I inherited an HTS 3450 when we bought our house, however it only produces sound in 3 channels:Right Front, Right Rear, and Left Rear.
I have tried the speaker connectors from the silent speakers in the active speaker slots and all 5 speakers work when tested, but not sure the subwoofer has sound Thinking the subwoofer was faulty, I patiently waited and found a replacement subwoofer (and all other speakers) on Ebay for a decent price. Well the replacement subwoofer functions exactly the same with sound only from the same 3 channels. Now I think the problem is in the DVD/Receiver unit; it must only be sending those 3 channels to the subwoofer. I cannot beleive that I have 2 subwoofers with the exact same combination of failures. Any comments will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Oklahoma City
Hi, first of all did you verify with the manual if it is possible to run a testsignal through all 5 channels?
One of the most common problems in this case is the basic settings of the device. If you don't have the manual, mostly you can download them from manufacturers website. Chances are that for some reason the setting is set 3.0 stereo (also known as 3channel sound) which is always the 2 fronts and the centre speaker.
Best thing to do it is take a DVD with THX on it and run the THX setup, it will send test signal to all channels.
Otherwise, check which of the 4 models 3450 you have and download the firmwware update from philips website, this might also do the trick.
Firmware updates most times have a how-to in the download, don't worry about that part.
Hopefully it solves your problem, if not i think you device is defective.
Did you use the same speakerwiring for all tests, as that seems to be the last option that could be the failure?
It is (almost) impossible both sets have the same problem.
How do your speakers have to be connected, from the back of the set itself or from the subwoofer?
If there is only 1 cable from teh set to the subwoofer and from there the speakerscables, switch that cable. If it doesnot help switch speakercables (not tthe speakers itself) from a working to a nonworking to check if it's now working or simply replace all speakercable for new to be sure to rule out the cables.
Steve, i am so glad it is solved, this one was getting on my nerves as i could not get what was wrong. Just FYI, the difference in cable is the number of connected pins, in a normal VGA cable there are basically 3 pins connected for RGB (red, Green, Blue) which clarifies sound from only 3 speakers. The correct cables has all pins wired that's why it is so much thicker. Even not al pins are used, they are all in the plug to avoid it from being to loose into it's socket and because it is a standard plug.
Hope you can get some cash back on ebay, at leats you can sell it as a correct working model ;-)
Edgar from The Netherlands
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Thanks easyq. I have run the individual speaker test signal procedure with the results I mentioned...no sound from Center or Left Front unless I plug these speakers into the other/working speaker connections, and this is exactly the same with both subwoofers. I have also worked carefully to have the system setup so that it is in 5.2 surround sound. It has an option to go into stereo sound only, which produces sound only in the Left Front.
I will next try your suggestion about downloading firmware update, but I don't have a clue how I would transfer an update from the website to the Phillips system, I know there is a USB port so I guess that is the procedure. Thanks again.
OK, I located another receiver/DVD unit which is like new. I tested it tonight and have the EXACT SAME conditions...sound only coming from the same 3 speaker plugs/sockets. It doesn't matter which speaker I plug into the sockets, sound comes only from right front, and both rears. I have tried 4 combinations as I now have 2 complete HTS3450/37 systems, and both subwoofers and both DVD/receivers function the same. I think I must be missing something but have reviewed the manual many times and repeated my setups many times. I have been performing the test signal procedure and nothing helps. Any ideas anyone?
The DVD/receiver connects to the powered sub with a VGA cable. The sub has connectors for the 5 speakers. I have tried 2 different VGA cables with both units connected to both subs. All speakers work when plugged into one of the 3 sockets that are working. I read that if the unit is in stereo versus 5.1 surround that the 2 fronts and the center work...I have the left front and 2 rears working only. There is an option to reset factory defaults on the setup menu. I will try this next. I agree that it is unlikely that 2 separate units have the exact same defect. I am baffled. Plan to try calling Philips today (not very hopeful here). I have scoured the Philips site for firmware updates for HTS3450/37 without results...anyway the updates seem to be for DVD compatibility and region codes only. This weekend I plan to start from scratch and retest everything, and I will post any results. Next step is to list all of it on Ebay and be rid of the entire lot. Thanks for reading.
PROBLEM SOLVED!! OK call me ignorant, it WAS my error. When I bought this house the Philips system was instaled in a bedroom with the DVD/receiver located in a closet. The wiring was routed up into the attic and then down in the wall of the bedroom. I relocated the system and could not use the wiring hookup so I took another cable from an old computer monitor. I have been trying to use the system with a lightweight VGA cable with blue fittings, in fact I tried 3 different ones with no luck. I figured if the cable plug matched the sockets it was the proper cable. After eliminating all other possibilities, it had to be this cable. I looked at the original cable in the closet and noted that although the cable plugs were identical with the same number of pins, the cable itself was quite larger in diameter, but the end fittings were black and squared-off as opposed to blue and "rounded-off". When I reattached the sub to the receiver with this cable,,,,it works as designed, all speakers producing sound! Not sure what the differences in the cables are...there are identifying writings on the black one, but I am just leaving it be. I now have 2 complete WORKING Philips HTS3450 systems. I still may go to Ebay this weekend and try to recover the money spent when I duplicated the speakers then the DVD/receiver.
I want to thank 'easyq' for his help. Sorry to waste anyone's time with this long-winded story, but I thought my experience might help someone else. Have a good day.
Steve in OKC.
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