Symptoms
- One speaker (e.g. center or a rear) is silent while others work
- Sound moves to that speaker when you swap wires
- Channel test tone doesn't play from that speaker
- Was fine until furniture was moved or wires adjusted
Likely causes
- CommonLoose or disconnected speaker wireA wire that's slipped out of the terminal is the most common cause.
- CommonSpeaker channel muted or level set to zero in the menuSetup wizards or manual level adjustments can accidentally silence one channel.
- PossibleFaulty speakerA blown driver or internal wire break inside the speaker itself.
- Less commonBad amplifier channel on the receiverOne output stage failing while others work fine.
What to do
- Run the receiver's speaker test tone (in the menu or via a dedicated test button) and listen for which speaker plays.
- Check that the wire is fully seated in both the receiver's terminal and the speaker's terminal for that channel.
- Swap the suspect speaker's wire with a working channel's wire at the receiver end; if the problem follows the wire, the wire or receiver terminal is at fault.
- Swap the speakers themselves (move the silent speaker to a working channel's position) to see if the problem follows the speaker.
- Check the channel level/trim settings in the receiver's speaker setup menu to confirm it isn't set to minimum or off.
- If the speaker is confirmed dead and the wire/receiver channel is fine, the speaker itself needs repair or replacement.
Tools and parts
- Wire strippers
- Small screwdriver
Replacement speaker wireSearch: “16 gauge speaker wire”
When to call a pro
If the fault follows the receiver's terminal rather than the wire or speaker, that amplifier channel needs professional repair.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.