No sound produced by Yamaha RX-A820 receiver.

If you are in Pro Logic mode and play a stereo recording/film etc, there will be no rear sound.
You need a Pro Logic recording to produce true rear sound.

Question edited for full 'make model (what is is).

Sounds like the aerial antenna is not connected. Check behind the unit and also the connector wherever it goes.

It sounds like it's going into safe mode try testing the resistors just after the power supply you will probably find one or two at fault

Exchange it for one that has tape in end out jacks on it,

Assuming you have the same Model Variant ( I'm not sure if Yamaha varies model from Country to Country) I just switch mine to effect off ( 2 Channel) to remove the surround component so that only A or B speaker pairs work.That should fix it unless I am mistaken.

My 18 gauge wires weren't making the proper connection into the terminals.

Hi when using surround sound its important to understand that not all soundtracks have a "rear channel' meaning that the rear speakers will not always produce sound. In fact the rear channels may only produce sound about 10% of the time.

Your receiver has a "test tone" which sends a tone sound through the 5 speakers you should turn the speakers up or down so that all 5 speakers produce about the same volume.

The speakers of course will have a different sound to them depending on the brand and model but just try to balance it as much as possible.

Should also point out that you need to start out with at minimum a STEREO signal and that it needs to be connected with good quality cables. If possible use the optical inputs or HDMI which is a digital signal but not all receivers have that capability.

Lastly play around with the settings Dolby is of course the standard but many receivers have Neo or other proprietary surround formats which may produce the desired effect.

Hope that helps

Bad DSP chip. The only other possibility is if you have the "Direct" on. On the front of the receiver it's a small button. Also make sure your "Speaker Select" A/B is "on" You will see it on the display, it's also a small button on the front of the receiver. If all this is correct and you still have no audio, it's a bad DSP chip. Not worth repair, it's 400-500 repair. Not very common in a Yamaha RX-V series, but I have seen it. I'm a Yamaha Dealer. If you need further help, post a comment and I will be glad to help you further.

Nevermind... My center channel output was set to "NONE" I've had this receiver for a few years now, probably set it that way back when I got it. Oh well, Helps to re-read the user manual...

The info is in the "SET MENU" section of the manual, Pages 35-38. Should solve the issue for "almccrum" above as well.

If you don't have your manual it can be downloaded here:
www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/av/english/re/RX-V596.pdf

Try reseating the prologic/output board. Second one from the right (from the front of the reciever), that fixed my no sound problems on many channels. You will have to take out a few screws to remove and reseat it, and while you are at it clean the connections.