From: @noway.com   
      
   Since I felt I had narrowed down the problem area to between where the   
   transistor readings were consistent right to left, measuring both AC   
   voltage to ground while playing a 100Hz tone and measuring resistance   
   with the power down and to where the readings were inconsistent. Based   
   on advice from this group I replaced a couple of electrolytic caps with   
   no improvement in the loss of treble in the left channel, which I became   
   aware of while troubleshooting the cutting out of the left channel. Plus   
   the left channel was again not playing when powering on. This is when I   
   decided to change the 2SB528 and the 2SD358.   
      
   I first swapped out the 2SB528 for the equivalent NTE 292 and powered   
   up. The left channel was out, but turning up the volume brought it back   
   as, as usual. There seemed to be a marked improvement in the treble but   
   that might just be wishful hearing. At any rate I decided to change the   
   2SD358 since I was able to get both NTE equivalents at Al Lasher's   
   Electronics. I unscrewed the heatsink and pulled it, and with soldering   
   iron in one hand and the transistor firmly grasped between thumb and   
   forefinger of the other, getting ready to melt the first of three blobs   
   of solder, I noticed the base pin on the 2SD358 was wriggling slightly   
   in its blob of solder. The joint was cracked! And that is when I stopped   
   to record this event right here, in real time. I'm torn between   
   resoldering the joint and changing the transistor. I will resolder it.   
   That's quicker. And then we will see what we shall see. Here   
   goes.......... okay, done. Well, the left channel started right up at   
   power on, but it is obvious that the high end is still gone and the   
   volume is still still weak. So I will swap out the 2SD358 for the NTE   
   291. Done. Treble still gone in left channel, but recording software is   
   showing the two channels equal in strength, both being a fraction of a   
   decibel off peak while playing a stereo jazz station, so the what I   
   perceived as a lack of volume might have been just a lack of treble.   
      
   I am going to assume that the problem of the left channel cutting out   
   was caused by the broken solder joint of the base pin of the 2SD358 and   
   concentrate of getting the treble back in that channel.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)