Sony home amp/receiver center channel cuts in/out.

[CptanPanic]

I have a sony amp that I have for about 5 years now, it has started
having a problem where the center channel in 5.1 mode will cut in/out, and when it does I hear a click, like a small relay. My questions are, 1) What are relays used for in an amplifier? 2) Any ideas on what to check for (Maybe a cold solder joint on a relay?) Receiver is Sony STR-SE501.
Thanks,
Brian

[gmphadte]

U have broken solder problem.

Inspect the solders and solder the suspicious ones, especially at the heat generating components.

The suspecious solder points are the ones that have another inside circle on the solder pad and is formed by a crack.

Gajanan Phadte

[ace3000_1]

Originally posted by CptanPanic
I have a sony amp that I have for about 5 years now, it has started
having a problem where the center channel in 5.1 mode will cut in/out, and when it does I hear a click, like a small relay. My questions are, 1) What are relays used for in an amplifier? 2) Any ideas on what to check for (Maybe a cold solder joint on a relay?) Receiver is Sony STR-SE501.
Thanks,
Brian

Hmmmm Sony amp eh? I had one of these from new a while back (10 years ago), i took it back as it was full of cold solder joints. Took them 3months to fix the problem under warranty and when i got it back, same deal.

Like yours mine had the relay issue aswell. After speaking to the tech who did work on my receiver, he told me its a problem with the chassis being too weak and a grounding problem. Im not sure if this is the deal with yours, but it may give you some ideas.

Trev

[CptanPanic]

Thanks for the info, I will take it apart this weekend and see what I can find.

[CptanPanic]

I resoldered all the main components, especially the relays, and it works perfect now, no cut outs.
Thanks,
CP

[ace3000_1]

Nice one Cpt

Trev

[Elano]

Hello CptanPanic,

I have the same problem on mine, but I´m not as skilled as you, can you mail me the how to?

I have the STR-SE501-DE545-445 Service Manual, if you point me some directions there it wont be dificult.

Many thanks,
Elano

[immeraufdemhund]

i bring back old thread. I have the same thing as you elano and i'm having the EXACT same problem with my sony str-de445. which one is the relays? all the blue boxes next to the line-out connections?

I hope that i can do the same as you, i am so tired of switching to 2ch. I just want digital sound like i paid for. Well hopefully soon i can build my own, but it's going to take some time.

[immeraufdemhund]

I did it !!!! i did the same thing as the other fellow did and it's working great. I'm watching night at the museum and the sound used to be cut off already, but it's still going i'm so excited. Thank you so much for this website. I hope to keep learning and helping.

[vdotmatrix]

Originally Posted by immeraufdemhund

I did it !!!! i did the same thing as the other fellow did and it's working great. I'm watching night at the museum and the sound used to be cut off already, but it's still going i'm so excited. Thank you so much for this website. I hope to keep learning and helping.

Gee I don't know who'll read this but I am having the same issues i read all over the place about similar SONY receivers; mine is a a STR-DE545.

So the center speaker comes and goes as does the Woofer and left rear speaker.

Man....I out here all alone.

I am pretty handy, just wondering how can i recognize a COLD soldered joint and are there any more detailed solutions for this problem for these receivers?

thank in advance.