2 AM/FM Pocket Transistor Radios from the early 1980s having issues

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Caps, and sometimes bad resistors....If they are push-pull audio and one of the output transistors is bad that that can sound bad too. Alignment could also be an issue, but unlikely if in both bands.

The distortion is in both bands so its unlikely to be an alignment issue, especially in both radios, my vote is dried electrolytics because they both are from the same time period, although that doesn't explain why these two radios are having issues but not my old Panasonic and Zenith AM/FM transistor radios (which are both from the 1970s).

[zeno]

Speakers are rubbing & sticking. Plug in an ear phone to test.**

** Tech Tip. Sometimes on radios & cheap stereos with
distortion plugging in headphones make it sound OK BUT
the outputs are bad. Its caused by the decreased load on
the amp. The best test is remove speaker & sub a known
good on.

73 Zeno