Tips for Trouble Shooting Your Home Entertainment Center

Having just got home from work you take a shower, get a beer and a sandwich then sit down in front of the home entertainment center to watch the game. But when you pushed the power button you noticed something was off... Is it the audio, the video, or the cable box? As you approach the Entertainment center you begin to see the wiring mess looming just ahead, which could best be described as the many tentacles of an octopus. With a concerned expression you begin to attempt to untangle the mess and figure out just what the problem is. By now you're getting rather frustrated and maybe you came here seeking help. This is good because right here, you are reading some helpful tips on how to troubleshoot and repair your home theater.

The first in a potential magnitude of problems which may arise in your home theater is that you lose audio to one speaker and typically this is an easy fix. However daunting the task may seem, once you have untangled that octopuses tentacles behind your television. You should be able to determine which speaker wires go to which speakers.

At this point it's a simple matter of determining if this speaker is connected or not. Ensure that not only are the speaker wires plugged in at the audio unit, but also that they are plugged in at the speaker. Wiggle both ends one at a time to ensure that both ends are indeed making contact inside the connecting ports. If this hasn't solved your problem there remains a couple of possibilities as to what the problem may in fact be. The first of which is that your surround sound system is not getting the signal for this speaker.

Assuming you have a stereo speaker configuration it is more likely then with a 5.1 speaker combination. With a 5.1 speaker configuration you would likely lose 2 channels or more due to the event of a loose cable between the tuner and the speaker system. Regardless of your configuration ensure that from either your cable box or from your T. V. Depending on the source of your audio input. You do in fact have a solid connection. Once you have done this you can rest assured that the only remaining possibility, is a dead speaker or a blown fuse to the speaker in question inside your tuner.

The second most common problem is that your television simply won't play a DVD or any other connected device. The most common solution for this is to ensure that you are in fact on the proper channel, to use the device you intend to use. If you have the original factory remote get it and press the button labeled "signal", "input", or "TV" to change your desired input channel.

Flip through each of the input channels until you find the picture you want. If this has not resolved your issue. Behind the T.V. once more, in that tangled mess you will find one or more cables connecting to your television. These drive your televisions signal grab each firmly, one at a time and ensure that they are plugged in all the way. Then try flipping through the inputs again.

If you find that this hasn't fixed your signal then behind the T.V. once more. Switch any interchangeable ports you have plugged in. For instance if you have two HDMI devices plugged in. The cable may be at fault and could easily be tested by switching your cables.

If after doing so you find the issue still not resolved try using another input method. For instance if you're trying to watch your DVD player. Then check to see if it has composite video outs, and use the composite out ports, instead of your HDMI. After you have exhausted all options the final test to determine if the device itself is bad is to connect it to another television. Maybe your neighbors, if you don't have another one nearby. It is likely the device itself is broken if none of the solutions above worked.

The third most common home theater problem is your television won't display a picture from any source. Including cable this problem is a bit more difficult then others, as it may become directly related to the television.

Prior to assuming the worst however, if you aren't receiving power on your television. Check that the power is plugged into the back of the television. Many units these days have external power Cables which are separate from the television unit. Then trace the plug back to the power bar. Ensure it is plugged in here as well, and that the power bar is plugged into the wall.

If your issue is not resolved you need to unplug the television from the power bar and try plugging it directly into your wall receptacle. That's about as much as you can do at this point if the Television still does not power on. Then it is a bad television or your breaker has blown. Television repairs can be easy depending on the problem in this case it may be as simple as replacing a fuse. However, that is for another article.

If your televisions power comes on, but simply doesn't display any picture, and you get audio. Ensure that all the connecting cables from each of your devices are plugged in all the way. If you're using HDMI attempt to use composite in it's place to determine if the cable is the problem. If your problem isn't resolved here, then the most likely cause is the Lamps have blown out, and need to be replaced. Depending on the size of your T.V. this can be an easy and inexpensive repair or a hard one but that again is for another article.

There are many more possible variations of issues that could potentially arise in your home theater system. However, if your issue isn't resolved at this point. You will need some "one on one" assistance with your specific problem.

If I covered every issue here I would have to write a small book there are so many possible variations of home theaters systems that can be assembled together. Varying brands and types of televisions. Once you have exhausted the tips here you should contact your manufacture and check if you have a warranty. If you do the issue may be resolved for free.

If you don't then you can contact a professional or a tech guru and detail your exact problem in your correspondence. This will help him greatly in assisting you. Fixya is a great web site to ask questions and get answers specific to your problem.