Slapping the unit causing the missing sound to come back tells me that there is something loose in the receiver. This could be a bad solder joint or dirty switch contact. Vibrations, such as sound, could be jarring the bad connection and causing the sound to cut out when it was just working a few seconds before. I don't believe you have a bad part in the receiver. When a solid state device fails, its gone for good. Again, it soulds like a bad connection. Finding a bad solder joint can sometimes be difficult. What you need to do is take the cover off so you can see the bottom of the PC board and using a good light source and magnifying glass, look for the bad connection. You can try running the receiver with the cover off and using a plastic pen, try pushing down on the PC board and see if you can make the sound cut out. You may be able to isolate the area by where you push on the board. Look for loose wires too. While you have the receiver open, buy some electrical contact cleaner in a spray. Radio Shack used to sell this as TV Tuner cleaner. I don't think they carry it anymore though. Spray the switches and rotate them back and forth several times. See if this resolves the problem. If you do find a bad solder joint, all you have to do is resolder it with some new solder. Make sure you do this with the power OFF. You're not looking at a big bill here. It's an easy fix once you find it.
Good Luck.
- Jim
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i had that same problem...i took to a stereo repair shop and they told me a circuit board needed replacing which was gonna cost me $120! i told them i could buy a new sony digital receiver for $50 dollars...being that this unit is now almost 9years old i decided not to get it fixed..but i cant help but wonder if there's another solution
The problem of the center channel cutting out during play has recently ( a couple weeks) struck me too, only I don't hit the side of the receiver to get it back, but simply turn the unit off and then back on again, which works about 90% of the time.
I got the STR-DE445 unit as a part of a HTIB package Sony was selling in 2000. It was an entry level unit, but I didn't have a whole lot of money and still wanted a 5.1 DTS solution. I've had this receiver since then and it's been a champion to say the least. I've moved three times, have upgraded speakers, and have had a son who is all too good at finding daddy's electrical gear, and this is the first time the unit has had as much as a cough. In all fairness to Sony, it's been one heck of a performer.
When the audio clipping first started I was bugged, but then when I thought about it I've certainly gotten plenty of use from this unit, and nothing really lasts forever. Besides, with the technology that is available today in most of the entry level to mid-range units that cost just as much as this did when I bought it new almost ten years ago, it doesn't make sense why one wouldn't simply put this unit to sleep and upgrade. Rather than spending any sort of money to fix a discontinued piece of equipment, spend $600 bucks and snag the Sony STR-DG920. That's my plan if I can find one. They debuted on the Sony website today and are already out of stock.
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