Audio Systems: Onkyo receiver cuts off, bose speaker, receiver cuts

Question
Kevin

The cabinet is a wood table that I made with a top to put my turntables and mixer on and a bottom shelf to store receiver and cd player.  It is open air in the back and nothing is on the receiver.  The spekers are 2 Bose series 201 IV speakers maybe 6".  The sub is a Polk 12".  I did unplug the sub from the receiver to see if that may have been the problem.  It is not. CD changer is the only other componet.

Thanks,

Mick
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Followup To

Question -
My new receiver volume can go up to 99, but when i get it in the 50's with 40 being as loud as a clock radio it cuts off.  i just hooked it up and i only have to speakers and sub hooked to it.  i even unhooked the sub in case that was too much for it.  The model is TX-SR603X. It's a $500 rig and so far I'm not pleased.  Thanks for your help.

Mick

Answer -
Dear Mick,

I wouldn't be pleased either. But first, what kind(s) of speakers are you using? Subwoofer?

What else is connected to it?

What kind of cabinet is it in? Other components in the same cabinet? Is the cabinet well ventilated?

Kindest regards,

Kevin

Answer
Dear Mick,

I checked the Onkyo web site, and there is no model "603". There is a 503 and 602, so I consulted the outputs and wiring diagrams for both. They are virtually identical. No suprise there, since the variations among Onkyo models are in power output and features.

Unless there's an issue with how you've connected your subwoofer and speakers, you may have a malfunctioning unit. It's been known to happen.

When connecting subs and satellites, you have two options. The first is to connect them separately, the SUBWOOFER OUT RCA from the rear panel of the receiver to the LINE IN jacks on the rear of the subwoofer, and each Bose speaker to the FRONT CHANNEL speaker termini on the receiver.

The second option is to connect the FRONT CHANNEL outputs on the receiver to the SPEAKER INPUTs on the subwoofer, and then connect the SPEAKER OUTPUTs on the subwoofer to your Bose speakers.

If you're using the first method make sure (1) that you've connected to the FRONT CHANNEL speaker termini and not, say, a surround channel (In the latter case you'd get very low volume, if any, sound.); and (2) that you've set up the speakers properly using the receiver's SET UP menu to make sure that you've specified the speakers for the CD feed (generally automatic) and that you haven't (perhaps by omission) somehow limited the speakers' output.

If you're using the second method, make sure that you've connected the subwoofer's INPUTS to the FRONT CHANNEL speakers. Also, make sure that you've set the SPEAKER OUTPUT LEVEL high enough that the Boses respond when you turn up the master volume on the receiver.

If none of this works, I'd suggest taking the unit back to where you bought it and have it checked out. May be nothing more than a bad volume control.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin