Help! Popping on my speakers

[Arr MiHardies]

Ever since I upgraded my home theater in may, I have been experiencing popping on my speakers. They happen at seemingly random intervals, on a random speaker. I can go for hours without hearing any popping sometimes, others I cant go for more than a few minutes.

My original setup was thus:
sony 57" rear projection tv (forget the model number)
onkyo TX-SR603X receiver
onkyo 5 disc dvd changer
scientific atlanta 8000HD cable box
and an
Apple TV
all connected to my reciever and tv via Monster component video cables.
These were originally connected to an APC power strip

my new setup is thus:
Samsung 52" LCD tv (newer model, dont have the number handy)
harmon kardon receiver
samsung bd-1200 blu-ray player
scientific atlanta 8000HD cable box
and an Apple TV

the blu ray and the apple tv are connected to the receiver via monster 1000 HDMI cables, the cable box via component video cables (my receiver will upconvert component to 720i hdmi), and the receiver to the tv via a monster 1000 M series cable.

Of course, I immediately suspected the new receiver to be the culprit, which I promptly exchanged, not only for the popping, but because it would not upconvert analog video to hdmi. I ended up getting an Onkyo TX-SR605. It only upconverts to 720, but that is better than nothing, and the only ones I saw that could upconvert 1080i were far out of my price range.

Originally I used the same apc power strip to power this setup, but when I experienced the popping, I went and got a monster power 1600 power conditioner. But the popping continues.

Being a computer tech I know how to do troubleshooting, and I've done quite a bit of it, but at this point i am rather stymied. I have since moved to a new home, with in ceiling speaker, so that rules out the speakers and their wiring. I got a new entertainment center when i got the setup, I thought that maybe the power cables got bundled too close to the speaker wire, but when i moved, I moved that center to my new loft, and got a new ent. ctr. for my main viewing area, giving a completely new wiring arrangement. I have each of the following components, in turn to my secondary setup, including the blu-ray player and the cable box. I have tried switching out my hdmi cables for component cable to see if it might be an hdmi problem, and while the popping was noticeably lower in volume, they still continued.

One thing I did notice was that the popping was always more frequent and louder when my air conditioner was on, in both my homes. However, I still get occasional popping even when the AC is off.

Can anyone offer any help at all with this problem?? I never had this popping before upgrading my equipment.

[Canada]

Did you switch what frequency you speaker can handle?

Contact htletters@primedia.com

[DragonSarc]

how old it the house? if its more than 30 I suggest get a power regulator or regenarator, does it pop only when you watch a movie? it could be your apple tv.

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by DragonSarc

how old it the house? if its more than 30 I suggest get a power regulator or regenarator, does it pop only when you watch a movie? it could be your apple tv.

or the audio settings

[Arr MiHardies]

The original house was 5 years old, and there i just had the speaker cables running along the wall to the speakers.

The new house was just built, I am it's first owner, the in ceiling speakers were pre-wired with the house, and I had the in-ceiling speakers themselves installed the week I got my keys to the house.

Edit:
And it does not matter if I am watching a blu-ray, cable, or my apple, i get popping on all of them.

And I havent made any changes to the default speaker frequencies.

What audio settings could cause the popping?

[MOONPHASE]

its possible that the speakers might be the cause themself

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by Arr MiHardies

The original house was 5 years old, and there i just had the speaker cables running along the wall to the speakers.

The new house was just built, I am it's first owner, the in ceiling speakers were pre-wired with the house, and I had the in-ceiling speakers themselves installed the week I got my keys to the house.

Edit:
And it does not matter if I am watching a blu-ray, cable, or my apple, i get popping on all of them.

And I havent made any changes to the default speaker frequencies.

What audio settings could cause the popping?

well i was going to say if it was when watching blu-ray movies you might have the wrong audio settings up but if it does that with cable then its not the settings of the blu-ray player then

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by Arr MiHardies

I ended up getting an Onkyo TX-SR605.

This is your problem. That is a very good receiver. However there have been many problems with the 605 and 805's with popping. It is a very common issue with those 2 receivers. Do a few searches and you'll see its not uncommon to have popping. It is a factory defect. Just exchange it if you're able to.

[Arr MiHardies]

Originally Posted by MOONPHASE

its possible that the speakers might be the cause themself

No, they are two completely different sets of speakers. In my old house I was using box speakers with the wiring running along the wall. In my new house, I have new speakers I had installed and connected to the speaker pre-wires installed by the builder.

Originally Posted by Footloose301

This is your problem. That is a very good receiver. However there have been many problems with the 605 and 805's with popping. It is a very common issue with those 2 receivers. Do a few searches and you'll see its not uncommon to have popping. It is a factory defect. Just exchange it if you're able to.

I will look into this. Thank you.

[fattyslimslim]

But didn't he say he had this problem with the Harmon Kardon as well? That is why he switched to the 605?

I have the 605 and it works wonderfully. It does "pop", but not intermittently or in the middle of movies. It only pops when the receiver is powering on/off/and switching inputs/HDMI handshaking.

[Arr MiHardies]

Actually, come to think of it, I don't recall having the problem with my HK, I know I returned that because it wouldnt upconvert video to HDMI. I don't recall any other reason now.

And having owned a few onkyos, I am used to the clicking I hear the receiver make when switching inputs or detecting a different type of audio signal. Its irritating, but livable. The popping I refer to happens on the speakers.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by Arr MiHardies

Actually, come to think of it, I don't recall having the problem with my HK, I know I returned that because it wouldnt upconvert video to HDMI. I don't recall any other reason now.

And having owned a few onkyos, I am used to the clicking I hear the receiver make when switching inputs or detecting a different type of audio signal. Its irritating, but livable. The popping I refer to happens on the speakers.

Did you search yet? I searched with google and instantly got 20 links refering to this issue. The 605 and 805's had a few bad batches come out and MANY people have had to exchange them for popping sounds.

[talbers23]

i experienced this twice as a home theater installer and both times it was the receiver causing the problem and it was something to do with the power supply in it. if you just got the receiver the first thing id try is to exchange it or try a different one to see if the problem is still there.

[DavePS3]

While it's popping, check the tuner (FM) and any other inputs you may or may not be using. Still popping? Likely the receiver. If not, go back to the input that's popping and start disconnecting all analog and digital audio sources one by one until you find the culprit. There used to be an issue with many receivers that had both digital and analog sources on at the same time... that would make the pop as well. There may be a conflict between the Apple TV and your BD player's audio if both are powered on at the same time - by that I mean both are up and running at the same time. Check all that.

[Arr MiHardies]

Yes, I searched, and found many references to the popping issue. I took the receiver back to Frys and, thanks to my extended warranty, they exchanged it no hassle. I paid the difference and stepped up to the TX-SR705. Which is apparently almost identical, plus a few extra inputs (the extra HDMI port allows me to dump my component cable box for a hdmi one eliminating analog video entirely from my setup). So far tonight, I've watched two movies, and though there were one or two instances where I thought I -might- have heard a pop, it could have easily been something else, like a bag rustling in the breeze from my fan, or my shutters shifting slightly due to temperature changes after my AC turned off, and was infinitely less noticeable. I wasn't even sure if I heard it at all. I'll keep you all updated.