ArkiStan

I recently purchased a refurbished Onkyo AV receiver. I'm always wary of refurbished products. I've had so many bad experiences before, but I couldn't pass on the bargain. Lo and behold, sound from one of the rear surround channels is really low and has noise.

I found an "authorized" service center online. Had to beg a friend to give me a ride to the service center, which I found out to be a seedy little "electronics repair" shop run by two old geezers. All the equipment lying around the store were antique radios and what looked like black and white TVs. I decided to trust them with the repair, since it was too much of a pain to carry the receiver somewhere else. "Two weeks max," the guy says.

A couple days later I get a call saying that they're playing the radio right now and everything seems to be fine. They could have been using the "Pro Logic" setting, but I reminded them that it is a "surround receiver" and I wanted them to use a 5.1 source to test the rear channels. The guy sounds sort of confused, but says he'll call back. Three weeks go by without a call. I call them up. They say they're waiting on parts to replace the whole circuitry board. Woah.... I just wanted them to fix the rear channel noise.

What do you guys think? Did these guys mess something up or could the problem really be that big?

thekidrocks

I think modern receivers are like modern televisions - you replace it all. They just aren't made to be repaired in the old fasioned way.

Now if a channel was out, sure they could replace the outputs, drivers and any failed resistors in the circuit. But I'd bet this is a preamp/processor issue.

We've truly come to a disposable world. No wonder people fight over "vintage" receivers on eBay. Sold a 1966 H/K a while back in pristine condition. What a bidding war. Bought a 1990's vintage Sony stereo receiver for a non-eBay user freind for $25 ($40 delivered) that works and looks perfect. I think people might be catching on. Maybe.