Hello, relatively new to audio, and have a pair of M3s hooked up via 14ga bare-wire connection to a Sony AVR (over)rated at 90wpc. There is also a 12-inch Sony WM-40 hooked up via RCA.

The problem is, the amp has started going into Protect mode during sudden sound peaks with the amp at 60-70% power. In the past, these volumes have not been a problem for the amp.

This has happened only one other time; when I checked the amp/wire connections, one of the leads had lost most of its wire. Re-trimming, twisting and re-connecting the wire fixed it.

This time, no connections seem to be loose or down to bare wire. All AVR settings are flat.

Any suggestions? I don't want to damage my speakers, and want this setup to work until I step up to an HDMI-capable Marantz receiver.

Thanks!

Well, since your driving m3's, this is puzzling, they are not a low ohm speaker so that must not be it...

Receivers generally go into protect mode if:

1) they get hot because you don't have adequate ventilation "around them".
2) if you have even "one" tiny wire strand touching the other terminal on the receiver, speaker, or if your wire insulation is bad somewhere alone the run.
3) if something mechanical is wrong with the receiver.

Also, when your ready to get another receiver, I would not limit your choice to Marantz. In my opinion Denons offer the best features for the money.

Thanks, I'll check the strands. I have the AVR in an open space, but there's a PS3 sitting right on top of it. Is that not a good setup?

I have banana plugs, but have been waiting to put them on since the AVR has the "push" outputs.

Looked at Denon, but heard about the musicality of Marantz and like the refurbished models on accessories4less. Is there a similar website for refurbished Denons?

Thanks!

Take the ps3 off, it's blocks some, if not all of the vents making the unit run hot. Make SURE there is no stray strands on the wires and you should be good.

If there is ventilation holes on the top of your receiver, you could be restricting air flow by having something covering them.

In my opinion, receivers aren't musical, warm, bright, as some may describe. They are designed to have a flat frequency response from 20hz - 20khz based on required guidlines. Unless you have one of the DSP modes turned on, they won't have any sonic coloration of the sound.

Denon also have a few online etailers that sell refurbished models, like Dakmart. Their website has a link to show you all the online etailers. I just purchased a brand new 3808 from 6ave.com for about $100 higher than a refurbed model. They also offer additional discounts if you tell them you are a member of the AVSforum.

You don't have to get Denon, I just like them because they seemed to have the most advanced Audyssey room correction offerings. Onkyo is good as well. I think Marantz also makes nice equipment..

Thanks all - I'll check out the ventilation and any stray strands. Thanks also for the website stuff. Very helpful information.

L2, your Sony receiver, which incidentally is accurately rated at 90 watts per channel(legal regulations require it)and is equal in "musicality"(when music is playing)to the Marantz or any other receiver, should have no trouble continuing to power your setup as in the past unless a defect has developed or(more likely)a wire somewhere is causing a short. Recheck and redo all your external wiring and if that's okay, take one speaker at a time out of service to see if it has an internal short which is causing the shutdown.

Thank you all - I've found the problem and corrected it. No more 'Protect' mode.

I do have my eye on a newer, HDMI-capable receiver, which will allow me access to higher-definition audio signals and more functionality.

Thanks!

What was it?

Yeah, I want to know, too?

Oh, and laingn2, if it's something stupid. . .don't worry, we've all been there!

Oh, sorry - one of the surround wires was largely severed (maybe it had gotten jarred or pulled - I ran the wire through the basement from the amp to the surround).

Since I hate the finicky nature of bare wire connections, I'd like to go with banana plugs or something, but the AVR won't accept them. I don't want to commit to the pins you can buy that are compatible with my AVR, since if I switch it out for a newer one in the next while, I'll have to switch again to banana plugs.

Long answer to a short question. Thanks for the follow-up!

Nothing wrong using bare wire. Congrats on fixing the issue. You should still take the PS3 off the top of the receiver if you haven't already.

just as I figured.