Please help ASAP w/B&K receiver problem

[rookiejk]

I just bought a AVR505. Hopefully someone out there has either this model or the 507 because I am having a problem. I am getting a slight bit of feedback and a whole lot of popping. The front speakers pop, whenever I change a channel or increase the volume. I don't know what the hell the problem is. I checked my connections and they seem to be proper. My TV has a digital coax output for audio and my dvd has a optical out. Both of them have done this. No problems with video. Please help me, or suggest a solution.

[Ceruleance]

weird and bad. I would check to make sure that the speaker cables aren't touching and shorting out the amps

[rookiejk]

well, i figured out 1 of the 2 problems, I think. The reason I am getting a popping when I change the TV channel is that I am running the audio out from my HD cable box using a coax cable, but some of the channels are still analog. So, when I change the analog channels, the audio pops. Changing between digital channels does not do this. Maybe there is a way to figure this out. Does anyone else have Time Warner HDTV cable? Have you experienced this?

I still have yet to figure out why my speakers are popping when I increase the volume, while playing a dvd. I have my Dvd connected though toslink/optical cable.

[rookiejk]

the amps aren;t shorting out. All of the speakers are using banana plugs. Maybe I need higher gaudge speaker wire. I am using 14 on the surrounds/center and 16 on the mains. This would not cause the problem though, would it?

[F1nut]

No

[Frank Z]

Sounds like it's time to take that unit in for service. Any authorized service centers in your area? How about returning it and getting another one?

[RuSsMaN]

Does the 'help ASAP' chap anyone else's ass, or is it just me?

[Frank Z]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Does the 'help ASAP' chap anyone else's ass, or is it just me?

I've given your question considerable thought, while I was on the crapper, and came to conclusion that is all you big guy.;)

[gmorris]

Why are you using larger wire on the surrounds/center? You do realize that 14 AWG is LARGER than 16 AWG, don't you? Not that it makes a difference concerning your problem, but it is unusual.

Did you buy your rec. new or pre-owned?

[rookiejk]

Russ- sorry if you were put off by the ASAP thing, but ASAP means as soon as possible, and I would like to fix this as soon as possible, b/c it is bugging the hell out of me.


The popping/static only becomes obvious at very high volume levels. My connections are all correct. The speaker wire is all + to + and - to -. I am using digital coax inputs from my HD cable box into the receiver and optical audio from DVD player to receiver; however, the problem occurs even when the cable box/dvd is powered down. I played with it a little bit this morning and turned off everything except for the receiver. I removed all of the speaker wire and ran each channel individual, and each channel was popping at each db increase in volume from 0 to +15. This happened without any audio input. Also, I unplugged all of the other components, so power would not be a problem. I have no idea what this could be, but I am gonna try and contact B&K for troubleshooting advice if you guys don't have any solutions for me. Hopefully it is something that can be easily fixed.

[brettw22]

and each channel was popping at each db increase in volume from 0 to +15

What the hell are you maxing out your receiver for? I don't know of any system that (when you turn it ALL the way up) won't distort at those volumes.....

The 'solution'.....to your 'problem'.....is to KEEP YOUR STUFF TURNED DOWN so you don't kill everything you own. (kinda ironic that I'm screaming the turning down part, huh?)

[gmorris]

I would have to disagree with you, brettw22. he didn't say he maxed out the volume, he said he still heard the popping when he increased the volume even without an input signal. i'd say it's pretty obvious that there is a problem with the B&K.

i'll ask again, did you buy the B&K new or used? if it was new, take it back, you should have a warranty. if it is used with no warranty, take it to an authorized dealer for service. forget about contacting B&K for troubleshouting advice. it sounds to me like you've already exhausted all the troubleshooting possibilities.

[brettw22]

With the B&K stuff, 0 is reference level, and up to +15 IS maxed. I'm not entirely saying the amp isn't having some sort of a problem, but if he has it to those levels regularily, with everything hooked up, he IS going to blow the damn thing up. (if he hasn't already done so)

In addition to the new/used question, what speakers are you running on the amp?

[F1nut]

Brett,

"Also, I unplugged all of the other components, so power would not be a problem."

Read, then post. Maybe you need to stop working those long hours and get some rest.

[brettw22]

It's ok F1.......I don't fault you for not understanding my post........

I was saying that if he's listening to his system regularily at "very high volumes", he's going to do long term damage to the thing.

I do understand what "unplugged all of the other components" means......maybe.......just maybe......there's some user error here that created the problem.....<<shrug>> MAYBE.........

(thanks for your smug suggestion though.....duly filed)

[rookiejk]

thanks for the help guys. I bought the thing used. The warranty was never registered, so i don't know if it is still applicable. I have all of the info for the warranty, but don't have an original receipt.

You were correct in saying that turning the volume up that high will probably blow my speakers, but I was doing it without an input source, so there was no data running to the speakers and it still made the popping noise. I am taking it in to the shop today. So we'll see.

[F1nut]

Hehe......Brett, ditto and also duly filed.


Rookiejk,

Please report back what the findings are.

[Tour2ma]

Originally posted by rookiejk
I am gonna try and contact B&K for troubleshooting advice if you guys don't have any solutions for me.

Never a bad idea...

My Ref 50 "pops" when switching sources and modes coinciding with the click of the relays in the unit switching, but not during a volume change. Sounds like an abnormal issue to me.

[rookiejk]

oh, and brett in regards to your question about what speakers i am running, I am running 2 Lsi25s, LsiC and 2 LsfXs. I used them with a Denon 3803 for a couple days, but the thing couldn't handle the speakers. It didn't give me any of these problems though.

I know that I don't have 20 years experience in audio, but I am not an idiot. All of the stuff was set up correctly. Unless there was some outside interference, I don't know why it would give me that feedback. The popping occured in synch with each single increase in volume db. I guess we will see what the service guy says. I'm leaving soon to check it out.

[rookiejk]

well, i dropped the thing off a few minutes ago. One of the guys in the store told me that he had a customer have a similar problem and that it might be the voltage coming out of the outlet. I guess we'll see in 2 weeks when I get the beast back.

[brettw22]

Originally posted by rookiejk
I know that I don't have 20 years experience in audio, but I am not an idiot. All of the stuff was set up correctly. Unless there was some outside interference, I don't know why it would give me that feedback. The popping occured in synch with each single increase in volume db. I guess we will see what the service guy says. I'm leaving soon to check it out.

I wasn't in any way calling you an idiot. I'm just saying, if you blast your equipment, and you've been doing that for a while, regardless of what it NOW does with everything disconnected, MAYBE you already did the damage.

Hopefully it'll be fixed soon either way. Curiosity would cause me to ask how exactly you have your LSi25's hooked up to the 505......

[rookiejk]

well, i have only had the receiver for 2 days, so i don't think I could've done any damage. I have the 25s hooked up soley through speaker wire and set on large. The speakers aren't the problem though, they worked fine with the Denon receiver I had setup before the B&K. I am slightly drunk right now, so if my reply makes no sense don't fault me. I have to wait 2 frick'n weeks to see what the problem is. It really sucks.

[brettw22]

Just a question to the others, but do ya think that the LSi25 set on large is ok to do to a receiver, even if it is the B&K?

[Frank Z]

As long as the receiver is capable of driving a 4 ohm speaker I see no problem.

I'll be surprised if the problem really is the voltage being supplied to the B&K. I would asssume that that a low voltage condition would have affected the Denon receiver as well. If the repair shop says there is nothing wrong with it, I'd take it to a friends house and try it out in a different enviroment with a different voltage source and try to duplicate the problem.

[gmorris]

I also question the comment rookiejk made about the Denon 3803 not being able to "handle the speakers". What do you mean by that?

The Denon is a fine receiver. I'd even go as far as saying one of the better receivers around. Just what makes you think that the B&K is so much better, that it can handle the speakers?

If you hooked your speakers up to the Denon the same way you hooked them up to the B&K, but got no popping with the Denon, it was obvious you have a bad receiver. It would seem to me the B&K can't handle the speakers eithter.

I think you have done the right thing by taking the B&K in for service.

[wallstreet]

0 is reference level?! I've yet to hit 0 on my 307. I can't imagine +15.

[dorokusai]

Isn't it interesting how "Mr. B&K" has not responded to this thread?

[rookiejk]

In regards to the Denon 3803 not being able to handle the Lsi series speakers, it is simply unable to maintain a 4ohm impedence. This causes the unit to heat up and the thing to go into protection mode. The 3803 is a fine receiver, it just can't handle the 4ohm impedence.

As for the issue of cranking the volume up to the max level 15db, I did that because it makes the problem more noticeable. I was not running the speakers at that level. As I stated before, I never turned the thing up that high for music/movies, but rather to clarify the suttle problem I had heard at lower level. That's it.

[rookiejk]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the B&K is rated at 185x5 at 4ohms. I am pretty sure that those ratings are true WPC ratings, all channels driven. Whereas with the denon, you don't have a 4ohm rating and the power ratings at 8ohm were inflated (not all channels driven.).