stereo receiver cuts out

It sounds like the amplifier has some sort of over-power protection that's activating when it shouldn't. Since you've cleaned out the dust bunnies and it still bonks, I'd tear it down and inspect solder points and the circuitboard for signs of overheating. Also look carefully at higher power items solder points like big capacitors, resistors and transformers.

Inspect how the solder is flowed to the circuit board pads and the component leads. I've seen some wierd behavior form stuff where just from heat and age a capacitor lead will build up some slight corrosion between the cap's lead the the solder. Just reflow suspicious points with a soldering iron and some fresh solder (for the flux).

Inspect the component side capacitors for signs of electrolyte leakage too (the larger round canister looking ones) or bowing out the top of the cap. The solder side may be fine but maybe it's a bad cap. Replace with same or larger voltage printed but exactly the same µF rating (micro-Farad). Note too which way the - (neg/ground) mark is orientated on the cap. Some better PCB's have the cap's orientation stenciled on the board and because it's a Sony I bet it does. If not dot the PCB with a black marker.

Hope that helps a tad. GL!

-Dk

i would see if any of your speakers are blown or something shorted inside. i once had a tweeter blow in a tower and i didnt realize that it was shutting my stereo off. dissconect eash speaker and try it then.

Yeah, try Smiththers suggestion first. It's much easier than a tear-down.

There's a thread Here that has a lot of info on similar receivers of that series shutting down in 'protect' mode.'

I also wondered how you're getting sound from your iPod into the receiver. If you're going into a line-level input (eg tape, CD, AUX in), the iPod's amplified output may be more than the receiver is willing to tolerate.

Does the receiver work properly with other components?

If you're going into a line-level input (eg tape, CD, AUX in), the iPod's amplified output may be more than the receiver is willing to tolerate.

Unlikely. Headphone outs are pretty weak in terms of output volts, and at maximum volume many headphone outs are pretty much the same as line outs. I have a Sony receiver of similar vintage, and it's never had a problem with the headphone out on my iPods.