[Jayce]

Today while checking out a Zenith Allegro stereo for someone, a very good question came to mind after the right channel basically died on me. Why is it always the right side that gives out on vintage, solid state stereos? I tinkered around with a few 70's stereos in the late 90's and this was already an issue then. Either dead or weak on one side. Now that I've been tinkering with solid state again, I've once again found they often go bad on the right channel. Why is this? I have actually seen Magnavox Astro-Sonic consoles that are either weak or dead on the right side, yet they play on for years in garages and stores on the left side. Either this is an oddity caused by how solid state electronics are set up or Ohio has an odd effect on electronics!

[35Z5]

That's not anything I encountered servicing.

Must be living in the Twilight Zone? 

[Jayce]

Well, the issue with the Zenith Allegro appears to be the vintage speakers we tried out on it. They might have tested good with the meter, but something went wrong and I think that is why the right channel conked out on the Zenith. Same speakers also caused my Realistic stereo to act strange and I think they have a date with the sledge hammer later on.

[Arran]

I would guess that the volume/balance pots probably have a lot to do with it, unless you are speaking of playing records in which case the cartridges can and do get messed up.
Regards
Arran

[codefox1]

Yes, Deoxit on balance controls and volume and balance controls often fixes it. A leas it's the first step.