Need help getting rid of annoying (volume) protection lock

Bart_R · 12-27-2006, 01:03 PM

Hi everyone,

Some months ago I got a new receiver, the marantz sr5600, with which I encountered a little problem just now. I was listening to my Two Towers soundtrack and wanted to crank up the stereo to fully envelop myself in those nice horn-sounds. However when the volume reached a certain level, the receiver timed out, displaying the word "PROTECT". Thankfully, it wasn't busted and came back on after a few seconds (during which I turned down the volume).

In a way, I understand that you cannot drive the receiver too high, but when the installation-guy (it was part of a price) tested the thing initially, it went way louder than it did now. I know my front speakers are up for it (dali concept 8) at the very least. Maybe it's a problem that I bi-wired my center speaker (mordaunt short) and attached an L-pad to the tweeter-wires? Other than that, I think this shouldn't happen.

Does anyone know how I could fix my problem? Is it the L-pad? Are my rears too small perhaps? (Dali concept 2)

Thanks in advance,
Bart.

Alon Goldberg · 12-27-2006, 02:03 PM

Bart,

It might be time to consider purchasing a seperate 2-channel poweramp. For instance, I see a Rotel RB-1080 (2x200W) on Audiogon for $650.

Arthur S · 12-27-2006, 03:23 PM

Bart

You should contact the installation guy and let him know of your problem. You should not need any new equipment.

Happy New Year

Bart_R · 12-27-2006, 06:01 PM

Re: Alon

Thanks for the tip. If I ever have the cash for an extra amp, I'll consider your suggestion.

Right now, though, this is not an option for me. Besides, it's not really a solution to my problem. The thing is, this is not something that should happen as I'm not really pushing the receiver that hard. The volume levels aren't that excessive and it did better during the initial test.

Re: Arthur

Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just hoping I didn't damage anything by bi-wiring my center speaker and blocking some of the higher tones going to the tweeter with the L-pad.

And thanks. A Happy New Year to yoo too!

JeremyErwin · 12-27-2006, 06:47 PM

why are you using an l pad?

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Bart_R · 12-27-2006, 08:16 PM

I'm using an L-pad because the higher frequencies of the center speaker sound too shrill for my tastes, so I chose to lessen them by blocking out some of them by connecting the tweeter wires to an L-pad. It works wonderfully, but I'm wondering if it's the cause of my little problem.

(Btw, I do have another center still [dali concept center, the one that came with the rest of the set], but while not exactly shrill, I do find them too high on the whole, and the bass is also lacking the depth/punch that I love about my mordaunt short. Hence, I opted for the ms/bi-wire/l-pad solution.)

Jean D · 12-27-2006, 08:27 PM

is the L-pad something you've added after the install guy left? If not, can you think of any changes you've made? if so, I would remove it and see if it happens again.

LanceJ · 12-27-2006, 10:14 PM

I agree with Jean: take the L-pad out of the circuit and see what happens. Those gizmos are supposed to present a constant impedance to the amp as they are adjusted, but one time when I was fooling around with one (using it to try to control the volume of my Hafler surround system*) as soon as I turned up my receiver to anything past whisper level, the receiver's protection system activated.

* an incredibly simple, cheap and (and depending on the source) very effective way to get surround out of most stereo systems. Do a google search and you'll get lots of hits.

Bart_R · 12-28-2006, 07:01 AM

Well, I just ran the receiver towards the same volume levels (-19, -18) without the L-pad and the original center and still the protection device kicked in. Damn, this isn't good. I think I'm going to need to send this one in for repair.

Is it an idea to look for defects inside by removing the top? Can I even spot such things as a layman?

Thanks,
Bart.

p.s. Oh and yeah, I did install the L-pad after the install guy left. Another thing I did was daisy chain two subs, but I already unhooked one, and no difference.