On Friday, March 17, 2017 at 1:32:20 PM UTC-4, wrote:

What is the function of the JFET, Q553?

It looks like an audio switch that connects the L and R channels together in some mode controlled by the Mode 2 signal, for some reason. Is there a mono mode?

I'd disconnect this first to troubleshoot the other problem, it may be related or not.

Once you have the two channels isolated from each other, it may be easier to trace the distortion problem.

Mark

also looks like a design error to me re Q551 and Q552. It is hard to follow the way they are drawing upside down from how we normally see this circuit, but there should be a pullup resistor on Q552 like 10K from base to emmitter to ensure Q552 is cutoff when Q551 is off. There may be enough leakage when it gets warm that Q552 starts to turn on when it should not. That may be the cause of the distortion?

Mark