Kay, as Ken implies, just about any receiver can be used "successfully" with any speakers. I assume that the display on the 3480 lit up when you pressed the power button. Check the speaker wires for a loose strand that may be touching something and bringing protective circuitry into play. Check in back that the jumper pins between the pre-outs and main-in are in place. Make sure that the muting button isn't pressed in, that the speaker 1 button is pressed in if you're connected to those terminals and that you have the right function button pressed in for what you're trying(e.g. FM tuner).
