UNUSUAL PROBLEM! Sound balance issue: Please help!

muphinman · 10-03-2007, 01:30 PM

*I know I spelled unusual wrong...sue me*

I've had my Zune for about 4 months now and I've kept it in absolute MINT condition. I bought an expensive case for it to protect the screen and everything. For some reason, it suddenly only plays music out of one side of the earbuds that I use. I know what you're thinking: the headphones are broken. I tried using multiple earphones and still the same thing: You can only hear one side of the sound. This is HIGHLY annoying and makes the Zune totally useless. I would really appreciate some help on this seeing as this is not a usual problem and there is no support for it whatsoever. I tried completely clearing the Zune and reloading the firmware, but nothing worked. I have already ruled out the possibility that the earphone jack has been damaged because the earphones do not wiggle at all when in the jack. Also, there is no position you can put the earphones in that will make it play both sides. I can't put it like halfway in and it'll play on both sides, so I'm guessing that this is a software problem. Please help me out, anything you can suggest would be very helpful! Thanks in advance!

Sexified Loveandhatejw · 10-03-2007, 03:05 PM

Do you wrap your headphone around the case while they are plugged in, because that will do it. This happened to my lyra once what you want to do is *might do more damage* wiggle your headphone jack whiles its in until you get both headphone on, then push in the opp. direction of where they work *donut push to hard* once you think it is good take the headphone out then plug the back in if it works good, if it doesn't the keep trying.

David · 10-03-2007, 04:00 PM

probably something physically wrong with your headphone jack. It doesn't need to wiggle to be broken.

Anyway plug it into some computer speakers that run off of external power (wall socket/usb/batteries)

lol... I don't know why I mentioned that... anyway there's no possible way for it to be a software problem. There were no recent firmware updates, and you even reformatted your zune.

also... you can try to use some sound recording software and only make it play in the broken side. See if you can slightly hear it in the working headphone. If you can that's also a sign on it being hardware and not software. If it's software you won't be able to hear anything that should be playing through the broken side.

muphinman · 10-03-2007, 05:28 PM

UPDATE: Ok, so I tried plugging in the headphones to my computer...lo and behold, they only play on one side! This is very promising, but still doesn't explain why the other ones that I tried do the same thing.

UPDATE OF UPDATE: I tried the other headphones in my computer...WTF they play on one side too! Either plugging them into the Zune screws them up, or they are both coincidentally broken in the same way...which I doubt. VERY WEIRD.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I do wrap my headphones around the Zune. Why would that do anything?

David · 10-03-2007, 08:35 PM

It pulls and breaks the copper wires inside that rubber lining.

There's also a small little device in the base of each audio wire... whether it's for headphones or a guitar amp. This device is somewhat like a spark plug in your car. If that breaks or fractures the headphones will not operate properly.

DO NOT WRAP WIRES!!!!! EVER

It will break them.

If you must wrap the headphone, this is what you should do. Unplug them, then loosely coil them. That means don't put any pressure on the wire. Just hold the earbuds, and coil the wire around you fingers.

I'm sick of seeing people with one working earbud... and I'm sick of the idiots in band who keep breaking the amp cords...

muphinman · 10-04-2007, 05:49 PM

Alright guys, fixed the problem, turns out it was just the headphones after all, there's nothing wrong with the Zune itself. It's just a weird coincidence that 2 pairs of headphones broke in the same way on the same day. Totally weird. Thanks for all the help!

10-03-2007, 01:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
muphinman Zewbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 Reputation: 10	UNUSUAL PROBLEM! Sound balance issue: Please help! I know I spelled unusual wrong...sue me I've had my Zune for about 4 months now and I've kept it in absolute MINT condition. I bought an expensive case for it to protect the screen and everything. For some reason, it suddenly only plays music out of one side of the earbuds that I use. I know what you're thinking: the headphones are broken. I tried using multiple earphones and still the same thing: You can only hear one side of the sound. This is HIGHLY annoying and makes the Zune totally useless. I would really appreciate some help on this seeing as this is not a usual problem and there is no support for it whatsoever. I tried completely clearing the Zune and reloading the firmware, but nothing worked. I have already ruled out the possibility that the earphone jack has been damaged because the earphones do not wiggle at all when in the jack. Also, there is no position you can put the earphones in that will make it play both sides. I can't put it like halfway in and it'll play on both sides, so I'm guessing that this is a software problem. Please help me out, anything you can suggest would be very helpful! Thanks in advance! Last edited by muphinman : 10-03-2007 at 01:34 PM.

10-03-2007, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sexified Loveandhatejw Experienced Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: G-Rap Posts: 822 Reputation: 53	Do you wrap your headphone around the case while they are plugged in, because that will do it. This happened to my lyra once what you want to do is might do more damage wiggle your headphone jack whiles its in until you get both headphone on, then push in the opp. direction of where they work donut push to hard once you think it is good take the headphone out then plug the back in if it works good, if it doesn't the keep trying. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-03-2007, 04:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
David I eat babies Retired Staff Expert Zuner Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: right behind you Posts: 2,865 Reputation: 77	probably something physically wrong with your headphone jack. It doesn't need to wiggle to be broken. Anyway plug it into some computer speakers that run off of external power (wall socket/usb/batteries) lol... I don't know why I mentioned that... anyway there's no possible way for it to be a software problem. There were no recent firmware updates, and you even reformatted your zune. also... you can try to use some sound recording software and only make it play in the broken side. See if you can slightly hear it in the working headphone. If you can that's also a sign on it being hardware and not software. If it's software you won't be able to hear anything that should be playing through the broken side. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If you can beat 'em to a pulp, make 'em join you.

10-03-2007, 08:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
David I eat babies Retired Staff Expert Zuner Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: right behind you Posts: 2,865 Reputation: 77	It pulls and breaks the copper wires inside that rubber lining. There's also a small little device in the base of each audio wire... whether it's for headphones or a guitar amp. This device is somewhat like a spark plug in your car. If that breaks or fractures the headphones will not operate properly. DO NOT WRAP WIRES!!!!! EVER It will break them. If you must wrap the headphone, this is what you should do. Unplug them, then loosely coil them. That means don't put any pressure on the wire. Just hold the earbuds, and coil the wire around you fingers. I'm sick of seeing people with one working earbud... and I'm sick of the idiots in band who keep breaking the amp cords... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If you can beat 'em to a pulp, make 'em join you.

10-03-2007, 05:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
muphinman Zewbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 Reputation: 10	UPDATE: Ok, so I tried plugging in the headphones to my computer...lo and behold, they only play on one side! This is very promising, but still doesn't explain why the other ones that I tried do the same thing. UPDATE OF UPDATE: I tried the other headphones in my computer...WTF they play on one side too! Either plugging them into the Zune screws them up, or they are both coincidentally broken in the same way...which I doubt. VERY WEIRD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I do wrap my headphones around the Zune. Why would that do anything?

10-04-2007, 05:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
muphinman Zewbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 Reputation: 10	Alright guys, fixed the problem, turns out it was just the headphones after all, there's nothing wrong with the Zune itself. It's just a weird coincidence that 2 pairs of headphones broke in the same way on the same day. Totally weird. Thanks for all the help!

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