I've got an RCA Receiver and I've been getting an intermittent issue lately. The sound will completly disappear. Sometimes it will flucuate on and off in 2 -3
second intervals, and other times it will be completly silent. It is not the connection to the DVD player's problem as it happens on all sources. And it is not speaker
connection issues, as all speakers either work or do not work. I am at a loss here. What do you think may be the issue? It's no longer under warranty, and I need my
receiver! I'll be glad to answer any questions you have to help debug this problem.

Generally speaking if you have ruled out cables it is almost always a failed/failing cold solder joint. If it is affecting all your speakers at the same time it may be a broken cable connection inside. It can be repaired but you may be suprised at the cost.

As in, it might be cheaper to buy a new receiver?

Glad to help if I can but need to know a couple of things first.

Listen closely to the receiver itself? Do you hear any sounds when this happens such as clicking? It may be relatively quiet sounds so again listen closely.

Secondly, Look at your display and see if any type of wierd indication comes on or if it goes out completely.

Lastly, Check all of your speaker wires if you can. If any have come loose and are touching another terminal, if you have any suspicious kinks or gouges along any of the runs there could be a partial or intermittent short which can cause the receiver's protection circuits to kick in momentarily and then reset.

If it is clicking, what would that indicate? AFAIK, there is no sound whatsoever.

The display is still there, I can switch sources, alter the volume...anything I normally could do, except no sound comes out.

And I am fairly confident the wires are not loose. The unit doesn't move so wires shorting out sounds fairly implausable.

What about over heating? ANy thoughts on this possability?

Overheating is a possibility but if it's in the same position it has been it probably would have always done this. Or has it? On the speaker wire issue: I don't just mean the connections, I mean the entire length too. You're looking for kinks or breaks that somebody or something other than you have caused (pets and unwanted vermin have been known for just such things). Also clicks would indicate a protection circuit kicking in.

It just started yesterday, howeever, it was at least 85 degrees yesterday...and a only slightly cooler inside.

This may sound awkward or hokey, but try aiming a fan over the top of it while it's running. This should get some more air moving to cool it so we can isolate whether it is a heat problem or not.

Well, it's not overheating. IT was cold in here yesterday and it did the same thing.

Well that depends on your needs. Usually the labor to diagnose and repair something like this could be 75-100 roughly.

It still sounds to me like a failing joint inside the receiver. The joints if they are cracked or broken will expand and contract with use.

Call around to some of your local repair shops and see what they charge for an estimate. I have known shops to charge $35-45 which all reputable shops will waive if you decide to get it repaired. If it is a cold solder joint, your overall repair bill will probably be less than a $100. But then again, that's what the estimate is for.