Akai AA-R20 clipping question

I am working on this Akai AA-R20 and am getting clipping in both channels, I included a pic for reference (1Khz sine wave). I traced a signal to Q701 and Q702 which are 2SA798, the signal is good up to the first base and shows clipping on the common emitter and both collectors, no signal on the base.
The DC voltages are really close except that base #2 should have 0 volts but has 300mv.
I have seen these 2SA798 dual transistors go bad before but both channels have exactly the same readings and my mind will not accept that the 2SA798s in each channel went bad at the same time.
Any ideas what I should check?

20250630_162913.jpg


Partial schematic, one channel shown

AA-R20 clipping.jpg
 
Yes, and I just realized that 2SD716 and 2SB586 are only 6A parts! At +/-35V: I don't think so! Are you sure the supply isn't more like +/-20V? 35V into 4 Ohms is 8.75 Amps and you never want to see half the rated current, ie <3A. If you really have a +/-35V supply, then it needs a set of 15A+ parts like 2SC5200/2SA1943 power transistors, and TO-220 drivers like mje15028, mje15029 would be a good idea. Beyond +/-30V, it should actually have two sets of OPs per channel.

Back in 1970's, a lot of stereos died in short order because tube engineers did not understand transistor safe operating area. People used 2N3055 way past their limits, so makers sold them "H" parts which were more like 2N3773's rather than tell them how stupid they were. Today silicon is cheap and skimping just means repeated failures. Does it have a decent heat sink?
 
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