Sony receiver protector errors are supposed to protect your amplifier components in case of electrical issues such as short circuits. This is a temporary error and you do not need to worry too much when it occurs.
If you have a sony receiver that frequently goes into protector mode, then all you need is a quick fix to be able to continue enjoying your music or games.
What Causes The Sony Receiver Protector Error?
Your sony receiver has a protection circuit that is triggered any time there is a problem with the system.
Some of the most common problems that may cause the trigger of a protection mode include:
- Electrical surge: power surges mainly occur after a power outage. When power returns at a higher voltage than the power rating of the receiver system, it is more likely to enter the protector mode.
- Short circuit: short circuits occur when two different electrical cables or components form an abnormal connection, but these components or cables are supposed to be different voltages.
- Overloading: overloading occurs when the load on your electrical system is too high.
- Overheating: this may be caused by the external temperature of the room or electrical heating that occurs as a result of short circuits. Either way, the system gets too hot and the protection circuit is triggered.
- High volume: if you play your speakers at extremely high volumes, your stereo is more likely to start clipping and enter protect mode. This is more likely to happen if your speaker impedance is below the receiver rating.
Can I Fix Protector Errors?
As we already mentioned, protector errors only occur as warning signs that your receiver system is facing a problem that may become a severe issue if not addressed.
They are therefore temporary warnings that can be easily resolved. Follow our step-by-step guide to be able to fix these errors as they occur.
1. Electrical Surge
You will only be able to remove the protector mode if you identify and fix the problem causing it.
If you suspect that your receiver is showing an error message that may have been caused by a power surge, follow the following procedure to rectify the issue:
- Unplug the receiver from the mains power supply or wall socket: begin by switching off the appliance. Then, unplug the power cable from the wall socket to completely disconnect it from the main supply.
- Open up the system: you can always perform a DIY by unscrewing the receiver box using Philips screwdrivers.
- Clean out the dust: you can easily do this by sucking out the dust using an air compressor or blowing it out with an air blower.
- Disconnect and properly reconnect connectors: gently and carefully locate and disconnect every connector within the system while making sure every one of them is properly reconnected.
- Screw up the system again with all connections properly fixed.
- Plug the receiver back into the AC and switch it on.
This procedure helps you reset the protector circuit and additionally allows you to fix loose connections within the receiver unit.
2. Short Circuit
Short circuits occur when electrical cables or components that should not contact get in contact.
For instance, speaker wires of different voltages getting in contact will result in a short circuit and are more likely to drive your receiver into the protect mode. Other causes may be loose wires within the receiver unit or water spillage into the system.
Problems due to short-circuiting can be resolved by first turning off the unit. Once the system is off, inspect it together with the speaker wires to establish if there are any wires in contact.
You will also need to open the receiver box to examine the motherboard for the presence of water droplets.
Wipe out any water droplets with a dry cloth and fix any loose wires within the system. If you find any contact with the speaker wires, remove them immediately.
Once all the contacts are resolved, it is time to test the speakers for full functionality. Faulty or burnt-out speakers are also common culprits for this kind of problem.
Test the speakers one by one by connecting them, each at a time, and testing for the audio response. If one speaker is not working, then you may need to check the speaker cable for any disconnections and contact of wires. Fix the wires one at a time on the sony stereo until the system says “protect”.
Fix all the issues causing the problem and connect back your receiver to the AC supply. You shall have resolved the protector error.
3. Overloading And Overheating
Always ensure your receiver is properly ventilated! Sometimes you can check overheating by just touching the device, but that is not always the case.
If you suspect that your receiver is overloaded, disconnect the speakers. Read your receiver rating again and ensure the speakers connected are below the receiver rating.
Remove excess speakers and power your receiver again to see if the issue is resolved.
Remember, the system is also more likely to overheat when it is overloaded. Another cause of system heating may be problems with the fan.
Cool the system immediately it enters protect mod. Turn every power supply off and allow it to cool for about half an hour. Feel it by touching with your hands to check if the system has cooled down.
Check if the fan is working properly. If not, begin by removing dust from the area and checking its connections.
Always ensure your receiver is placed in a stable area and has an adequate free flow of air for constant cooling. Also, keeping the receiver away from direct sunlight helps reduce the problem while extending the life of the system.
4. High Volume
Playing music with your receiver at very high volumes may also cause it to get into protect mode. This is a more common issue with amplifiers as many amplifiers will go into protect mode when the volume is turned up. This is because high volumes demand high power draws which are more likely to result in electrical heating.
When the system gets hotter, the protector circuit turns on and your system will not work. Keeping your volumes low or regulated quickly solves this issue.
Begin by checking the position of your volume knob, then unplug the receiver and disconnect all the speakers. Turn the volume knob back to a lower volume and power back the receiver. Connect the speakers and check that the error is resolved.
5. Speaker Impedance
Speaker impedance refers to the degree to which your speaker’s resistance to electrical current. Speakers with a higher impedance allow less electrical current and so pull less power. 
If your speakers’ impedance is too low for your receiver, they may be pulling too much power from your receiver so the receiver goes into protect mode.
You either need to get speakers of a high impedance to match the receiver or get an amplifier. You can check the receiver impedance rating on the back of the device.
How Do I Reset My Sony receiver?
Press and hold down the MUTING and MUSIC buttons. While holding down the MUTING and MUSIC buttons, press and release the POWER button to turn the A/V receiver on. Wait approximately 5 seconds and then release the MUTING and MUSIC buttons.
You can also try to factory reset your Sony Receiver.
How do I Factory Reset My Sony Receiver?
To factory reset your receiver, follow the steps outlined below;
- Initialize or Reset My Sony Receiver to Factory Default Settings
- Press the POWER button to power off the receiver.
- Press and hold down the POWER button.
- Wait approximately 5 seconds and then release the POWER button.
Final Thoughts
Sony receivers are fitted with protector circuits to keep them safe from any problems that may occur during operation.
Ensure you read the user manual before operating the system to be sure you are operating it within the manufacturer’s range of optimal receiver operating conditions. However, if you ever encounter this error, follow the steps outlined to improve your user experience.