Symptoms
- Display is on but no sound plays
- Volume moves but nothing is heard
- Mute indicator lit
- No sound on every input, not just one
Likely causes
- CommonReceiver mutedA mute press, sometimes accidental via a universal remote, silences all outputs.
- CommonWrong input selectedThe receiver may be set to an input with nothing connected or playing.
- PossibleWrong speaker output zone activeMulti-zone receivers can be set to play a zone with no active speakers.
- PossibleReceiver in protection modeA short or overload trips protection, cutting all audio (often with a blinking display).
- PossibleSource device not outputting audio to the receiverSome devices default audio output elsewhere (like TV speakers) instead of via HDMI-ARC.
What to do
- Press mute on the receiver's remote and its own front panel to confirm it's actually unmuted.
- Cycle through inputs to confirm you're on the one the active source is connected to.
- Check the display for any protection or error message; if blinking, power off and let it sit before retrying.
- Confirm the correct output zone (Zone 1/Main) is selected if the receiver supports multiple zones.
- On the source device (TV, streaming box), check that audio output is set to the receiver, not internal speakers.
- Test with a different source and a different HDMI/audio cable to isolate the fault.
- If in protection mode, unplug all speaker wires and see if the receiver powers normally without them, pointing to a speaker or wiring short.
Tools and parts
- Spare HDMI/audio cable
When to call a pro
If protection mode recurs after disconnecting speakers, or if there's no sound with no error shown, a technician should inspect the amp section.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.