Audio Systems: Aiwa Receiver, No Sound, good speakers, lightning strike

Question
There was a fairly large thunderstorm last night, and during the storm my speakers (Sony, SS-MF600H) started hissing static.  I got up, turned the volume down, and changed the mode on the receiver (Aiwa, AV-D58)(it was on "CD).  The noise stopped and I went back to sleep.

Woke up this morning, hit play on the CD player, and nothing was coming out of the speakers.  No other audio sources (TV, Phonograph, DVD) produced any sound either.  I disconnected the receiver's AC plug, disconnected all input/outputs, and disconnected the speakers ... thinking there might be a short.  I reconnected everything, and I still don't get any sound.

All the other components work fine, and the receiver appears to be working (the LCD display works, and all the functions appear to be in working order ... volume, level adjustments, etc.)

Any ideas?


Answer
Dear Kevin,

The phrase "fairly large thunderstorm...speakers started hissing static" about says it all. One of two things has happened, both likely the result of a proximate lightning strike and resultant power surge: (1) the output stage of your receiver has shorted out--perhaps fried, or (2) your speakers have been fried--or maybe both. The first is curable; the second is fatal.

You need to run some simple tests. First, get another pair of speakers somewhere (doesn't matter what kind, etc.) and connect them to your receiver. If you get sound, then the problem's with your speakers. If you still don't get sound, then we know at least that there's an issue with the receiver.

Check all the user-servicable fuses on the receiver. If any is broken, replace it with THE SAME VALUE fuse. Reconnect your speakers and try it. If no sound, connect the good speakers. If still no sound, then your receiver needs to be taken to a repair facility for diagnosis and servicer.

Next, take your speakers over to a buddy's house, and try them with his system. If they work, fine, no problem. If they don't, mostly likely the voice coil has been fried, and they're useless. Sorry.

For the future, make sure all your stuff is plugged into a surge suppressor--although even those can't protect you against a proximate strike; the lightning's just too powerful to protect everything all the time.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin