External soundcard output problem

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Psihobambi

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Mar 23, 2015
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Hi, my Audiobox USB external soundcard suddenly stopped sending left output signals. To be exact it only sends them within a certain dB area. http://postimg.org/image/p6glhom8r/

When I try to twist a main knob a bit more, only right speaker works.(I've tried switching cables, so that sound from left stereo field (left output) go to right speaker, and the exact same thing happens. Just to the right speaker.) http://postimg.org/image/yb0ibp6dd/

http://postimg.org/image/br382x1qz/
I've tried pushing that metal thingy inside a L output hole a bit with a screwdriver, and it solved my problem for an hour or so.

http://postimg.org/image/4a37f6qzf/

http://postimg.org/image/g5nlravcb/
 
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I can see that.

First, have you checked the connections inside the plug on the end of the L speaker's cable? That is the easiest thing to check before the insides of the sound card.

If that is not where the problem is, I suggest that the jack is easier to remove and replace than the pot. ¼" jacks like that are very "standard", so you should be able to find one that can replace the one in your box. You'd have to do some un-soldering and re-soldering. IF you can get the old one out you could use a resistance meter to test whether its connections are bad. In fact, your photos look like the two wires going to the board MAY not be soldered to the board, but may just end in a connector plugged into pins on the board. IF that is so, you...
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Bakhus Mps

Bakhus Mps

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Dec 5, 2014
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This could be a dust/oxyde poblem.

Completely disconnect the soundcard from everything.
Get some medical alcohol and dip some cotton in it.
Drip a few drops (3-4) between the turning knob and the front.
Turn the know fully to both sides for a few good times.
Let it dry for a couple of hrs and try again.
 
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Psihobambi

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Mar 23, 2015
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I tried that method with an old medical alcohol in the house, which had kind of a mild smell. Didn't work. I am going to try again, just in case.

 
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Paperdoc

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This may be caused by a dirty "pot" - that is the volume control device. It usually is two identical units in one assembly, and each is a circular carbon track with a moving metal springy finger attached to the rotary control knob and shaft. If there is dirt somewhere on the circular track, the contact between track and finger is poor in that spot. If you remove the card and take it into an electronics repair shot, they might be able to check for that and / or spray some cleaning solvent into the unit to fix it.
 
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Psihobambi

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Mar 23, 2015
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Thanks.
Next week I will take it to someone who can do that and hit you back with the results.
 
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Psihobambi

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Mar 23, 2015
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I am gonna dig this thread up since I still haven't solved this issue. I really can't take the soundcard anywhere because it's gonna take a while for them to fix it like it usually does where I am from and I need the soundcard for recording. So I decided to clean the pot myself, but the problem is that this pot or potentiometer doesn't look like your usual potentiometer. http://postimg.org/image/v8e9ce7c9/ ?
 
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Paperdoc

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I see what you mean. The pots are pretty well sealed into a closed plastic box. To open them for cleaning you'd have to unsolder them and remove them from the board, open the case and clean, re-assemble and re-install. There is a good chance you might NOT be able to re-assemble properly. That would require finding a replacement pot and installing - probably not easy to do!

BEFORE you do anything like that, consider this. I re-read your original post and noticed that you said that you were able to fix the problem temporarily by bending a metal piece just inside the L jack hole. That would suggest the the problem is not in the port, but in the jack. Can you get access to the rear jacks and remove that one for the L speaker? Can you clean and bend any of the contacts in that jack without damaging it? Maybe that would give you a permanent solution. While you're doing this, look for loose or broken connections of wires around the jack. ALSO, check the connections inside the male jack in the end of the cable going to your L speaker. There might be a broken connection inside that, rather than inside the sound module.
 
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Paperdoc

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I can see that.

First, have you checked the connections inside the plug on the end of the L speaker's cable? That is the easiest thing to check before the insides of the sound card.

If that is not where the problem is, I suggest that the jack is easier to remove and replace than the pot. ¼" jacks like that are very "standard", so you should be able to find one that can replace the one in your box. You'd have to do some un-soldering and re-soldering. IF you can get the old one out you could use a resistance meter to test whether its connections are bad. In fact, your photos look like the two wires going to the board MAY not be soldered to the board, but may just end in a connector plugged into pins on the board. IF that is so, you might be able to simply unplug that and test with a meter before trying to remove the entire jack.
 
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Psihobambi

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Mar 23, 2015
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Paperdoc, thanks for all the help. I am gonna pick your last post as a solution, but I am not gonna touch anything inside the box no more. Just afraid I might go to far and break something. Better to just take it into an electric repair shop and wait.
 
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