Audio Problem

[Roger]

I often lose my mid-range (Yes-- all of it!) on one or both of my speakers when I have the 510 or 311 hooked up to my stereo. The mid-range conks out which means I can't really hear anything through them at times.

I changed my source (510 and 311), my input to the preamp, cables, etc etc etc...
The crazy thing is that the same thing happened with the cable box when I had digital cable. My CD source plays perfectly. Having the cable box and my E* receivers hooked up to my stereo is often worthless because the entire damn mid-range goes out like the speakers are bad. Any ideas?

[Slordak]

Are you using digital inputs or analog (white/red) inputs to your stereo receiver for the cases where you're experiencing drop-outs? Does it make any difference?

What you're describing sounds like a failure in the amplifier portion of your stereo receiver. It could be getting overheated, or it could be faulty (or just old). This seems much more likely than the speakers themselves spontaneously dying without being vibrated or overdriven. You may need to consider getting a new receiver/amplifier, but I'm sure other folks here will have other ideas or suggestions as well.

[Roger]

"Are you using digital inputs or analog (white/red) inputs to your stereo receiver for the cases where you're experiencing drop-outs? Does it make any difference?"

Analog

"It could be getting overheated, or it could be faulty (or just old)."

It does it when its cold as well. When listening to a CD player it works great and doesn't act up. I also changed out the pre-amp and it does the same thing on the other one although it's the same name brand.
It's really weird!

[Slordak]

When you say "pre-amp", do you mean that you have a separate pre-amp device or external amplifier between the source and the stereo receiver? Or are you just using the term "pre-amp" loosely to describe the stereo?

The typical configuration for most people is source device -> stereo receiver -> speakers. The receiver handles switching between input sources, doing any sort of digital or matrix decoding, then amplifying the signal and sending it to the speakers. However, for more hardcore stereophiles, there are those who choose to have a separate "pre-amplifier" and "amplifier". Do you have one of these more elaborate configurations, or not?

[Roger]

"Do you have one of these more elaborate configurations, or not?"

Yes, I use separates. My mind is blank since this happens to the 510, 311, and the old cable box but not with the CD player or any other source AFAIK.

[Slordak]

Since it's happening on the analog inputs, it implies that it's not a problem with a digital signal glitch or the stereo receiver choosing to mute/ignore the input. Since it happens with Dish or Cable as an input source, but not a CD, it is quite possible that it's a problem with the Dolby Pro Logic processing, or the center channel in general (since CDs are generally just left/right stereo).

You've swapped out the pre-amp, but not the "other" separate(s), right. Sounds as if whatever other piece is left is to blame.

[Roger]

Hmmm... since I only have a two-channel system then there isn't a fix for it?

[HTguy]

Try replacing the audio cables that you've been using specifically for the sat receivers & cable box. I would also have suggested using a different pair of line input jacks on the preamp but you say you had the same problem with a different preamp. That pretty much boils it down to the audio cables - probably the RCA plugs.

[Slordak]

In the original post, Roger indicated that he already swapped out cables (among other things). If this is the case, and it's not related to his separates, I don't know what else is left other than the speakers themselves. Hence why I was inclined to blame the piece connected to the pre-amp.