Yamaha AX-596 Integrated Amplifier only works when using either of the two "Pure Direct" buttons. The Bass, Treble, & Balance controls do not function. It would appear that circuit board or the circuit upstream from it is faulty? Nothing appears to be burned or damaged upon close inspection of the circuitry?

Make sure there is no tone bypass button if it has one.

My Yamaha Equalizer is Model GE-30. Review the manual for this unit and on page 3 you will see the connection procedure "Line Out" on the equalizer to "tape deck in" on the amplifier. In the case of the A-S500 user manuaI on page 5, I used the "line 3 " also identified as "tape deck" to connect the equalizer.
The front control(s) from page 2 on the A-S500 manual are then set :
Control(5) input selector set to Line 3 (Graphic Equalizer)
Control(8) REC OUT selector to CD (for CD), line1 (my blu-ray player, or tuner (my DVR/tv)
The only thing I lose is "PURE DIRECT" does not fuction if the equalizer is on, otherwise;
I simply set Control(5) input selector swith to the desired input source, the equalizer no longer
functions and "PURE DIRECT" can now be used.
The rest of the tonal controls for bass, treble, balance, and loudness work as they should.

The bass and treble controls (as well as volume) have no effect on the recorded output if you're using the traditional jacks a tape deck would use. Only PRE-OUTS get massaged by sound controls.

Even if you DID affect the recorded signals, WHY are you using such exaggerated settings? Or was it by mistake?

In theory, passing the modified output back through the same controls (set to Minimum this time) would undo most of the unwanted effect. Assuming their precise and mirror image for gain and loss.

Set them both to a neutral position (straigth up?). If this sounds good to you, let it stay like this.

Hi...
The tone control circuit has "issues". Could be a bad interconnect or a failed pre-amp chip.
If you dont mind putting about $100 into it, get it looked at

You should check the Direct button is pressed or not.
In Direct mode, it by passes the treble and bass circuitry so you will not hear any difference even if you turn it.

I assume you want to slave it to the receiver and drive some more speakers with it.

Connect some RCA cables from whichever channel pre-outs you want on the HTR-5860 to any input on the AX-596.

Set the AX volume to something sufficiently high, run through the HTR's speaker level setup and match the AX volume to match the channels on the receiver. Then leave the AX's volume alone.
---

If you just want the AX to have access to program sources of the HTR, run the RCA cables to it from one of the VCR1 or 2 Out (but DO NOT select whichever one you use via the front panel). These are not affected by the HTR's volume controls.

Here are some things to check:
Is the loudness control turned off or set to a very low level? If the PURE DIRECT button is turned on with the LOUDNESS control level at 0, you won't hear anything.
Have you removed the jumpers from the PRE Out/MAIN IN jacks? If so, the unit will only perform as a power amplifier.
Is the CD DIRECT AMP turned on?
If so, the unit will only make sound if the PURE DIRECT button is on.
Check the CD DIRECT AMP and the PURE DIRECT buttons are both turned off. This should produce sounds. If ti doesn't, check that the A and B buttons are on for their speakers. Both can be on.

just click to choose;

NEW iBALL BOOSTER 5.1 SPEAKERS WITH MANUFACTURER WARRANTY
The iBall Booster is a high quality 5.1 speaker system with complete wood encased speakers. Gives... control...


FREE 350 WATT AMPLIFIED SPEAKERS Creative Inspire 5200 5.1 Multimedia Subwoofer Speaker System With 1 Year Warranty

hope this may help;

Regards,
VOTIT

Hi, I asume your setting up a home theater with five speakers a center left and right and rear surrounds don't know if you have a subwoofer. The large speakers in the front will work fine if you set the amp to large front speakers the bass will be sent to these. If you have a subwoofer set, the amp to small front speakers and the bass will be directed to it. Also try to get a center channel speaker that sounds somewhat like your large speakers.