Home theatre 5 disc player and stereo?

[Wannabe]

My stock RCA unit is making a noise that sounds like a disc trying to load, but it has none and is in aux 1 position for TV. The noise varies and sometimes goes away. I assume it's time to replace it (unless a hammer could fix it)? What would you suggest to replace it? Thanks!

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wannabe My stock RCA unit is making a noise that sounds like a disc trying to load, but it has none and is in aux 1 position for TV. The noise varies and sometimes goes away. I assume it's time to replace it (unless a hammer could fix it)? What would you suggest to replace it? Thanks!

My buddy just replaced his with a new Pioneer system. It has a larger Din but easily installed.

[Robi.1014]

Factors to think about include "upgrading" the DVD function to that of BlueRay.....not because you might own a BluRay DVD in the future (FYI, I don't intend to myself), but because many of these BluRay players feature a WIFI (or "connected") streaming function. This prepares you to rent/view movies from Blockbuster, NetFlix, etc., if you have a fast Internet connection available. The new player will have an HDMI output port. If your front TV is still "old technology", then the HDMI connection cannot be used, but you'll probably upgrade to an HDTV soon anyway.

To take the BluRay "upgrade" path may mean that you now commit to owning two boxes: the BluRay player and a separate surround-sound home theater (HT) amp. There are HT units with BluRay of course. But (again as "FYI"), I've decided that "surround sound" (in anything other than a real theater) is distracting when watching a movie at home. So I've reverted back to "stereo sound" and a powered sub-woofer.....and I'm quite satisfied with this "sound". DW is too.

[Wannabe]

After more searching, the noise might be a hum that has been previously described; but I'm surprised that it would vary. I unplugged the coach from shore power and turned the inverter on (usually off). I then turned on the RCA home theater,the TV; and no hum until the satellite receiver connected with the dish and started downloading. The hum was constant while the TV was on. Checked it with the air antenna and no hum. Maybe I should start it on air antenna and then switch to satellite. Was there any satisfactory fix for the reported hum? So many variables.

[Robi.1014]

Ah ha. To eliminate the hum on my rig (a Sony HT system), once the satellite dish has acquired, I turn-off the 12VDC power to the dish drive system. End of hum.

[Radarman]

Sounds like Robi has one clue/answer. Whoever installs the +12VDC power to electronic or electric (Motor) Satellite roof systems (or ANY +12VDC system that also has a connection to an audio amplifier or the TV---Like the +12VDC that feeds your Crank-Up antenna Amplifier) should always use Shielded 2-conductor wiring for the +12VDC runs. Unshielded 12 Volt wiring around electronic components that also have 120VAC present can cause AC Hum from the 120VAC source to be induced up to the Satellite or Crank-Up Amplifier and down to the TV and out to the Audio Amp. And if AC Hum can find a way, it will get there and be amplified. +12VDC ripple is a very unlikely source of the Hum unless it is coming from your Inverter when the Inverter is charging the batteries. If you have a Multi-meter and can check across your coach batteries, you should have very low AC ripple (Less than 1 Volt) when the Multi-meter is on AC. If you disconnect from shore power and whatever you read for AC ripple falls drastically, the Inverter +12VDc output has too much ripple. As a quick Hum troubleshooting aid, you can wrap Reynolds Wrap around your +12VDC Dish or Crank-Up Antenna wiring to see if that suppresses the Hum alittle. Also the AC Outlets the Amplifier/TV/Satellite Receiver/etc. are plugged into must have a good Ground connection. If not, that may be the source of your AC Hum. You can test the AC Outlets with an outlet tester or use an extension cord temporarily and try other outlets---one attached to your stick house would be a good check to see if there is any Hum difference. If you find that AC Hum is getting into your Audio Amp., and do replace any +12VDC wiring, use Shielded 2-conductor stranded wire. Normally on one end of the run or the other, the shielding is connected to Ground. The other shield end is not connected to anything. This is so no Ground Loops are formed. It just so happens in this case that the Negative 12VDC wire IS Ground, so you can actually connect that one end shield to the Neg. 12V wire. This shields most AC from getting into 12VDC wiring and should reduce any AC Hum considerably. If the AC Hum is from an Outlet with a bad ground, then I would guess several of your AC outlets are not grounded correctly, and that could be wiring, Inverter, or other coach Ground problem.

[Happycarz]

Wannabe,
Mine too makes the whirring motor noise on occasion. Rapping on it changes the tone and I can usually get it to stop. This is not an electrical hum, but a problem with a motor in the RCA unit itself. And, I can't attribute it to hot or cold, either. I'll wait until the noise is consistent, and then open up the unit and find the culprit.