Denon Receiver Keeps Turning Off? (Don’t Panic, Easy Fix!)

If you don’t know why your Denon receiver keeps turning off, this guide will clear things up!

As you probably figured, the consistent shutting of your Denon receiver could be caused by many reasons.

This includes power inconsistency, or hardware-related, which are a little more challenging to diagnose.

Either way, we’ve brought up a variety of helpful solutions to attempt:

Proceed with the guide for a thorough step-by-step explanation of the solutions above!

How to Fix Whenever Your Denon Receiver Keeps Turning Off?

Tip: Have you tried rebooting the receiver using the remote and the built-in “Power” button?

1. Hard Reset the Denon Receiver’s Hardware

Well, you can address most of the Denon receiver’s issues by performing a hard reset of the hardware.

The procedure consists of temporarily suspending the electrical supply of the AVR, until all of the residue power drains.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to hard reset the Denon AVR:

1. Press the “Power” button on the front panel of the AVR.
2. Once the device powers off, disconnect the power cable.
3. Wait for 45–60 seconds while the Denon AVR discharges.
4. Reconnect the power adapter of the unit into an outlet first.
5. Connect the other end to the A/C port on your receiver.
6. Turn on the Denon receiver and check if the issue persists.

Tip: Ensure the hot panel of the soundbar does not feel hot to the touch before reconnecting the receiver’s power adapter.

2. Plug the Denon AVR into a Different Outlet

There is a high chance that the Denon receiver keeps turning off because of an insufficiency from the power outlet.

So, the next step is to connect the AVR to a different outlet with proven functionality to determine if the shutting down is even power-related. 

How to Identify a Defective/Fluctuating Outlet?

Apart from the obvious shutting down symptom your Denon receiver has, issues with the power outlet could also be translated into rebooting or partial electricity loss. 

If, for example, there’s a short circuit along the electrical outlet’s wiring line, it could also lead to persistent hardware damage to your receiver.

So, a reliable way to test a select power outlet’s functionality is to connect a low-voltage appliance and test out all of its functions.

Tip: Avoid installing third-party power equipment in the setup of the Denon AVR during the test!

3. Check for a More Recent Receiver OS

The persistent shutdowns of your Denon AVR receiver could be an indication of an outdated version of the OS.

As long as the receiver is connected to the internet, you can effortlessly check for firmware updates through the system menu of the device, using the remote control.

Here’s how to easily check for updates on your Denon receiver:

1. Power on your AVR and press “Setup” on the remote.
2. Navigate to “General” and access the “Firmware” tab.
3. Select “Check for Update” and wait for a few seconds.
4. If a new version is available, follow the on-screen steps.

Keep in mind that in order to download updates, your receiver must have established a secure connection to the internet.

You can check the Wi-Fi status by going to “Setup” → “Network” → “Connection” → “WiFi Setup.” 

How to Factory Reset Denon Receiver After Update?

It is also recommended to perform a factory reset on your Denon receiver, right after the device receives an update.

So, you can activate the reset by pressing “Tuner Preset CH+” + “Tuner Preset CH+” on the receiver’s front and then releasing both buttons after the display flashes.

Note: Once the update starts, do not interfere with the receiver for a minimum of 2 minutes!

4. Unplug All of the AVR Receiver Wires

If you’re still wondering why does my Denon receiver keep turning off, it could be due to a short circuit caused by a wiring issue with one of your speakers or the TV/display. 

An efficient way to diagnose the problem is to temporarily disconnect all external devices from the back of your receiver and only leave the power supply connected.

So, let’s identify the cables and wires that are not required by your receiver to function!

How to Identify Denon Receiver External Wires?

Based on the surround sound setup, there may be between 6 and 12 speaker wires connected to the back of your receiver.

So, each of the speakers has two 3.5mm jacks for the left and right channels, plugged with a red and white AUX input on your Denon unit.

Hence, disconnect all of the speaker cables and position them in an accessible spot for quick reconnection later.

Next, identify the HDMI adapter that belongs to the television that you use for transferring the audio and viewing the receiver’s input menu.

Note: By the end of this step, the only cable left connected to your receiver must be the power adapter and then, you can test if the rebooting/powering off is still there. 

5. Test the Denon Receiver for Overheating

Well, overheating is perhaps the leading cause of the sudden power loss or fluctuations of your Denon receiver.

When your AVR enters the so-called “Security” mode due to elevated internal hardware temperature, it could either power off or reboot to regain the operational temperature.

So, let’s first identify whether the receiver is overheating at all!

5.1 How to Check if the Denon Receiver is Overheating?

Overheating can be diagnosed via one of the following signs:

• The AVR is excessively hot to the touch.
• The AVR output is lagging or breaks up.
• The fans of your receiver are very loud.
• The receiver powers off or reboots often.

5.2 How to Prevent the Denon Receiver From Overheating?

After verifying that the Denon receiver is overheating, try the following:

• Try reducing the volume and the overall AVR utilization.
• Clean the vents of the AVR and any dust accumulation.
• Move away from nearby heat conductors warming up Denon.
• Prevent direct sunlight from shining on the Denon AVR.

Reminder: If neither of these steps helps, there’s a possibility that the overheating is caused by a discrepancy with the internal wiring. 

6. Inspect the Receiver’s Internal Wiring (Advanced)

In some cases, the Denon receiver keeps shutting off can be caused by an inconsistency with the internal wires.

While a short circuit may not immediately defect your AVR receiver, it could consistently cause the device to power off or behave unusually while plugged in.

Keep in mind that disassembling the Denon receiver will result in a warranty void if your device is still under the manufacturer’s coverage. 

For disassembly of the Denon AVR, you will need:

• Phillips or flathead screwdriver, based on the model.
• A clean and flat surface to place the Denon receiver.
• Protective gloves and an isolated surface to stand on.

Alert: Unplug the AVR from the outlet and hold “Power” for 30 seconds to discharge the device! 

Once you have all of that, proceed with the disassembly:

1. Locate the screws holding the top panel of the AVR attached.
2. Use the screwdriver to undo all of the screws holding the panel.
3. Carefully remove the panel without damaging the infrastructure.
4. Locate the main control board and the motherboard of the unit.
5. Search for the red current wires going into the boards of the AVR.
6. Check if any of the wires are damaged or are touching each other.

It might be moderately difficult for someone without technical expertise to notice inconsistencies with the wire installation of the AVR.

If everything seems ordinary in the hardware of your AVR, we recommend passing this issue to a qualified technician. 

Quick Tip: You may also try claiming the warranty!