Squeezebox - One Channel Dead on RCA Output

[AjayLA]

I just got a Sherwood RX-5502 whole house receiver with discrete outputs for 4 sets of speakers in different rooms. It seems to work great for everything but the Squeezebox, whose left channel is practically nonexistent. The Squeezebox works fine on my main room 5 channel receiver, a Harman Kardon 1565, using the optical digital output from the Squeeebox. To get to the multi-room receiver (which only has RCA inputs), I have tried reversing the RCA plugs and the situation is reversed -- left channel is loud but right channel is out -- so it's not the Sherwood. I thought it might be bad cables so I tried 3 sets. Same situation on all. Tried bridging between Squeezebox and Sherwood using the Tape Out RCA jacks on the HK, which worked for FM but not Squeezebox. I suspect there is a problem in the box related to analog output. I tried rebooting to factory settings -- no change. Any advice? Thanks.

[aubuti]

Which model Squeezebox? If it's an SB2 or SB3 you could try an xilink reset. And when did you buy it (ie, any chance it's still under warranty)? It could be a defective/damaged RCA output.

[usbethjim]

If your unit is a SB3 (SlimDevices version) then welcome to the "weak left channel" club. I wrote the following concerning mine but not one reply to the post nor to the PMs I sent out:
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I have a Slimdevices SB3 with a weak left channel. I've read the threads relating to the repair but I do not possess the skills/knowledge required. I've PM'd - peterbell & eCo - the folks who seemed to know what they were doing asking for help but no response.

So does anyone know someone who could do this repair?

Reference threads:

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...one-very-quiet

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...-right-channel
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So what did I do? Toss it, sell for parts, destroy it with my soldering skills? No -I spent more $. It appears that MY weakness trouble was in the analog output circuit NOT in the digital side of things. So I bought this little thing:

FiiO D3 Digital to Analog Audio Converter With Micca 6ft Optical Toslink Cable

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...61VQXEDW4KM93J

It seems to be popular with the digital TV crowd. I hooked it up to bypass the SB3s analog output and no more channel weakness. YMMV

Good luck
Jim