Yamaha Receiver Not Playing Sound? (Don’t Panic, Easy Fix!)

Yamaha receiver not playing sound and you’re worried? Relax, it’s probably nothing serious! 

If the Yamaha receiver doesn’t output audio, it often has something to do with the TV’s default output, the speaker installation, or the “Setup” settings of the AVR.

We’ve prepared a few tested solutions to help you take down the problem:

How to Fix Yamaha Receiver Not Playing Sound?

Note: Verify that your Yamaha receiver’s volume is turned up and the device is not muted!

1. Alter the TV’s Default Audio Output

The first and most important step is to ensure that your TV uses the receiver and your Yamaha equipment as the default audio output. 

If the receiver is connected, but the TV still plays through the built-in speakers, this often means that the output must be adjusted manually. 

Note: Most modern TVs automatically switch to the highest-definition audio device connected.

So, here’s how to alter the default audio output on most TVs:

1. Press the “Home” or “Menu” button on your TV remote.
2. Navigate to the “Audio” or “Sound” menu from the tab.
3. Locate the “Default Device” or “Default Output” there.
4. Extend the drop-down menu to view all of the devices.
5. Search for a “Yamaha” or “AVR” tile in your devices tab.
6. Highlight the receiver and press the remote’s OK button.
7. Save the changes and check if your receiver would work.

Important: Inspect the HDMI Connection!

While configuring the settings of your TV, ensure your Yamaha receiver’s HDMI ARC cable is plugged with the correct input on the TV’s rear panel.

Not using an ARC input could deafen the speakers and receiver’s output or degrade the audio quality.

Quick Note: We also advise testing the AVR on another compatible TV input and removing all (if any), connection devices.

2. Manually Enable AVR’s “Audio Output” 

You can also address the Yamaha receiver sound problems by disabling the “HDMI Control” feature, which activates manual adjustments of the audio output. 

So, for that purpose, your receiver must be turned on, and you need to possess the remote control, which is used to access the “Setup” menu.

Follow these simple steps to manually enable the receiver’s audio output:

1. Press the “Setup” button on the receiver’s remote.
2. Navigate to the second “HDMI” option in the menu.
3. Use the left arrow button to disable “HDMI Control.”
4. Now, scroll down to “Audio Output” and set it to “On.”
5. Exit the menu and check if the receiver is outputting.

• By default, the “Audio Output” feature will remain adjusted to “Auto” for as long as the “HDMI Control” is enabled.

Disabling the HDMI control will set the output to “Off,” so you must enable it manually to proceed using the receiver. 

3. Check the Speaker’s Connections

The next most important step is to ensure all of the receiver’s speakers are connected properly to the rear panel.

• Yamaha speakers use two wires, one for the positive pole and another for the negative pole of the receiver.

Well, the speakers also use exposed wires to reduce any audio congestion and contribute to a clearer, interference-free output.

To install them on your receiver, the wires of the speakers must be manually knitted with the correct positive and negative AVR terminal.

So, let’s start with identifying the speaker cables and positioning them properly!

3.1 How to Prepare Yamaha Receiver Speakers?

The first step is to identify each of the speakers and place it according to how it must be used.

That entirely depends on your surround sound setup and whether you’re using a simple 2:1 setup, a 5:1, or a 7:1 configuration.

Once you’ve positioned the speakers correctly, separate the wires and lead them to the back of your AVR.

This depends on whether the speaker is marked with “R,” Right “L” Left, or “Center.”

3.2 How to Connect Yamaha Receiver Speakers?

Once you have the speakers and all wires prepared, it’s connection time.

It’s quite important to unplug the Yamaha AVR from the power, as the speaker poles are inducted at all times, which could lead to an electric shock injury.

Now, loosen the screws of each port on your receiver where a speaker will be connected. After that, insert the respective speaker cables and tighten up the screws.

Ensure the ports are not over-tightened, as this could accelerate the wearing of the speaker cables and result in a fault. 

4. Discharge the Receiver from Power

Another simple solution for the Yamaha receiver no sound problem is to perform a clean power cycle of the AVR along with all of the equipment.

The procedure involves suspending all of the AVR receiver’s power supply for a continuous amount of time until all of the power has drained. 

Here’s how to perform a discharge on the Yamaha receiver:

1. Press the “Power” button on the AVR’s top panel.
2. After that, wait until the device powers off by itself.
3. Unplug the power cable from the back of the unit.
4. Disconnect the other end from the electrical outlet.
5. Wait for 60 seconds while the AVR is discharging.
6. Reconnect the power cable into the AVR and outlet.

Tip: If the AVR does not receive a consistent power supply, try plugging it into a different outlet and removing all third-party equipment.

5. Factory Reset the Yamaha AVR

If none of the solutions so far had any effect with the Yamaha receiver not playing sound issue, it’s time for a factory reset.

The reset consists of bringing up the OS actions menu of the AVR and initializing the device’s configuration.

Here’s how to factory reset a Yamaha AVR in easy steps:

1. Turn off the AVR to place it under a Standby mode.
2. Hold the “Straight” button on the AVR’s front panel.
3. Press “Power” and then the “Right Program Arrow.”
4. Release once “INIT-CANCEL” shows on the display.
5. Now, use the “Straight” button to cycle to “INIT-ALL.”
6. Turn the receiver off and then back on for finalization.

Alert: Do not interact with the Yamaha receiver during the factory reset!

6. Test via Wired Optical Connection (Workaround)

Some users shared that the Yamaha AVR could sometimes have issues reproducing audio over your TV’s HDMI ARC, so a replacement of Optical could be required.

It’s worth testing using an Optical cable, especially if you already have one. So, let’s start with the physical setup of the Optical cable!

6.1 How to Connect Yamaha AVR Over Optical?

First, identify the Optical input on the back of your TV and start by connecting the cable there.

Then, locate the “AUDIO 1 (TV Optical)” output on your AVR, situated right next to the HDMI port.

Wire up the receiver and check if the TV will recalibrate automatically.

6.2 How to Enable Receiver Audio Over Optical?

In most cases, switching from HDMI to Optical requires some manual adjustments of the audio settings.

This involves navigating into the options of your TV and accessing the “Audio Out” or the “Default Output” tab.

Note: If “HDMI ARC” is currently selected, extend the menu and pick “Optical” to enable the Yamaha AVR’s output.