Interesting. The AVR has been going well without any problems, watched a couple of 'loud' movies etc. Last night watching a quiet show, it kept switching off. A restart would only last a few seconds until it failed again (each time with a loud 'Pop'). Tried running a heavy extension cord from a totally different power circuit, no difference. Unplugged the pair of surround speakers (so now running 3.2), and it then ran perfectly for the next hour. Could be just coincidence. If I plugged the surrounds into the rear channels on the AVR, I suppose I should run Audyssey again, would the AVR work it out and send what it should to the surrounds? My surrounds ARE really more at the back of the room anyway.
If the fault IS on one of the surround channels, would transferring the speakers to the different channel 'fix' the problem?
I think you should go through the process of elimination. So, leave the surround speakers disconnected for longer, long enough for you to know if those channels were responsible for the "shutdown". It you still get any shutdown, then disconnect the center channel, so on and so forth until you isolate the culprit. If even after disconnecting all speakers it still shutdown then you know you have no choice but to get it repaired. If it works find with no speaker connected, then you have the option of getting the unit repaired, or use it as a preamp, or buy a new AVR and sell the 3600 as preamp/processor. Basically, if you know which (or all) internal amp, or the preamp is the culprit, then you know your options. The process may take a longer time, but you have been trying long enough and still don't have anything conclusive, so it is time to have a plan (one that is logical, such as by process of elimination), and see it through once and for all.