Integrated Audio Jack broken?

Akira181 · 10 Nov 2013

I got 5.1 integrated audio on my motherboard and I'm using 2.1 speakers. Got the green jack plugged into the front port and the pinky orange one in the Center/LFE port.

Problem is the left speaker is either quieter than the right or completely off. I wiggle the green jack cable and sometimes it comes back. Plugged the green jack into my iPod and both speakers work fine.

I think this is the second or third time I've had this failure. Quite sure the jack is busted but my question is how did I break it?

Is it a bad idea to pull the jacks out or plug them in while the computer and speakers are both powered up? It's the only thing I can think of that might have caused one of the channels to act up. They were both working when I assembled the computer.

When I get some more time, I'll try to look into the jack to see if the contacts are dirty or bent. Quite annoying either way

smarteyeball · 11 Nov 2013

If 'wiggling' the speaker plug either creates a crackle, or turns back on - then unfortunately there's a high chance it might be damaged.

It doesn't make any difference plugging/unplugging when the power is on or not. The power output is minute.

As for breaking, sometimes an unintended 'tug/jerk' when moving the speakers or tower can do it. They aren't the most robust things. Pulling them out at a slight angle can also have an impact. There's really a single reason why it occurs.

One thing that may work as an adhoc temp fix is to apply some blu tack (or adhesive putty) to the plug of the speakers and mold it around the jack when it's in a working position. This should try to avoid movement knocking the jack/plug contact.

Akira181 · 11 Nov 2013

I guess plugging/unplugging at an angle might have been the killer since I was leaning over the top of the tower trying to get at it.

There's no crackle, just on or off but it seems like the wiggling has made it worse as it's more off than on now. Don't fancy changing the motherboard so I'll see if I can either repair it or just get a cheap PCI sound card instead

rvcjew · 16 Nov 2013

what is your speaker system since it sounds like you are using two plugs and 2.1 should only be one plug in the green port or the headphone port for front audio and that's it. your jack could still be broken but the pink port if your talking about the motherboard and not the plug is for mic/line in.