Basic troubleshooting of a home stereo receiver is easier than one might think.
Troubleshooting a home stereo receiver may seem like a very difficult task for the average person who has little to no experience working with or knowledge of consumer electronics. However, there are many common problems that the average consumer can diagnose at home in little time with very simple tools. Other problems require more technical experience, and some require a trained technical expert that is aware of the risks and dangers of working on home stereo equipment.
Instructions
Intermittent Sound or Power
1. Turn your receiver and equipment connected to your home stereo receiver to the off position.
2. Look on the back panel using a flashlight to see if the speaker wires are loose or frayed. A loose or frayed speaker cable can cause your receiver to turn on and off or perform intermittently because of a short circuit created by poorly connected speaker cable.
3. Plug your stereo receiver into a different wall socket from all other devices. In some cases, home audio and video equipment like plasma televisions can cause your receiver to not get enough power to function as it begins to warm up.
4. Check that your receiver is not overheating by placing your hand near the fan or top portion of the receiver. If the receiver is hot to the touch, the amplifier may overheat. Home stereo receivers often overheat when they are stored in a cabinet with other audio equipment. This problem is further acerbated if there are other audio or video components stacked on top of your receiver.
No Sound or Power
5. Turn the receiver to the off position and disconnect any speaker or audio cabling attached to it.
6. Remove the outer casing of the receiver by unscrewing and removing the outer screws on the top and bottom of the receiver with an appropriately sized screwdriver, and look inside with a flashlight. Check to see if there are any blown fuses, which will often be black or have a cracked filament in the center of the tube, or components that look like they are black or darker in color. This generally indicates a component that needs to be replaced.
7. Confirm that the AC outlet the receiver is plugged into works by plugging a device that is known to be working into the outlet.
8. Test the power cable for continuity with a multimeter by connecting the black jack on the multimeter to the right prong of the power plug, and the right jack of the multimeter to the left side of the AC plug. Both the prong and power cable input should show a reading of zero on the multimeter if the cable is working properly. If the meter shows anything else, you will need a replacement cable. Note that if your AC cable does not detach from your amplifier, you will not be able to perform this test.
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