I used to have a Technics receiver that my dad gave me. I blew it up by accident running a distortion pedal through it, running feedback loops. It sounded something like this:
http://ghostsofdeadtables.bandcamp.com/track/ground-up-into-mulchAlthough the set up on this track was more elaborate. The day after I did that to the Technics receiver, it spewed out this THICK cloud of white smoke
while it was still going! 
I freaked out and shut it off, unplugged the tape deck, CD player and speakers from the receiver. It was BOILING hot. Once it cooled down, I took the casing off and saw that the two circular transformers in the middle were scorched black. I went without tunes for several months until I got a Sony receiver for Christmas (this was 1995). That stereo lasted until 2003. I couldn't complain since it was used CONSTANTLY. But I never abused another stereo receiver like that ever again. Now, I have equipment that is designed especially for that kind of abuse.
