Arcam Alpha ('86) - integrated amplifier problem

[trouble]

My Arcam Alpha has recently developed a "balance" problem.

The left channel is noticebly softer than the right. Also, the high
freq. response of the left channel seems lower than the right.

The right channel also has a higher "idle" current than the left
channel.

When I power ON, the right channel "pops". When I power OFF, it also
"pops".

I have tested my speakers (Infinity RS6001) and my CD player
(Consolidated Electronics Broadcast CD Player) and have eliminated them
as problems.

Any ideas?

 

[AshTray700]

not sure how that amp is designed, but the is an electrolitic cap somewhere
between the actual amp (mosfet or whatever) and the speaker output, on a
magnavox amp from the 70's this cap was shorted by solder on the pcb and
the respective channel would play but had an exremely high idle current
and poped due to the high current, not sure if this will help but
something in that area of the amp is probably the culprit if you have an
ic driving the amp (you know that big ovalish block with 15 or so pins
that was seen in the 70's-80's) it might have just bitten the dust