Gone into overload (1 Viewer)

[PaulDF]

A funny thing happened to me tonight... I was watching a few exciting LOTR scenes at 5 db below reference. Much louder than I usually listen, just wanted to see how the system would hold up.
Everything calibrated and the sub EQ'd flat. I had the sub about 7 db hot, which is no prob for it!
All of a sudden, the sound disappeared! I looked at the receiver and it said "OVERLOAD", I think it was flashing. Then the receiver shut off. My heart stopped...

I got up and felt the top of the receiver. It was not very hot at all. No more than usual. I turned it back on and all looks well, though I decided to shut her all down for a while.

If it matters the receiver is a Pioneer 850s, 110w/ch * 6. I wonder why it would do this? All speaks are set to small so I thought it would handle reference levels ok.

 

[BrianJ>Y]

Do you have midnight mode on? If you do, turn it off and you should most likely be fine. Have a friend who had the same exact problem, midnight mode was the cause. If you check your manual it says that turning this feature on will trigger overload at times.

 

[ChadLB]

What ohm are your speakers? If they are speakers like deftech which say they are Compatible with 4-8 ohms there can be problems. My friend owns the deftechs and Pioneer 711 and would have problems when he would go to -35 which is not loud and get the overload. So check to see what ohm your speakers are. It maybe another option.

 

[PaulDF]

I'm sure the midnite mode was off. I have read the manual numerous times, but don't recall it ever mentioning overload...
My Main speakers are rated at 8 ohm, center 6 ohm. My surround speakers might be where the problem lies, I have older 8 ohm towers, and very small bookshelfs wired in parallel. The bookshelfs are rated for 16 ohms I think. Is this a bad no no? I measured the circuit impedence this way with a multimeter and got what I thought was an acceptable reading, though I don't exactly remember what it was. No less than 6 ohms thats for sure. I wouldn't want to run any less then that with this receiver.

 

[John Royster]

I have older 8 ohm towers, and very small bookshelfs wired in parallel

that'll do it. Maybe try to take the book shelves out of the picture and do your tests again.

 

[PaulDF]

Okay, thanks guys. Someday I'll get to upgrade my speaks!

The OVERLOAD message just took me by suprise, thats all.

 

[Justin Ward]

Check your speaker connections. For a while my Pioneer 510 was overloading at only -15dB with DVD and -25dB with X-Box. I removed all speaker connection and put them in again as cleanly as possible. Now I can hit reference levels without overloading. Although I have a fairly small room.

 

[PaulDF]

Justin, On my Pioneer, "only -15db" is very close to reference level. Does your 510 have pushpin connectors? My 850 has screw clamp type, but I would not have thought to check this! Though I suppose most of my speakers have the pushpin connectors, and I was just fudging with the rear channels since the tower speakers have two sets of wire into each... I'd better clean them up... (Yes, against better judgement I am still running them in parallel. It just sounds so much better this way, and since the small bookshelves are so easy to run, I don't know if there is a big problem with it. But it is very possible I could be wrong!)

After more experimenting with AVIA, I have found that reference level on my system is actually -16db. Which is exactly what level I had it at when it overloaded. (Not sure what the 5 db change was since I last checked the calibration?) This has been the only time I have had the receiver go into overload, and since I almost never watch or listen at this level, I am not overly concerned. My rear speaker setup is definitely a no no, and the 6 ohm center will not help matters either.

Thanks again!

 

[Justin Ward]

Oops, by "-15dB" I meant 15dB from reference. Reference level on my receiver is -22dB on the display.

Also, if your receiver is overlading at reference level just lower the volume 3dB or so. It will still be plenty loud but your amp will only be working about half as hard.

 

[PaulDF]

Yeah, that makes sense.

I didn't realize at the time that I was actually listening at reference level. Man it was loud. Thats right, a 3 db difference will half the amp load.