Sony receiver too old?

[Gemor]

I have tried to use my old Sony STR-DE897 receiver for my sx700 speaker system. I used it several years ago for music cd's and dvd movies but never for a keyboard. The rca inputs are there but no sound. I set it up 3.0 and put it on the super audio-cd player but nothing. Maybe this unit is too old?  George in Canada

[BogdanH]

Your receiver is definitely not too old. Just connect keyboard to SA-CD/CD in back of the receiver and select the same with INPUT SELECTOR on receiver's front panel.
Before you start playing keyboard, set volume on keyboard to zero and set relative low volume on receiver (i.e. 9 o'clock). Then start some style playing on keyboard and slowly increase keyboard volume. Keep in mind: Both volume settings (on keyboard and on receiver) will affect final loudness.

Bogdan

[Gemor]

Well I spent an hour or so on this and finally did get the 2 speakers working but not the center one. The unit was of course on the bottom of the display case and my legs are tired from getting up and down. Why doesn't the rca inputs at the front work with this? Seems the unit has to be on for a while to get each function to work. I will remove the cover and vacuum it? George

[RayClem]

If you have not used the Sony receiver in a while, you might not remember all the proper settings. If you still have the original manual, check the pertinent pages. If you have misplaced the manual, you should be able to find a PDF version online.

I have some receivers that can power two sets of speakers. If you do not have the correct speakers activated, you won't get sound.

If you have an alternate sound source such as a CD player or MP3 player, you might check the receiver using that to make sure you are getting output to the speakers.

[Gemor]

Thanks Ray for your interest. I had this all set up 5-1 years ago and everything was good. As I mentioned I couldn't get the center speaker to work now. When I do the test tone all 3 speakers sound and is displayed going through the sequence. I stop the test tone and it goes back to only showing 2 speakers. I have cleared the memory and sound fields several times.  I appreciate your input guys but I am ready to throw in the towel. George

[Oxford1035]

Not 100% sure. But I have a feeling it's because you're imputing a stereo signal from the keyboard and not a 5.1 signal

Kind regards,

Russ

[Gemor]

Thankyou Russ for your reply. I apologize for the belated response. Both front speakers sound from keyboard but not the center. It's a puzzle to me and I gave up and ordered a Yamaha 5.1 receiver as amazon had a sale. George

[BogdanH]

Gemor,
On Sony you need to define how many (L,R,Center,Sub, etc.) you have connected and then you need to use A.F.D. button on receiver to define how you wish stereo signal to be distributed/decoded on speakers.
It's everything in Owner's Manual (p.18 and 29)

Bogdan

[Gemor]

Lol, Bogdan were you on vacation? Just kidding. For the heck of it I'll try that tomorrow. I did read those pages years ago and recently just 18. I was just going to use set up 3.0 but have now decided to go 5.1 which is what I had 12 years ago. Don't know (or remember) why I stopped using the surround sound. George

[Gemor]

Well I did get the 3 speakers working through the receiver and keyboard, then realized the keyboard speakers were also on and when setting them off it went back to only left and right speakers working. Lol this is an exercise in frustration. The new receiver had arrived, it is a Yamaha RX-V385 but I didn't have the proper sub cable to set it up, it comes today. It's interesting the receiver is supposed to do most of the acoustics for you. Yeah right.....we shall see.  George