A receiver is an integral part of every home theater setup.
In this troubleshooting guide, we will explore some of the reasons why your Yamaha receiver powers on but there is no sound (Or maybe it doesn’t power on at all!).
More importantly, we will show you how to get it fixed once and for all.
So if you have been struggling to get any sound out of your Yamaha receiver, read on for some helpful advice!
Run Auto Calibration
Some Yamaha receivers have an auto-calibration feature. This may help to solve your problem of a receiver with no sound output. To run the auto-calibration, follow these steps:
1. Make sure your receiver is turned on.
2. Press the “Menu” button on your receiver.
3. Scroll to “Setup,” then press “Enter.”
4. Scroll to “Auto Calibration” and press “Enter.”
5. The receiver will start calibrating itself. When it’s done, you’ll see a message on the screen.
Alternatively, you can view this YouTube video here:
If your Yamaha receiver doesn’t have an auto-calibration feature, you may still be able to fix the problem by adjusting the settings. Follow these steps:
1. Make sure your receiver is turned on.
2. Press the “Menu” button on your receiver.
3. Scroll to “Setup,” then press “Enter.”
4. Scroll to “Audio” and press “Enter.”
5. Scroll to “Speaker Setup” and press “Enter.”
6. Scroll to “Distance” and press “Enter.”
7. Change the distance to either “Near” or “Far” until you get the best sound quality.
8. Press the “Menu” button to exit.
Checking the input settings
Another thing you can check is the input settings on the receiver. Sometimes, it can be just a simple issue of having the wrong settings on your receiver that’s causing the issue of no sound coming out.
So here is what I recommend you do:
1) On your Yamaha receiver, press the “Input” button.
2) Scroll through the list of inputs and find the one that your audio device is connected to.
3) Make sure that the “Input” setting on your receiver matches the input of your audio device.
4) Press the “Input” button to save your settings.
If the input settings do not match, this can cause the receiver to not produce any sound. So by checking and adjusting these settings, you could potentially fix the issue of no sound output on your Yamaha receiver.
Another setting you can check is the knobs and buttons on the receiver. Sometimes, they can get stuck and not allow you to make any sound changes.
So in this case, I recommend you do the following:
1) Unplug your Yamaha receiver from the power outlet.
2) Clean the knobs and buttons on the receiver with a clean cloth.
3) Plug your Yamaha receiver back into the power outlet.
4) Test to see if the knobs and buttons are working properly.
It goes without saying really, but be sure to check if the volume is turned up on your audio device and receiver. Sometimes, the volume can be turned down so low that you can’t hear any sound coming out, even if the device is on.
So make sure to test these things out and hopefully, one of these solutions will help you fix the issue of no sound coming out of your Yamaha receiver.
Doing a Factory Reset
First and foremost, you should try doing a factory reset on your Yamaha receiver. This will clear any of the current settings and hopefully allow you to start fresh. To do a factory reset on your Yamaha receiver, you will need to:
1) Turn off the power to your Yamaha receiver
2) Unplug the power cord from the back of your Yamaha receiver
3) Plug the power cord back into the Yamaha receiver and turn it on
4) Hold down the “STANDBY/ON” button on the front of your Yamaha receiver until the power light starts flashing
5) Release the “STANDBY/ON” button
6) Press the “MODE” button until “RESET” is displayed on the front of your Yamaha receiver
7) Press the “ENTER” button
8) The power light will start flashing on and off, and when it turns off, your Yamaha receiver has been reset to factory defaults
It may vary depending on your exact Yamaha model though, so check your model manual to see how exactly to do it. If you don’t have it, you can check here.
Updating The Firmware
An often overlooked troubleshooting step is updating the firmware. The firmware basically acts as the operating system for your Yamaha receiver, containing all of the programming, controls and settings that runs your device.
The firmware can get corrupted or simply outdated.
Yamaha periodically releases firmware updates to fix bugs, improve performance or add new features.
And if your firmware is outdated, it could be the cause of your receiver not outputting audio or causing it to skip.
Here’s how to update your receiver’s firmware:
- On your computer, go to the Yamaha support site and find your specific receiver model. Look under the Downloads section for the latest firmware update file.
- Extract the firmware update file contents by unzipping the folder if needed. Copy the actual firmware update file to a USB flash drive.
- With your Yamaha receiver powered off, insert the USB drive into the port on the front panel.
- Press and hold the straight button on the front of the receiver. Continue holding it while powering on the receiver.
- If the update is available, the receiver will recognize the firmware file on the USB drive and prompt you to begin the update. Select Yes.
- Let the update fully complete. The receiver may automatically restart several times. Don’t power off or interrupt the update process.
- When finished, remove the USB drive and power cycle the receiver one final time. It should now be updated and ready for normal use.
After completing the firmware update, I would recommend double-checking your receiver’s settings and ensuring that your wires are nice and secure.
I hope this helped fix your issue, but if not – continue reading.
Cleaning and Checking The Cords
One of the first things you should do when your Yamaha receiver isn’t producing sound is to check the cords.
Make sure that they’re all plugged in correctly and that there’s no damage to the cords. If there is damage, you’ll need to replace them.
You can start by unplugging everything from the receiver and putting the cables to one side.
Then, using a small bit of alcohol and a q-tip, clean the area around the jacks. Be sure not to get any alcohol on the cords themselves, as it can damage them.
Once you’ve cleaned the jacks, re-attach the cables and try turning on the receiver again.
Sometimes pieces of dirt and dust can get in there and prevent the receiver from working properly. So, cleaning the jacks can sometimes do the trick.
If this doesn’t work, I recommend using a multimeter on your receiver.
A multimeter is a device that can be used to measure voltage, current, and resistance. You can use it to test the cords to see if they’re damaged and to test the receiver itself.
To use a multimeter, you’ll need to attach it to the cords in question. There are usually two probes that you can attach to the ends of the cords. Once it’s attached, turn on the receiver and check the reading.
If the cords are damaged, the multimeter will show a low reading or no reading at all. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace the cords.
If you’re not getting a reading at all, it could be that there’s something wrong with the receiver itself. In this case, you’ll need to take it to a technician to have it looked at.
P.S. If you’re looking for an excellent receiver, you should read my Yamaha R-N602 Review.
What If My Yamaha Receiver’s Sound Is Skipping?
If your Yamaha Receiver’s sound is skipping or cutting out, the culprit could be a variety of things
Ignore the first point if your receiver is not wireless.
Weak Connection
If you are streaming audio wirelessly using WiFi or Bluetooth, it could be caused by a weak signal.
Try moving your router or device closer to the receiver. Alternatively, use an ethernet cable for a more stable connection.
Interference
Rule out any interference coming from nearby appliances or devices.
Some devices could include:
- Microwave ovens – Can emit radio frequency interference
- Cordless phones – Operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands used by WiFi
- Wireless security cameras – Also use WiFi frequencies
- Bluetooth speakers or headphones – Compete for bandwidth
- Baby monitors – Transmit at 49MHz, which can disrupt audio
- LED light bulbs – Some models emit high-frequency noise
- Plasma TVs – Generate electromagnetic interference
- Wireless computer mice – Use 2.4GHz wireless signals
- Wireless video game controllers – Also operate on 2.4GHz
- Ceiling fans – Can produce electrical noise from the motor
- Refrigerators – Contains components that emit RF interference
Any devices in close proximity can cause disruption and may be the cause of your Yamaha receiver sound skipping.
Try to remove all devices if possible and try again.
Alternatively, you can try to use an isolation transformer which filters electrical noise and prevents it from passing between the power outlet and your Yamaha Receiver.
We highly recommend this isolation transformer, as it has a warranty and surge protection.
Technical Issue
Another possible option that we all fear, is a technical issue.
It could be anything from a blown component, weak or faulty power supply or anything else.
I did talk about what to do and how to check if your power supply is the issue above if you missed it.
If these don’t solve your issues, it may be time to get onto Yamaha support or a local technician.
What If I’m Getting No Sound From HDMI?
If you are getting no audio when connecting devices to your Yamaha receiver via HDMI cable, there are a few things that can cause this.
Check The Source Device Settings
Your first step is to verify that the source itself is configured to output audio over HDMI rather than analog or optical audio ports.
You can do this by checking the audio output settings in the source device’s menu.
Simply go to audio settings on your Blu-ray player, game console or whatever and ensure HDMI audio output is set to Bitstream, LPCM, or Auto rather than off.
If you are still unsure you can check your source devices manual or get in touch with their support.
Check Receiver Input Mode
Next, check that your Yamaha receiver’s input mode matches the physical HDMI input that you plugged in.
If they don’t match, that will be the cause of your sound issue and all you need to do now is change that.
If that doesn’t work, it could be a physical issue.
Check The Cables
Ensure the HDMI cable at both ends are flush with both devices. Sometimes if they are old or rigid, they might not go all the way in.
It should be completely flush with the HDMI input on each device.
You might also want to try swapping out that HDMI cable for another one. I can’t tell you how many HDMI cables I’ve gone through over the years, but they break so easily!
Try a new one or an old one from another device and see if that fixes your issue.
If these don’t fix your issues and you have tried all of the tips above, it could be something inside causing the issue.
Getting Help From A Professional
If after all this, you still can’t seem to fix the issue of no sound coming from your Yamaha receiver, it may be time to seek help from a professional.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to diagnose and fix the problem on your own, so a professional may be able to help you out.
To find a professional, you can check local repair shops or the Yamaha website. You can also check and see if your receiver is still in warranty.
If it is, you can take it to a Yamaha service center to get it fixed.
Summary
In this article, we have provided a few solutions that may help you fix the problem of no sound coming from your Yamaha receiver. We hope one of these solutions works for you.
If not, don’t worry, you can always seek help from a professional.
You may be interested in reading my article on the best Yamaha speakers too.
Thanks for reading!
