Denon receiver not working surround output

If everything is connected correct, the only thing I can think of, is you don't put in a surround signal. If you only feed 2 way stereo, only two speaker will work. Also if you switch to stereo, the other channels will stop working. Check the cables, the settings and the input.

These surround-sound receivers are frustrating; I have one that came with a 150-page instruction manual, and finding the exact solution can be extraordinarily frustrating.

But if you apply logic to the situation, you can almost certainly solve your problem. The idea is to isolate the signal path and find just where it's not going. Start with the receiver and its connections:

-speaker connections. you're sure the surround-sound speakers are attached properly? Then try switching the surround-sound speakers and the front channel speakers-- the wiring, that is.. What should happen is you'll hear that front-channel sound through the surround-sound speakers you hitched up. And you should hear nothing from the once-front-channel speakers-- because they're connected to the non-functioning surround sound.

If the surround-sound speakers don't give you that front-channel signal, then they're disconnected or shot-- if they're in the walls or the ceiling, the connectors could have fallen off or (catastrophe!) mice could have chewed the wires. Both of these are unlikely, the mouse-scenario least likely (but it's happened! and if so, i.e. if the speakers are connected at both ends, try running a second wire from receiver to speaker to make sure the speakers work, then if they do, you'll have to re-snake the wires. Not as difficult as it sounds, as you use the old wires to pull the new wires through the holes.)

OK now that you are hearing sound from the surround speakers, you know it's not them or the wiring to them. Switch back to the correct wiring-- front to front, surround to surround.

-Next, the input. This is almost always where the problem is:
Are you getting surround-sound signal into the receiver? Typically, you can plug a standard input-- like a cd player or your tv output-- switching it from the "main" input to the surround sound input. If you hear a blast or even a whisper of sound from the surround sound speakers now that main inputs are attached, you know that the receiver's working.

But. But you don't know if it's a lack of surround-sound input from your cable, satellite box or in-the-tv receiver, or if it's in the Denon's switching. Connect the surround sound inputs to the main (front stereo) inputs and listen to a surround-sound-rich source-- like maybe a movie with tons of apocalyptic explosions, or Top Gun with its jets-across-the-sky effects. You should hear surround-sound info now coming from your front speakers, and if you do, you know that the problem is within the Denon-- probably not a defect, but rather a problem of switching, some instruction that's buried on page 139 of the manual.

Still there's hope! The most common error people make is this: most surround receivers have what they call "theatres" or "preset effects" or the like. The fancier the receiver, the more confusing these will be. You need to be sure that both the input and the theatre presets are agreeing with each other. In my massive Yamaha, when Grandma starts to press the remote buttons, things go haywire, and I find I have to go back to the receiver's face-plate (not the remote) to sort it out. The most common problems lie with inputs set to stereo but outputs set to 5.1 surround. One quick solution is to switch to "movie" mode and see if that fixes it. The problem may also be that the receiver is switched to "analog" mode but you're seeking a digital surround-sound output.

Or it could well be your tv inputs. There are two ways to set up for surround sound. Ideally, your tv is only serving as the receiver of signal from the Denon; nothing is going from the tv as an input to the Denon. If that's the case, then you should be looking at the various inputs you're trying to use to get surround. If you're hooking up to an "optical", you will definitely need to read the manual to make sure you set up the receiver to get all its signals-- front, side and back-- from the optical. If you're using an HDMI cable, read that section of the manual and make sure you've done the setup right.

Finally, there's help in the manual. Most of these receivers have a "test signal" mode, and that will confirm that you're getting at least output to all your channels.

Good luck!