to turn on a couple of years ago. Fearing the worst, I took it to a very good local repairman who replaced the inevitable capacitors and resoldered the whole circuit board. He told me that modern electronics tend to come unsoldered over time because of European rules banning leaded solder. The repair cost me $250 and the Yamaha is still working perfectly.

It is possible something comparable has happened to your receiver. Don't give up hope yet.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

01EG

604 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2156501 8-Jan-2019 16:27

My problem was my speaker cable plugs(red/black) were touching each other(lost twisting with the time), I was completely sure they were isolated but they are not.

old plugs

new ones

Gambit

169 posts

Master Geek

#2161393 15-Jan-2019 10:32

So I got the bad news that the main board is fired and they don't make them anymore.
Would've cost $3-400 to fix anyway.
Has anyone had experience with the Sony strd 790?
I see the strdn1080 gets great reviews but no specials on st the moment.

Thanks

FineWine

2981 posts

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Nurse (R)

Lifetime subscriber

#2161410 15-Jan-2019 11:07

Gambit:
Has anyone had experience with the Sony strd 790?
Thanks

Have had a Sony STR-DB790 since they were first released in Aussie in late 1990's. Have had no trouble with it :crossed_fingers:

The only thing is that it is old technology now. No HDMI, No WiFi, No Bluetooth, No AirPlay, No Atmos or DTX

The specs are here.

My bucket list is to upgrade into the 21st century technology.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

Gambit

169 posts

Master Geek

#2161415 15-Jan-2019 11:16

Sorry I meant strdh 790 it's the model below the strdn 1080.Looks ok on paper but not sure about some of the speaker connections as they are the spring terminal type.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2161715 15-Jan-2019 19:06

Spring terminals are a sign to be wary, very wary... as is the 1 year warranty.

I know about the CGA etc, but only backing something as an AVR for 1 year seems to either indicate confidence or cheapness... pick one!

The 145 watt rating will be heavily influenced by marketers, I'm picking it will be close to 75/80 watts per channel, not that speakers typically need this, but still.

So yeah, there's probably better 5 channel receivers on the market.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

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#2161754 15-Jan-2019 20:15

Gambit: Hi,
I was watching telly when my reciever (Pioneer VSX 920)
suddenly turned off and the PQLS light started flashing.
I thought it may be a speaker connection issue so I've unplugged everything except the power cable but still having issues.It powers on but turns off straight away and PQLS begins flashing.
I've looked around on the net to see if I can restart it but still no good.
Never had any problems with it so hopefully it's an easy fix?
I've had it 7 years so maybe it's reached the end of its life.
Will take it to a shop in town tomorrow and hope for the best 😀

Where are you located the fault you are having is dc voltage being detected on the speaker output line. Can be fixed for a lot less than you have been quoted.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Gambit

169 posts

Master Geek

#2161758 15-Jan-2019 20:24

I'm in Nelson.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

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#2161761 15-Jan-2019 20:50

Gambit: I'm in Nelson.

Bugger sorry in chch here I could have taken a look at it, not worth sending down here though, probably best to move on and upgrade there are always some good deals on somewhere.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#2161777 15-Jan-2019 21:31

I got the Sony STRDH790 a couple of months ago. It's been fine so far. I mainly got it because it was a smaller size and it was in budget, plus it had 4K, Atmos etc. Those spring clips are absolute pain in the posterior! Such a hassle to get them in properly, I'm still not sure the connections are great, everything is working fine though. My set up is pretty modest, and this is my first time with a real AV receiver but it seems to be up to to the job so far.

Gambit

169 posts

Master Geek

#2161833 16-Jan-2019 07:53

@mspec that would've been great thanks but not to be sadly.I see AV world has a couple of good deals on Pioneers at the moment but will hold off for a while and put up with tiny tv speakers:(
I'm thinking of possibly selling the amp just to get something for it as someone who knows what they're doing could get a great deal when its repaired.
Be a shame to chuck it in the wheelie bin.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2161869 16-Jan-2019 08:46

If you're in Nelson go into Beggs MusicWorks and talk to them about a new amp, they know their stuff and can point you in the right direction. Failing that you've got Audiophile (certainly CI focused) and Living Sound (more 2-channel oriented)... so there's quite a few specialist audio stores who can help out.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#2161879 16-Jan-2019 09:23

Gambit: @mspec that would've been great thanks but not to be sadly.I see AV world has a couple of good deals on Pioneers at the moment but will hold off for a while and put up with tiny tv speakers:(
I'm thinking of possibly selling the amp just to get something for it as someone who knows what they're doing could get a great deal when its repaired.
Be a shame to chuck it in the wheelie bin.

Maybe change the direction of your thinking, We had the full AV setup in our lounge and one night a massive power surge fried it and our tv.

Upgraded the TV to a new OLED (my god what an amazing upgrade) , but instead of an amp setup I got a really decent sound bar. Could not go back to an AV setup now the simplicity of the sound bar is fantastic and the sound is so much better than I would ever thought a sound bar could be. Would be worth a look just going in and checking some out.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

lookout

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2162062 16-Jan-2019 16:08

Mspec:

Gambit: @mspec that would've been great thanks but not to be sadly.I see AV world has a couple of good deals on Pioneers at the moment but will hold off for a while and put up with tiny tv speakers:(
I'm thinking of possibly selling the amp just to get something for it as someone who knows what they're doing could get a great deal when its repaired.
Be a shame to chuck it in the wheelie bin.

Maybe change the direction of your thinking, We had the full AV setup in our lounge and one night a massive power surge fried it and our tv.

Upgraded the TV to a new OLED (my god what an amazing upgrade) , but instead of an amp setup I got a really decent sound bar. Could not go back to an AV setup now the simplicity of the sound bar is fantastic and the sound is so much better than I would ever thought a sound bar could be. Would be worth a look just going in and checking some out.

Which soundbar did you get? A few years ago, when I was looking, soundbars definitely did not compare to a basic 2.0 or 2.1 setup. I figured they would eventually catch up in sound quality.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2162208 16-Jan-2019 19:30

I don't believe they've caught up... just become skinnier to fit under the TV's (now that many TV's have become slimmer and lower).

This means that they rely far more on the subwoofer to get decent performance. The issue there is that the sub ends up crossing over extremely high and a lot of upper mid-range come out of the subwoofer (the male voice as an example) which is VERY noticeable when the subwoofer is positioned away from the TV / soundbar.

Take a look at the new JBL soundbars, some of those subs are HUGE as they do so much of the heavy lifting for the bar itself.

Wireless surround speakers are a clincher for some, but you can get those for AVR's too... so yeah.

Ultimately they're normally a lot cheaper than a full 5.1 speaker pack and receiver though!

Are people happy to take the decrease in quality? Some.

Others, nope.

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