Hi Coolhunter: I agree separates are the way to go, especially for the flexibility, so there's not just one point of failure. I figure my next purchase might be a three channel amp like a Parasound -- could biamp the speakers with the Nakamichi and still have a place for a center channel. In any case, that will be fun. I just want to extract maximum value from the Sony, either by sellling it for parts or having it fixed and selling that. Last time, they just replaced some output transistors and that might be the extent of the problem again Thanks! I'll post again after I figure out what I'm going to do. In the meantime, the Marantz and Nakamichi combo is filling the house with music and it sounds great!
STR-DA9000ES quandry
Howdy!
I have a Sony STR-DA9000ES receiver that I purchased in 2004 and a few weeks ago, it began shutting down after a few minutes with "Protector error 11". I disconnected it and it still did it. I called Sony and they recommended a complete factory reset. I did that, and it no longer reports this error when disconnected, but does report it after playing at volume for a few minutes.
I sent it to the Laredo service center for a similar problem back in 2008; they replaced a few parts and it's been fine since then. It drives a pair of B&W Nautilus 801s. I originally bought the STR-DA9000ES intending to slowly build a surround system, but that's part of a remodel that we still haven't started. The 801s sound wonderful -- the Sony amps produce a rock-solid center image under the 70" TV, so I was even able to avoid adding the center speaker.
Last year, I bought a Marantz 8801 prepro and that's now doing decoding and preamplification duties, so for a year, I was using the Sony only as a 2 channel amp. After it started shutting down, I took a Nakamichi PA-7 out of a storage closet and am using that between the Marantz and the 801s until I figure out how to proceed.
So, my quandry:
1) should I have the Sony repaired and continue using it, even though I'm only using two out of the seven channels? I did bi-wire since the Sony has two outputs for the mains.
2) Since I don't have a surround system and won't for at least another 2-3 years, should I have it repaired and then sell it? I see on the Audiogon Bluebook that it's going for about $1,000 -- presumably as a 7-channel S-master digital amp, since it only has DVI digital inputs.
3) Should I try to sell it as-is in the current state? They've been sold on Ebay for $250 in this state and there's currently one listed for $400.
When I called Sony ES support, I was told that Sony closed their Laredo service center a few years back and service is now handled through something called United Radio Service in East Syracuse, NY. Has anyone used them? Given that the STR-DA9000ES is more of a computer than anything else, I'm worried that a non-manufacturer shop might be able to simply replace boards rather than trouble-shoot the problem like Sony did in 2008. And being more than 10 years old, parts are likely not available so I'd be out round-trip shipping of this 50lb beast.
Any advice would be most welcome.
I have a Sony STR-DA9000ES receiver that I purchased in 2004 and a few weeks ago, it began shutting down after a few minutes with "Protector error 11". I disconnected it and it still did it. I called Sony and they recommended a complete factory reset. I did that, and it no longer reports this error when disconnected, but does report it after playing at volume for a few minutes.
I sent it to the Laredo service center for a similar problem back in 2008; they replaced a few parts and it's been fine since then. It drives a pair of B&W Nautilus 801s. I originally bought the STR-DA9000ES intending to slowly build a surround system, but that's part of a remodel that we still haven't started. The 801s sound wonderful -- the Sony amps produce a rock-solid center image under the 70" TV, so I was even able to avoid adding the center speaker.
Last year, I bought a Marantz 8801 prepro and that's now doing decoding and preamplification duties, so for a year, I was using the Sony only as a 2 channel amp. After it started shutting down, I took a Nakamichi PA-7 out of a storage closet and am using that between the Marantz and the 801s until I figure out how to proceed.
So, my quandry:
1) should I have the Sony repaired and continue using it, even though I'm only using two out of the seven channels? I did bi-wire since the Sony has two outputs for the mains.
2) Since I don't have a surround system and won't for at least another 2-3 years, should I have it repaired and then sell it? I see on the Audiogon Bluebook that it's going for about $1,000 -- presumably as a 7-channel S-master digital amp, since it only has DVI digital inputs.
3) Should I try to sell it as-is in the current state? They've been sold on Ebay for $250 in this state and there's currently one listed for $400.
When I called Sony ES support, I was told that Sony closed their Laredo service center a few years back and service is now handled through something called United Radio Service in East Syracuse, NY. Has anyone used them? Given that the STR-DA9000ES is more of a computer than anything else, I'm worried that a non-manufacturer shop might be able to simply replace boards rather than trouble-shoot the problem like Sony did in 2008. And being more than 10 years old, parts are likely not available so I'd be out round-trip shipping of this 50lb beast.
Any advice would be most welcome.
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