Question about Sharper Image ZE401 Shelf System

Stereo makes a grinding/buzzing sound when turned on

Starting a few months ago, whenever I'd leave my stereo on overnight I'd wake up to this obnoxious buzzing/grinding noise. It's slowly progressed in volume and how fast it begins, and now it starts softly within one minute to ten minutes of being turned on and quickly gets louder and louder. I used to be able to make it through a whole CD/playlist before it started, and now I'm lucky if I make it through two songs before being forced to turn it off. I have tried physically shifting it around, and the first time it actually stopped for almost a half hour (not quite sure what I did, but I haven't been able to replicate it). When I lift the second shelf off the bottom one it'll sometimes stop for a few seconds. Kinda random, I know. It's (obviously) out of warranty, being two years old, and if I can't get an answer here I guess I'll have to take it to a repair shop - I really love this stereo, and hate to trash it and get a new one. Hopefully someone on here can save me from having to pay a fortune to get this thing fixed. :) Thanks for reading!

Lauren Bradley Aug 31, 2007

The problem ended up being a bad fan. Thankfully I was able to find someone who'd take it apart and look at it for free, saving me from having to pay $100+ for repair or a new stereo. I found a replacement fan (of better quality than the factory) for under $10.
I also must say that I'm really disappointed in the service at Fixya.com. In the month after I posted my solution and bought the Guaranteed Solution Plan I received only one incorrect solution. The only good think I can say is that they refunded my money.
Hopefully seeing the solution to this problem will save someone the trouble I went through with it.

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3,130 Answers

I am afraid you have a bad power supply capacitor inside this unit. if you do not know how to check the capacitors, you will need to take the unit into a repair shop. Depending on how expensive this unit is, will determine if it is at all worth repairing. Good Luck

Posted on Jul 15, 2007

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