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How do I diagnose the problem with my headphones for repairs?

ChickPhilA

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Nov 24, 2024
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I've been using AKG K52s for months and they're showing the starting signs of the dreaded "move phone slightly, audio briefly cuts out in one ear" phenomenon, but there's no visible damage, and bending and twisting the wire immediately after this happens doesn't reliably reproduce the results yet

I've been wrapping the jack end of the wire in electrical tape till I've reached a satisfactory stiffness, and so far it's worked a treat, but now after unwrapping it there's no damage I can see, so I'm not sure what part of the headphone is failing

There is also a small cut near the jack; I was using shrink tubing there, but the stuff I bought turns into a solid casing, so I cut it off and nicked the wire a bit in the process, but the damage wasn't bad, the copper is exposed but not affected or altered in any way, so I just wrapped that section tightly in a short strip of tape, it's been fine this whole time, unwrapping it now shows no further damage either

I've also braided the wire because it was way too long. I've checked the braided portion and it seems fine too. Fiddled with the headphone end of the wire in a similar way as to the jack end after audio messes up, same result; problem can't be reproduced

Currently the only persistent problem from this is a bit less volume on the left side, that started three days ago, but the instances of audio messing up because of an abrupt movement are getting more and more frequent, I'd much prefer to nip this in the bud
 
Sounds like a connector problem which is quite common with TRS jacks small and large,

This can be an issue with the connector but also in the socket it is plugged in to.

I suggest to connect it to another device to see if the headphone connector is at fault.
 
Sounds like a connector problem which is quite common with TRS jacks small and large,

This can be an issue with the connector but also in the socket it is plugged in to.

I suggest to connect it to another device to see if the headphone connector is at fault.
iirc I ran into the issue once on my laptop too, so if it's happening on that front, it's probably the connector itself. What remedies can I implement?
 
Sounds like a connector problem which is quite common with TRS jacks small and large,

This can be an issue with the connector but also in the socket it is plugged in to.

I suggest to connect it to another device to see if the headphone connector is at fault.
iirc I ran into the issue once on my laptop too, so if it's happening on that front, it's probably the connector itself. What remedies can I implement
I've been using AKG K52s for months and they're showing the starting signs of the dreaded "move phone slightly, audio briefly cuts out in one ear" phenomenon, but there's no visible damage, and bending and twisting the wire immediately after this happens doesn't reliably reproduce the results yet

I've been wrapping the jack end of the wire in electrical tape till I've reached a satisfactory stiffness, and so far it's worked a treat, but now after unwrapping it there's no damage I can see, so I'm not sure what part of the headphone is failing

There is also a small cut near the jack; I was using shrink tubing there, but the stuff I bought turns into a solid casing, so I cut it off and nicked the wire a bit in the process, but the damage wasn't bad, the copper is exposed but not affected or altered in any way, so I just wrapped that section tightly in a short strip of tape, it's been fine this whole time, unwrapping it now shows no further damage either

I've also braided the wire because it was way too long. I've checked the braided portion and it seems fine too. Fiddled with the headphone end of the wire in a similar way as to the jack end after audio messes up, same result; problem can't be reproduced

Currently the only persistent problem from this is a bit less volume on the left side, that started three days ago, but the instances of audio messing up because of an abrupt movement are getting more and more frequent, I'd much prefer to nip this in the bud
Also, the volume decrease seems to come and go at long intervals. Maybe it's because I've messed up my ears through years of recklessness, not entirely sure
 
A poor contact can also reduce volume.

When wiggling the connector (or rotating it) in the socket cures or creates those effects it is a connector problem.
When bending the cable (while not disturbing the connector) makes the sound cut-out it could be the cable.

The least likely problem is the drivers.
 
A poor contact can also reduce volume.

When wiggling the connector (or rotating it) in the socket cures or creates those effects it is a connector problem.
When bending the cable (while not disturbing the connector) makes the sound cut-out it could be the cable.

The least likely problem is the drivers.
Just tried recreating the problem by rotating, wiggling, and applying unequal force to the connection while playing a constant 432hz tone, no issues, could it still be the connector?

If it's a wire issue, it's probably happening in a very specific configuration, but so far keeping the connector still and making the wire go all over the place also has no effect
 
A poor contact can also reduce volume.

When wiggling the connector (or rotating it) in the socket cures or creates those effects it is a connector problem.
When bending the cable (while not disturbing the connector) makes the sound cut-out it could be the cable.

The least likely problem is the drivers.
How do you suppose I fix it?
 
How can you get the problem to occur ?

Does it occur with other devices as well ?

Does it happen on the right side only ?
 
How can you get the problem to occur ?

Does it occur with other devices as well ?

Does it happen on the right side only ?
The problem occurs inconsistently, seemingly at random. The hope was that I could resolve it before it started occurring consistently

I've only used it for a phone and a laptop, it's happened for both. Once or twice on the laptop, a couple of times on the phone

Far as I can tell, it affects both sides. Possible it's skewed to one side, the unreliability of the event makes it hard to draw on repeated memory, but I feel confident in saying it's a problem in both ears
 
Both channels at the same time or randomly left and or right ?

Hearing 'scratchy' sounds when this happens ?
 
Both channels at the same time or randomly left and or right ?

Hearing 'scratchy' sounds when this happens ?
Randomly left or right

I do hear scratchy sounds everytime I plug it in. Usually I assume it's some sort of debris in the jack, unplug, blow on both parts, plug back in, and it works without any problems
 
Randomly left or right

I do hear scratchy sounds everytime I plug it in. Usually I assume it's some sort of debris in the jack, unplug, blow on both parts, plug back in, and it works without any problems
But no, I don't generally hear scratchy sounds when the audio problems happen. Occasionally the events coincide because immediately after the sound issue arises, I fiddle with the connector, and that prompts some scratchy sounds
 
All you can do is clean the connector with alcohol or so.
Cleaning the sockets is a bit more difficult though.
 
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