Thanks for the replies.
First, I have read the owners manual over and over, section by section to try to fix my situation.
I have called and visited Best Buys Geek Squad 3 times for help and advice.
I have replaced the receiver once to rule out that I simply had a defective receiver the first time.
I have another new receiver ready on hand to replace the second replacement.
The speaker wire issue has been mentioned to me as a possible cause.
I have reconnected them with OCD intensity making certain that there are no exposed wires.
The wires are twisted on the ends, completely inserted right up to the insulation and the polarities are correct.
All of the wires are relaxed in that there is no pull on them to stress the connections.
All of the speakers have clear sound.
The speaker wires do touch at points during their routing from the receiver to the speakers but only the insulated parts.
I am using Monster Cable XP 30.48m speaker wire.
The HDMI cables and Optical cables also touch behind the scenes but once again only the insulated outsides.
Could these wires touching at any insulated point be causing my problem?
The receiver only shuts off when higher volume is attempted.
The TV imput, optical cable, allows a volume of -15.5 before the receiver shuts off but is not very loud even at that volume level.
The Tuner input allows the same.
The Sony Blue Ray, BDP-S360, input through HDMI 1 allows a volume level of -45.5 before the receiver shuts off.
This occurs wether playing DVD or CD and all program presets.
The sound output (sound in the room) is much higher at -45.5 from the HDMI Blue Ray input than the -15.5 output of the TV.
The reciever will stay on all day, regadless of input source, if the volume is left low.
I feel the receiver is not the problem as well because the same problem has occured with two new receivers of the same model.
I also feel it may be a connection problem and have worked very hard before soliciting the charitable advice from experienced members here.
I remain a bit sceptical of the Klipsch HD Theater 500.
It was purchased "open stock" because someone else had returned it.
I do not know why they returned it but because the box contained cut speaker wires I know they attempted to install it and were not happy
with it for some reason. Maybe they had a similiar problem.
Could one of the speakers have contacts touching on the inside or reversed polarities due to a manufacturing error and how would I check?
I feel that if I install this 3rd receiver I will have the same problem so it boils down to the connections or the speakers.
The HDMI and Optical connections seem obvious and sound with all new cables.
The Blue Ray and TV all perform when their imput is selected on the receiver.
Maybe there is another way to connect all of these components with these cables that would correct the problem?
The speaker connections have been gone over more than once even using magnifying goggles to make absolutely certain there is not even one fine strand of copper exposed.
Could the Klipsch 500 simply be damaged or defective?
Has anyone ever heard of that?
All advice and information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
RW