Hi there

I have a strange problem I hope you guys can help me with. I have a 5.1 setup with a Marantz SR5000 receiver and CSW speakers. It's been working fine for two years. Every month or so, I run the "Test Tone" via the amp, to send a signal to each of the six speakers in turn and ensure that all are working.

This weekend, for the first time, one of the speakers did not "sound off" -- the rear right surround. I did the usual logical tests.

First, I swapped this speaker with the left rear surround, and repeated the test. Again, no sound from the "right" rear. So it's not the speaker.

Next, I swapped the speaker wire at the amp terminals, so that the left physical rear speaker was wired to the right rear channel. Ran the test again, and this time I got sound during the right rear test. So it's not a problem with the amp's innards or terminal.

Last, I cut a new 24" piece of the same 16 gauge copper wire and wired the "real rear right" speaker to its proper terminal, with the rest of the system as it had been. The whole test worked.

So looks like the right rear wire is the problem. I look down its run, and note that a large transformer (for a digital piano) is sitting square on the wire! Must have got pushed there during Thanksgiving guest/bed maneuvers.

So my question: could that have magnetized or otherwise messed with the wire? And if so, since I've unplugged the piano and removed the transformer, will the wire go back to normal, or will I have to replace it? Naturally, the problem wire is the longest run in the room!

Thanks,

David