Boy I just pick an amp at random and you are telling me that you know what this thing is and what's in it ?!
... there is one thing I lie a lot about it : there is decent service manual available for it !!! Always amazes me to find service manuals for consumer gear, especially in the '90s when even professional test gear like Tektronix and HP started NOT including schematics any longer in their manuals. The world is upside down...
So am looking at the schematic as we speak.. yes first thing I noticed is what you just said ... oh well.
It uses precisely an STK4182Mk2. At least it's still available used for a couple Euros it seems, so not the end of the world even if it turns out it is indeed that thing that's faulty.
Only one channel is not working so the chip is not 100% dead, just one half of it... is that even a plausible scenario ?
We shall see. Anyway, it looks like there is quite a bunch of discrete components in that amp, other than the STK module per se.
So lots of room for a simpler fix
Hey let's be optimistic....
Who know, maybe the STK is fine and it's just the input signal that's not getting to the STK...
For 10 Euros (+ 10 Euros shipping) not much to lose... if it's not repairable I will just keep it for parts...
Anyway, it's all your fault, YOU suggested that I get a cheap amp to fix rather than getting a more expensive working one !
.... and now I am sold to the idea, I am excited to get my first amplifier and start work on it, whatever the outcome it should be fun trying to fix it...