Forum Home
PC World Chat
 
Thread ID: 62347 2005-10-04 23:59:00 half broken 3.5mm stereo socket heni72847 (1166) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
393455 2005-10-04 23:59:00 this is rather fustrating and has happened twice
the socket for headfone on my mp3 player has once again..well..half died

the same thing happened to my previous mp3 player
the common channel can't make proper contact with the plug
so the music i listen sounds..off vocal

now the new mp3 player..nearly had it for a yr
now the right channel's having contact problems

when i listen to music i can't hear any sound on the right side unless i push the plug in a way so it makes contact
then when i release it.. no sound comes out

anyone having the same problems?
or is there a way to fix this

..really annoying how a simple part of the mp3 player gets stuffed..
while all the complicated electronics in it works fine..
heni72847 (1166)
393456 2005-10-05 00:11:00 What I think the problem is, that a wire has broken where the cable goes into the plug, not a bad connection in the socket. These type of cables are very fragile and constantly pulling them in and out, and the differant angle's put on the cable, one of the wires soon breaks.

Trevor :)
Trev (427)
393457 2005-10-05 00:23:00 um.. i did try with 2 speaker sets, 2 headfones and all got same results..so..
afraid not that simple..
heni72847 (1166)
393458 2005-10-05 02:09:00 It's probably "just" one of the spring contacts bent out of postition. If you can get at it, you can (gently) persuade it back into place.

"Nearly" a year old? Still in guarantee? That's a real fault.

If you can't get someone else to do it, you might be able to open the case non-destructively. If there are any screws accessible, remember there is often at least one hidden (inside battery compartment, under rubber feet, under a stick on label). Even ad0fter screws are out, gthetre are often little plastic clips holding the halves together. I find my thumbnail is the best tool for doing those. I don't break many (thumbnails or plastic clips) and it is less likely to mark the outside of the case. Then you have to hope that the socket is an open construction one; not in a sealed plastic case itself.

There is something worse than a 3.5 mm plug: a 2.5 mm plug.
Graham L (2)
393459 2005-10-05 10:07:00 i think the guarantee is passed..
and i did open my old one up when it had this problem

but the socket..it's sorta like a plastic tube riight
so..even when device opened
the tube stays a tube and can't get inside it

um..does this spring contacts easily bent out of postition?
funny how it happened to both my mp3 players
heni72847 (1166)
393460 2005-10-05 20:11:00 Normally, they shouldn't get bent out of place easily. somebody (208)
393461 2005-10-05 23:53:00 Would it be the contact for the "ring" (Of tip, ring, sleeve)? "sleeve" is the common, shield connection . I can never remember which of ring or tip is supposed to be which channel . The ring contact can be bent if the plug isn't inserted straight . . . there can be enough slop at that stage for the tip to be way out of line . Anyway that contact works twice as hard as the tip contact .

I suppose the socket unit looks nothing like anything you can buy as a replacement? Of course there won't be enough room to put in a different replacement . :(
Graham L (2)
393462 2005-10-06 00:09:00 Would it be the contact for the "ring" (Of tip, ring, sleeve)? "sleeve" is the common, shield connection. I can never remember which of ring or tip is supposed to be which channel. The ring contact can be bent if the plug isn't inserted straight ... there can be enough slop at that stage for the tip to be way out of line. Anyway that contact works twice as hard as the tip contact.

I suppose the socket unit looks nothing like anything you can buy as a replacement? Of course there won't be enough room to put in a different replacement. :(

R_ing = R_ight Channel
somebody (208)
393463 2005-10-06 00:18:00 "T_ip = T_'Other?" :D Graham L (2)
393464 2005-10-06 00:51:00 um..no easy way of fixing this is there
....need a nanobot to kick the contact spring thingy for me..
heni72847 (1166)
1 2