AVR won’t pass analog or digital inputs to pre-outs

nebborjk

Here’s my problem. My HT was working fine until I decided to add the Wal-Mart A2 HD-DVD player special into the mix. My previous set-up was as follows:
-AVR = Kenwood VR-7070
-DVR connected via Toslink
-CD/DVD/DVD-A changer connected via 6-channel analog through an ICBM, Toslink and 2-channel stereo
-Fronts and Center speakers connected via pre-outs to external amps to speakers
-Surrounds connected via AVR speaker connections

Everything worked fine under that scenario, now I have:
-DVR connected via Toslink (no change)
-HD-DVD Player via Toslink
-CD/DVD/DVD-A changer connected via 6-channel analog, coaxial digital and 2-channel stereo
-All speakers use pre-outs to the ICBM to External amps

The AVR will pass test tones to all speakers through the pre-outs. I cannot get any other sounds to be passed through. The AVR fully recognizes which mode it’s supposed to be in. If I tune to a HD channel with DD5.1 on the DVR, the AVR will show that it is decoding DD5.1, but no sound from the pre-outs, dido for the 6-channel analog inputs. If I connect a speaker directly to the AVR it will output sound.

I took the ICBM out of the equation to see if that would make a difference, it didn’t. Again, it will pass test tones through the pre-outs. I tried the microprocessor reset; this didn’t fix anything. Another something weird is the little diagram on the AVR display that shows you which speakers are active along and the input source is very dim and is almost flickering at times, kind of like the unit isn’t getting enough power. I tried isolating the AVR on different power strips and outlets and no change.

Any ideas?

danger boy

so you aren't getting any sound using the pre amp outs now, just by adding a HD Player?

tonyb

connect the Hd player by analog instead of the toslink and take the other player out of the system.Also in some receivers you have to assign an output to a device.

john22614

double check your manual.....you probably need to press a specific button on your remote to go into bypass mode.

nebborjk

Here's where I'm at,

I think that the avr is passing the sound after all. I turned the volume all the up and all the speakers became active. If I decrease the volume the sound will drop out. This happens around -38+/- on the volume setting. I'm thinking that the signal into the amps isn't strong enough to keep the play back going. Even get set to -0 volume, when a quite passage comes along I can hear the amps swichting (into off mode I assume) and the sound outputs stops. I have the amps set to normal power and not auto. Is this a problem with the avr sending a weak signal or are the amps the problem. Any ideas?

disneyjoe7

So if I understand correctly you're using amps feed from your pre amps outputs via your AVR. You then state that a quite passage will shut off amps, I then assume you're using the music sense turn on. Don't do this is HT modes, the sound isn't consistent to the amps when in this mode. You need to power on amps via the voltage sense turn on.

nebborjk

Any quite passage will cause the amps to lose the input, HT or music. If I leave the volume really high, say -20 or higher, on the avr it will not lose the signal. The amps are set to normal power and not set to auto sense the signal to power on which makes the whole thing kind of wierd. I think that the input signal strength is low at the amps. Is this a problem of the avr or the amps?

dudeinaroom

did you turn the volume down on the ICBM, set the levels too low, or reset it with out knowing?
Is the ICBM plugged in?

nebborjk

I thought it might be the ICBM that was sapping the output voltage so I took it out of the loop. It didn't make a difference.

Sherardp

check speaker selection switch, A or B if you that option. Also check speaker settings in AVR, etc.