bleh, part 2

[unixronin]

So to continue .... since it was given to us by fruitylips, we've had our LaserDisc player hooked up on my receiver's VCR2 input because, well, at the time my satellite receiver was hooked up to the LD/SAT input.  Yesterday while troubleshooting, I noticed that the LD player -- for which I lack a manual -- has an AC3 RF audio output.  So today, I disconnected the satellite receiver (which we're not using anyway), hooked up the LD player to the LD/SAT inputs, and did some checking . . . . . . . . hmmmmmm.  Turns out I can get audio from the LD player in analog component-audio mode, but not a damn thing over the AC3 RF connection.

Since it seems a far stretch of coincidence for both the LD player and the DVD player to have independently developed AC3 output failures, I would say this is strong circumstantial evidence to narrow the diagnosis down to a failed AC3 decoder in the receiver.  Which, of course, would probably be the most expensive of the three to replace.

Bah.

I don't know whether it's repairable or not.  I suppose I'll have to find out.

---

(For those who care, the receiver is a Pioneer VSX-906S, the DVD player is a Pioneer DV-606D, and the LD player is a Pioneer CLD-D504.  Yes, I like Pioneer A/V equipment ... it sounds great, and Just Works.  Except now.)

Comments

[tww1fa]

You should be able to connect the stereo outputs to the receiver and at least have Prologic II surround...

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yes, the DVD player actually has three connections to the receiver: 5.1 digital optical, AC3 PCM over copper, and RCA component stereo. All we can get out of the receiver on any of them is subwoofer output, and even that we can only get in ProLogic mode.
Guppie suggested connecting the DVD player's RCA outputs directly to the TV, which I hadn't thought of, and I'm going to try that in a little bit.

[tww1fa]

That implies that the problem lies deeper than the AC3 decoder. Probably the preamp stage.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Would there be a separate preamp for DVD input only? As far as I'm so far aware, all of the other audio inputs work. (We can't get AC3 sound from the LD player, but I don't think we have any AC3-encoded LDs.)

[tww1fa]

If it's not the preamp, it could be the switch. If you hook up the DVD player to another video/audio input does it work?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

just tried that, and learned the following:

DVD player analog outputs connected direct to TV: Video, no audio.
LD player second analog output connected direct to TV on the same set of connectors just used for the DVD: Video and audio.
LD player second analog output connected to receiver DVD analog input: Video, no audio.

This is almost starting to look as though BOTH the DVD player AND the receiver have a failure.