Yesterday when I turned on my stereo receiver, I was hearing a loud buzzing sound with loud popping sounds as well. This is a constant sound and I immediately turn off the receiver since it is such a loud and awful sound. I checked all the connections and everything seems fine. I did not make any setting changes since the last time I used my system. I switched input modes and this did not make a difference; still the same awful noise being produced. I have had this receiver for 10 years and never had a problem like this. The speakers are approximately 7 or 8 years old, but have not really been used much until the last couple years. What could be causing this problem and is it more likely to be caused by the receiver or the speakers?
Speakers are, in most consumer audio installations, purely passive devices. They cannot produce sound unless there is an electrical input driving them. There are very rare instances where a speaker system might produce noises while they are being driven by the amplifier but these would be so uncommon as to be not worthy of consideration.
Most likely the receiver has a problem with its power supply, not uncommon with a 10 year old receiver. Find a qualified repair shop for your receiver's brand and ask for an estimate of repair costs before you spend money on a receiver.
First, place "vintage audio repair" in a search engine.
I believe Atlas Sound in the PA area is still in business and can service Hafler.
You might also contact Audio Classics (NY I think). If you're overseas (from the US mainland), your options are limited and it might be time to let go of a 35 year old amp.
Doug, it sounds like dust may have gotten into your volume control. I had a receiver with this issue about 10 years ago. There was constant popping and the volume would not change when the volume control was rotated. The technician advised me to replace the receiver as this would be cheaper than having it fixed. Thankfully, I had another receiver handy at the time which sounded better to me with the speakers I was using than the one that popped had.
The problem you're experiencing could be the receiver or the speakers. Most likely the receiver. If you want to check the speakers, open them up and have the electrolytic capacitors checked on the crossover boards. Caps tend to fail after about 10 years or so, if the speakers are older, and they can cause a noise similar to what you heard. I've witnessed this on Sunfire subwoofers and KEF Reference speakers to name a few. More likely though, it's the amplifier stage of your AVR.