Ultimate stereo nightmare


I have a complex stereo system, having accumulated many various components through the years. I also have an impenetrable jumble of wires.  Until now I’ve been able to deal with problems that arose. Now that I am elderly I can’t easily get down on the floor to assess things. I bought and installed new very expensive speaker cables (Audioquest Robin Hood), and subsequently found that my right channel was not working. After switching cables, the right channel was still not working. So the problem is somewhere in the system.  I don’t know if it’s a loose cable or something else and have no way of tackling the jungle of wires to check it out. 
I hired a company that claims they deal with these things, but there’s such complexity I don’t know whether they can deal with it.
 

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xrvpiano

Hey @rvpiano,  congratulations on getting your problem resolved.  If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for her service.  It's ok if you rather not share that .

Also, I'm glad to come across your post.   At least I feel I'm not the only one with messy cables problem.  I have one of those component cabinets made by a company called BDI, and it's got wheels on the legs.   I almost faint every time I have to go behind the cabinet to fix or make changes,  I see a big pile of intertwined cables (power, interconnect, ethernet, trigger, speaker).  There is nothing more I hate to do than going back there.   I always tell my wife before hand to call 911 if I'm not out in 2 hours.  😀

Cheers!

rvpiano's avatar

rvpiano OP

2,191 posts

 

JASMINE IS A GENIUS! 

She got the whole system working within an hour.

+1000000 to Jasmine!

 

Electronic components don’t last forever. The reason for the massive heat sinks and fans to cool them down may offer a clue. Your effort to switch cables and determine the source of the malfunction is always first on the list. Sometimes it’s that simple, sometimes not. Assuming it’s not the source input, if it’s an integrated amp, you either have to send it in for repair or replace it. If not switch output channels to determine what component took a dump. As for me, I keep a low end, but respectable back-up integrated amp on hand just in case. Could be as simple as a tube just took a crap. Best of luck.

Sorry, but this is not like laying bricks....they are

Cables, you plug them in and unplug them etc. Not beng course, just don’t see what the big deal is.

@audioguy85 : the solution was posted several posts ago. If some could only read….

 

Besides, the OP is 83 years old. Which I doubt you read it. Have you ever been 83 years old? I have not , but I know close / family people at that age. Things slow down. A lot.