meng el84 integrtated amp FM antenna location

What is the model of the tuner? It doesnt have a manual defeat?

Off hand the best you could do is get a directional antenna

Well never mind. The damn thing just died. No volume, but can barely hear it at full volume. Any suggestions, tubes, transformer, etc. I'm not going to try and send it back to China !

I have owned Chinese amps that have worked great for many years. I wouldn't generalize some of the stuff is good. It may cost a bit more but the build quality is quite obvious on some of them. As an example just the feel, fit and finish of a Prima Luna piece shouts quality. They are not even all that much.
I have no idea what a Meng amp is. It may indeed be an example of some of the massive amounts of shi**y cheaply built junk pooring out of China and the Pacific rim.
If it is a dead tube that should be obvious and easy to fix . It sounds like you shorted the blank out it. If a tube went down ait could have taken a resistor with it (I have done this myself I am no saint) or as you said a fried tranny or anything in between. A fried tranny equals boat anchor!
Why not test the service though and see what their response is to an evident manufacturing defect if you did nothing to cause the problem. Slow boat to China postage may be worth it. Or who knows maybe they will send you a replacement without a fight.
I googled it $2XX- free shipping, Man that's cheap alright. Any way they show you that you can unscrew the bottom plate . Just look to see if anything actually appears burned.

I have a degree in computer engineering, so I promise you I know what a fried resistor smells like. The circuit board is a two sided deal and all the resistors or on the back side.
I'm a little reluctant to view the underside. There is a lot of wiring to be disturbed. If I send it back, I don't want them to see I've been rooting around. The tubes all light up
and, from what I can see, everything looks fine. What's your best guess; transformer ?