Thanks for your time, in advance.
So, I have this old Sony Surround Sound Unit, 5.1. They're all small satellite speakers. It was just lying around my house, it was a gift from a while ago that I never used.
I decided to let my friend use it, as he was using his TV for a sound system, and it was wrecking the speakers at the volume that he had it set at.
We set it all up, all speakers plugged in, including sub (negative terminal to negative terminal, and vice versa for positive). Everything lit up fine. We are currently using RCA (Red and White) from his PS3 for audio, and an HDMI cable going to HDTV for video output. Unfortunately the unit is a little old so it doesn't have HDMI inputs and outputs, so until I figure out how to use the Optical Digital Audio Output, it's our only option.
Anyway, I digress. After plugging it all in and starting up the PS3, and configuring it's settings, we came across something I thought odd; only the Center Channel, Sub, and Rear Right speakers worked!
Here's what I can remember of what I tried, not necessarily in chronological order:
Switched speaker wires' polarity, to test if it was correct - no change
Plugged Center Speaker into Front Left, Front Right and Rear Left Channels - None worked
Plugged Front Left, Front Right and Rear Left Speakers into the Center Channel - All worked
Played with the Receivers settings, to see if it was a balance issue - no option for front channel balance
Used all available inputs - No change
Turned the volume up quite high - All the speakers/channels actually work, they are just very quiet
I'd like to point out, I know that RCA only outputs stereo (possibly 2.1, not sure how that works). BUT, when I put the SS Receiver into 2CH. (Two Channel/Stereo) mode, nothing but the sub works, and it's quieter and a bit muffled.
The only way to make anything work, is to let it use A. DEC or something like that (I assume it's auto detect) and let it try to falsely create surround sound from the stereo input.
I even tried unplugging the front speakers all together, hoping it would auto-route the Front Left and Right channel through the Center, but no such luck.
I can't give a make and model, apart from sony atm. I'm sorry, I know that's not helpful. I guess all I really want to know, is if this is something anyone else has experienced, and if they know of a quick and dirty fix? The unit does not need to be saleable, just work for now.
Thanks for your help,
TheSagaciousMan
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sony surround sound unit extremely low volume front channel center rear left