headphone jack is not working right, I have to hold it to work

BasedDoge · 11 Jun 2015

I have to hold it to one side for it to work right, is there a way to fix it?

matthewk · 11 Jun 2015

Sounds like the jack is busted. That happens if you use them a lot. Any moment on the plug puts a lot of stress on the guts of the jack and on the little solder pads that hold it on the board. You might be able to reflow the solder joints if you feel like taking the notebook that far apart. Personally I would just buy an inexpensive USB sound dongle, under $4 from China, and be really careful of any jacks connected to the notebook moving forward.

BasedDoge · 12 Jun 2015

I have to hold it up, but if I turn the plug 180 then I have to hold it down, why is that? You sure it's the jack?

fireberd · 12 Jun 2015

That sounds like the plug may be bad or bent?

The plugs on most headsets are molded type and not repairable or replaceable.

But, before you buy a new headset, I would either try it on a different PC (a friend's if you don't have another) or try a different headset on it, to sort out which is really the problem.

matthewk · 12 Jun 2015

As Firebeard said, it may well be the plug on the headphones than. I just assumed that you tried another pair of headphones before suspecting the jack on the computer. Have you tried another pair of headphones? If so what do they do?

GokAy · 12 Jun 2015

Regarding repairing plugs and whatnot: I guess it depends on where you live. Here I can take it to a repair person and they can fix pretty much anything. It is cheap too.

My Logitech G35 had its cable broken from where it entered the headset, shielding and a couple of wires exposed. Also one side not working. That cost me 22USD. Logitech G500 mouse, double clicking on both left and right buttons, took 7.4 USD. These include workmanship :)

fireberd · 12 Jun 2015

In the US, many items would cost more to repair than to replace. Its sad, but the way things are.

I'm a former guitar amp repair tech. Today, if I were still doing repair I would have to charge absurd prices just for parts. I had a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 recording interface unit develop a problem on the main board. The unit cost $445 new, the only place that repairs Focusrite equipment in the US quoted me a price to repair it that was more than I paid for it new. Their labor charge is 2 hour minimum at $100 per hour. The new board (they don't repair them) was $200 (and I would have to wait as parts come from England), plus shipping costs both ways which would have been approx. $50.