Audio Systems: Trouble hooking up components, cable conductor, pioneer speakers

Question
QUESTION: I recently moved and am trying to hook up my TV, DVD, and receiver. Connections currently as follows:
Two new pioneer speakers connected to receiver using L/R
"front" speaker location. Very poor sound when trying to listen to FM radio on tuner, purchased FM antenna to connect.
Powered 50W subwoofer is connected to receiver at subwoofer
port.

DVD player connected to receiver at DVD ports using W/R/Y
monster cable. Getting sound from speakers when play DVD.

DVD player connected to TV with S Cable. Getting picture when play DVD.

Hooked DVD player to TV with R/W audio cable for use when playing CD on the DVD player.

Problem: When playing some CD's, the music stops and the
receiver flashes the word "protect". Will not resume unless
power off receiver for a moment and turn back on. Am not playing at excessive volume and doesn't happen all the time.
Didn't seem to matter what sound "setting" I was using on the receiver options (cinema, small hall, large hall, etc)
and did the same when I changed to just 2 channel input,
leaving out the subwoofer.
Does it sound like I have hooked something up wrong, need to change a setting on the receiver, or what ?

ANSWER: Protect is a fail safe mechanism designed to let you know when there is a load or amplifier problem (load being the speakers). Check both ends of all speaker cables to make sure that one of the conductors is not shorting. If you don't find a short then you can assume that one still exists. It will either be an intermittent amp problem possibly caused by the amplifier (receiver) overheating due to poor ventilation or dirt or it could be a speaker that is fatigued and presents a short across the amplifier after it's been playing for awhile.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, and probably a stupid question, but how do I tell if a speaker cable/conductor is shorting ? The speakers and cables are brand-new.
Would using two speakers and the sub on a receiver that can take up to five be overloading somehow ?


Answer
The output impedance of the receiver is generally 8 ohms. Most consumer grade speakers are rated at 8 ohms. Each individual output, Left front and rear, Right front & rear and center terminals should only have one speaker connected to it (total 5 speakers). If two 8 ohm speakers are connected to one terminal then the impedance changes to 4 ohms. The amplifier must work harder so it will get hotter and may go into the protect mode. If by chance your speakers are rated lower than 8 ohms the effect would be the same and the amplifier might overheat even if the volume is not high. Any load lower than 4 ohms is an effective short to the amplifier. If your eyes are good look carefully at the amplifier and speaker terminals to see if their are some tiny frayed wires that could touch the opposite terminal of that speaker and/or amplifier channel.