Receiver failure
August 7, 2002
I'm not sure if I did anything to cause a short with my
Sony STR-DE845, but the speakers started to screech in the middle of watching a movie and
then all the sound disappeared. I left the receiver off for a few hours, but still no
luck. Are you aware of any such problems due to overheating? Thanks.
Rattan
Receivers typically have comprehensive protection
systems that will shut down the unit safely in case of overheating. Usually the unit will
not function until safe internal operating temperatures are reached. This usually takes
only a few minutes. The fact that your Sony will not power back up after a few hours, and
due to the nature of the failure (screeching sound), I would hazard a guess that you have
an internal component that has malfunctioned. You'll need to take it to your dealer or a
service center to have it looked at and possibly repaired.
Binding posts better?
August 7, 2002
Thanks for all the great information you provide on GoodSound!.
I'm going to be buying a new receiver and have seen many new ones that use binding
posts instead of the push-in terminals. Which is better, and should I be concerned about
it?
Russ Parlondo
Spring clips (or push terminals) are inferior to binding
posts for two reasons. First, they typically accept only small-diameter wire. This limits
the gauge (thickness) of wire you can comfortably use, which may mean less contact area
between the wire and receiver's terminals. Second, but related to the first, is that
contact area is limited due to the connector type a spring clip can accommodate. Most
spring clips will only accept bare wire (or sometimes pins) instead of spades or banana
plugs. This is not a problem in and of itself, but when coupled with the small-diameter
wire, it can limit the amount of contact area even further. The binding post is the better
connector, and I am very glad to see manufacturers using it more and more.
School-house rock
August 5, 2002
We are looking for a small (portable?) sound system for our
school. We need CD, cassette, and radio, and to be able to hook-up a microphone also. Does
this exist? Could you recommend a system? Not too high end!
Thanks,
AJ
I think what you need you'll find in the professional
market. A couple of PA-type speakers and a one-box setup can be purchased fairly
inexpensively, provide all the features you need, and have plenty of output in case you
set it up in a large room or gym. Look for a local dealer that sells musical instruments
and give them a call and explain what you are looking for. Let me know how it turns out.
Amp break-in
August 3, 2002
I just purchased a high-end amplifier, and I was told to
let the amp play continuously. I plan to run the amp day and night, but at which volume
level?
Sue
Normal playing will allow the amplifier to break in
properly. I wouldn't do anything special. Just enjoy your music and the amp will settle in
over time. Some people hear the effects of the break-in process, while others don't.
Either way, if you use your amp as intended, you have your bases covered.
|
