Expert: fab - 7/12/2009

Question
Hi Fab,
My name is Mike and I am also an expert over in the optometry section. This is more of a repair question, but I am at my wits end and thought you may be able to offer some guidance.
I have a Sherwood Newcastle receiver, model R-925.  It is about 8-10 years old.  It has been great without issues.  The other day when it turned on, we had no sound.  I checked all the connections and even plugged in an old pair of headphones in the older fat style headphone jack.  No sound.  The unit is no longer under warranty, so I thought there may be fuses inside, one of which had blown.  I just checked it and all the fuses are intact.  All the knobs, tuners, switches work.
I do not have nay repair facilities close to my home that I know of.  I know this problem is very vague, but does it sound like something major, as in tank the unit & by new.  Or, does it sound like something minor which can be easily fixed.  I appreciate any hep or guidance you may be able to offer.
Thanks in advance,
Mike

Answer
Mike,
 Honestly I'm not a repair man.  A few things i would do to islolate the issue is to verify it's the amp and not any of the sources. Checking the fuses and cleaning out the reciever w/compressed air would be my next step.  After 10 years i'd say you got you monies worth.  If you cant figure this out yourself i would say get a new one instead of sending it somewhere to get it replaced.  you could spend more money trying to figure out the problem than just purchasing a new one.