sony hifi home theatre Lower Frequency Reproduction issues in my Sony's HiFi 3-DvD 5.1 Component System: MHC-GN88D

[Multiversal]

Hello Team Linus and Associated group members,
  
I seek your assist once more related to my above titled Sony DVD Component System. Previously I got an overwhelming response from you guys, so many many thanks!

 

The system setup I received was as follows:

1 x Component, 2 x Front Speakers, 2 x Surround Speakers, 1 x Center Speaker (not in use currently due to its wire breakage).

 

The problems I am encountering currently are:
1 - The component is unable to reproduce  lower frequency spectrum in both the cases- using headphones on its dedicated HP 3.5 mm jack as well as in the speaker mode.

2 - It does not get affected by inbuilt EQ settings and Surround modes. The problem persists.

*Note* My speakers are themselves capable of producing all the required human frequency audible range, i.e. around 30 Hz-16 KHz I think as I've tested with a Spectrum Band Analyzer. So whenever I attach any of my 4 speakers to my car they work just damn fine! So,probably the issue is in my Component.

 

So I want to clarify a couple of things and I seek your relative recommendations:

1 - Do I need some dedicated Amp. or Subwoofer in case the problem persists after repairing/tweaking the whole component system?

2 - Is this fault even repairable?

3 - The technicians disagreed to my statements and insisted on as an irrevocable fault! Which specific component do I have to look into ?

4 - Tried to interchange the speaker cables from default config. to as many as 10 combinations but none helped.

 

Pls reply asap and the Probability of prior need of a dedicated subwoofer! 

[anothertom]

The only thing I can think this might be, other than hardware failure, is that because you're not using the centre speaker currently, you've only got the front L/R and rear L/R connections plugged into your source, which may not be full range outputs/inputs (?). Make sure all three 3.5mm jack's are plugged into both the source and control unit.

 

I can't find any useful images of the connection plate, or the user manual (only the service manual) so I can't say what connections you should be using.

 

As for needing a dedicated sub, in the picture you embedded, the left-most speaker is meant as a sub. If it has a 3.5mm or RCA input you could quickly test to make sure it works properly. If it's amp is in the main unit, then make sure it's properly plugged into the sub output. If you didn't receive that speaker, then you bought a 5.0 system.

[Multiversal]

7 hours ago, anothertom said:

The only thing I can think this might be, other than hardware failure, is that because you're not using the centre speaker currently, you've only got the front L/R and rear L/R connections plugged into your source, which may not be full range outputs/inputs (?). Make sure all three 3.5mm jack's are plugged into both the source and control unit.

 

I can't find any useful images of the connection plate, or the user manual (only the service manual) so I can't say what connections you should be using.

 

As for needing a dedicated sub, in the picture you embedded, the left-most speaker is meant as a sub. If it has a 3.5mm or RCA input you could quickly test to make sure it works properly. If it's amp is in the main unit, then make sure it's properly plugged into the sub output. If you didn't receive that speaker, then you bought a 5.0 system.

Man, I've left quite a few imp things while writing the ques bcz I was in a bit of hurry:

Firstly, I am using these conventional cables for connection and not the 3.5 mm ones because the system is almost a decade old.

Secondly, The centre speaker is a Mid-Range Speaker which clearly means that it carries 500Hz-2KHz and similar Mid-Spectrum only and not the bass that I require. As I've already mentioned that I've tried all the connection combinations and none of 'em affected the bass response, then probably there might be some h/w bottlenecks.
Thirdly, the response remains similar on any headphones that I connect to it.

 

I also left to state that the system supports Dolby, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS Surround. Not to mention that I ain't using any of 'em.

 

Different modes supported:
FM radio, MD Video, Game Mode, Tape, Tape/Cassette Player Mode, and DvD Mode. The best sound quality is achieved in Game Mode which supports the playback via Game-dedicated Front A/V I/O as is stated by the picture below. But the Lower Frequency problem still persists in Game Mode. So, recommendably, I am currently using MD Video Mode with High Game Syncing/Mixing (can be switched b/w three modes: low,mid,high game mixing levels) to achieve the best possible sound out of it.

Noteworthy to state, all my speakers are still in good condition and I don't notice any faults till date.

One thing more importantly to say, when I visited the techician 3 years ago to include an add-on: Chinese USB MP3 Playback system (check below images), he terminated the DVD and 3-Disc Changer system with my prior permission. Its still in but is out of service. And keeping that thing in mind, I doubt it might had caused a few problems that I'm presently facing such as getting different response other than those desired after any button (Illumination, Surround, EQ, etc.) press.

[anothertom]

3 hours ago, D33P said:

Firstly, I am using these conventional cables for connection and not the 3.5 mm ones because the system is almost a decade old.

Secondly, The centre speaker is a Mid-Range Speaker which clearly means that it carries 500Hz-2KHz and similar Mid-Spectrum only and not the bass that I require.

So you're feeding it a stereo signal ,and using built in virtual surround?

So the picture you embedded isn't what you have? you have this rather than this, can you see the difference? The second image (the one you linked) has a sub on the far left, do you not have this?

I agree the center speaker shouldn't be full range, but it may use a passive crossover in the speaker rather than using DSP in the control unit, so if you have the sub unit used as a center speaker it would compensate.

 

3 hours ago, D33P said:

Thirdly, the response remains similar on any headphones that I connect to it.

If it's the same for every output, then check the input with something else. If it's a computer then just plug a pair of headphones in.

 

3 hours ago, D33P said:

As I've already mentioned that I've tried all the connection combinations and none of 'em affected the bass response, then probably there might be some h/w bottlenecks.

If you've been plugging everything in and out multiple times, it's probably worth unplugging everything and starting from scratch, just to make certain everything is what you think it is.

 

13 hours ago, D33P said:

1 x Center Speaker (not in use currently due to its wire breakage).

You could always try fixing this, simply a new length of cable.

 

 

If none of this works or helps at all, you could simply get a powered sub with a loop out. Your system is from 2003, and it's not unheard of things to break after that length of time, you would probably benefit from a full upgrade if you've got the money.

[Multiversal]

On 3/4/2017 at 1:49 AM, anothertom said:

I agree the center speaker shouldn't be full range, but it may use a passive crossover in the speaker rather than using DSP in the control unit, so if you have the sub unit used as a center speaker it would compensate.

So you say if I plug it in, it would let other full-range speakers to throw complete required o/p ? How is that possible?

 

On 3/4/2017 at 1:49 AM, anothertom said:

If it's the same for every output, then check the input with something else. If it's a computer then just plug a pair of headphones in.

Yes, I've tried connecting both pairs of my in-ear headphones Sennheiser CX-180 Streeet II and JBL-T150, the response does get a bit better than the system speakers yet the bass suppresses the mids, highs and vocals of a song as if the it is representing a dominating behaviour (Regardless of any EQ changes, rather I always turn the EQ to Flat)! I connect via this "Phones" jack (check pic).
This improved quality on headphones is as a result of their own freq. reproduction capabilities and not the control unit's.

 

On 3/4/2017 at 1:49 AM, anothertom said:

If you've been plugging everything in and out multiple times, it's probably worth unplugging everything and starting from scratch, just to make certain everything is what you think it is.

Tried, but didn't help at all! As you see it is a 2003 model, so you can't expect much wire-interchange at back of the C.U.

 

On 3/4/2017 at 1:49 AM, anothertom said:

 

If none of this works or helps at all, you could simply get a powered sub with a loop out. Your system is from 2003, and it's not unheard of things to break after that length of time, you would probably benefit from a full upgrade if you've got the money.

Well, I really feel downhearted when I hear from someone about the Total Upgradation!! I'm in soo much love with this system as it came at no price and was apparently gifted to me 7 years ago. It is capable of producing that power-packed bass which is enough to shake your entire house at just half of its volume due its 750W RMS of total power (incl. that Centre Speaker attached).

I posted this question because I want to resolve that subwoofer problem as I ain't gonna buy one for it, no matter what tweaks it need. Nevertheless, I ain't planning to buy another system costing a $1000. I recommend you to give MHC-GN88D a listen if some friend/relative of yours is still having it. Feel this beast's potential for yourself and you'll know why I am not in a mood to sell it !

The other major problem here in my country is that there's not much variety of Multi-Channel Speaker Systems. You buy one, you let your mind say after a couple months,"The purchase wasn't satisfactory!".