Taking a few minutes to diagnose problems with your home stereo can mean the difference between a simple solution or an unnecessary repair bill. Most electronics repair shops charge a fee just to diagnose the problem, and they may or may not apply the fee to the cost of repairs. DVD players and VCRs may be cheaper to replace than repair, so it's worthwhile to troubleshoot your system.
Instructions
1. Isolate the problem with your stereo to a specific speaker or component. For example, if everything works except the VCR, you have narrowed the problem to that piece of equipment. If you get a picture on the television but no sound, you may have a speaker problem or a loose audio plug.
2. Check the power and all cable connections. Don't be embarrassed if an unplugged power cord is the source of your trouble.
3. Secure the cable connections for audio components by pressing the plugs firmly into their corresponding jacks. White and red jacks are for left and right audio connections, respectively. The yellow cable from your VCR, DVD or Blu-Ray player is the video connection.
4. Check speaker wires for secure connections and reset the circuit breaker push buttons on the back of your speakers if they are equipped with surge protectors. Both wires must be connected to the back of each speaker or you will hear no sound. Be sure to switch out an old speaker wire for a new wire if there is no apparent problem with the speaker itself. It could just be a bad wire.
5. Make sure headphones are unplugged from the receiver if you are trying to listen to the external speakers. Some receivers automatically shut off external loudspeakers when headphones are plugged into the component.
6. Verify your receiver setting is on the component you wish to use. To hear audio discs in the CD player, the receiver must be set to CD. Similarly, if you are trying to play vinyl or cassettes, the receiver must be set to turntable or cassette deck.
7. Check your television to be sure it is on the correct input setting by pressing the input button on the remote control. For example, if your receiver is connected to video and audio Input 1 on the back of the television, but the TV has been switched to Input 2, you will see and hear nothing. If a video gaming system is connected to a different input on the TV and the user forgets to switch the setting back to Input 1, you'll come along to watch a movie and nothing will happen.
8. Use a cleaning product such as Memorex to clean the heads on your VCR or the laser lens on your DVD or Blu-Ray player. Often, a good cleaning is enough to get these components working normally.
Tags: Blu-Ray player, cable connections, problem with, receiver must, will hear
