Right channel intermittently working

[Paul Birkeland]

And we will assume that you're not using a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter in the Crack but not your other amps.  (These are a common point of failure)

[Petricore]

I am using an adapter, always have with my DT880s (like I never unscrew it, its lived on them).

I bought a replacement and somehow the bias seems worse now, like the left can is louder and the right can is still softer.

I'll try to get ahold of another good pair of wired cans to test, I'm starting to suspect I need to recable these cans. I can wiggle it with the new screw on adapter and it crackles and sound changes.

I can also plug this exact setup into my DAC, which also has a built in amp and the cans sound level. Which is why I haven't been suspecting cans yet.

[Deke609]

Post some pics of the headphone jack wiring from lots of different angles.

cheers, Derek

[Petricore]

Also, oddly, the time to evening out seems shorter, they are already closer than when I tested a few minutes ago.
Also again plugging into my solid state amp, I can't reproduce the issue.
I'm starting to wonder about the potentiometer I replaced a year or two ago (tho it functioned fine until recently if that's the case).

[Petricore]

Post some pics of the headphone jack wiring from lots of different angles.

cheers, Derek

Right, I keep forgetting sorry. I'm down one hand currently so things are taking a lot more time.
I'll try to get some photo assistance this afternoon

[Deluk]

After 9 years of use it's not unreasonable for the contacts in the jack to have got tired/broken/moved out of kilter. I would have just changed it out for a replacement BH one in the first instance. It's a good solid regular jack not a precision built for life item.

[Petricore]

Which one would you replace it with?
It also kind of would make sense that warming it up physically could help the contacts if they are just slightly out of whack.

[Paul Birkeland]

Tell us about the replacement pot.  What precipitated replacing the pot, and what pot did you use as a replacement. 

I wouldn't just toss the jack, I have seen those jacks at 20+ years of age still working nicely.

[Petricore]

I replaced with a Audio Note 100K Ohm Stereo Balance Potentiometer with some advice I got here. I also added 33K and 75K resistors from another post here.

I replaced the pot because at low volumes one side of my headphones got really quiet, which I read was an issue with the stock pot.
I added the resistors to give me some more headroom on the volume knob.

[Paul Birkeland]

You can't just put a balance pot in place of the volume pot.  You can add the 33K and 75K resistors to the stock pot to even it out.  The balance pot needs to be removed, it will not function

[Petricore]

Right I apologize, I incorrectly bought a balance pot and then exchanged it for the same product in a volume pot. I remember when I installed the balanced pot it broke everything. Sorry for the out of order info there. I can try to find the stock pot if me replacing it is what is suspect here.

[Paul Birkeland]

At one point in this thread, you were certain that you had a bad headphone jack, and I provided you with a part number for its replacement.  Did you end up replacing it?

I still believe you have a loose connection in your amp.  The other possibility would be a failing tube (certainly a possibility after 10 years), but this would be clearly reflected in the voltage checks I had you do, and your tubes still seem to be working great.

[Petricore]

I haven't replaced the headphone jack yet, you seemed pretty sure it wasn't. Definitely not trying to pick a fight, I appreciate your help. I'm also trying to be careful with my amp and not just replace things on a whim.

I will order a new jack and see if that helps!

As far as the tubes go, I have 3 aftermarket tubes and the stock tube and all 4 have the same issue.

I am happy to provide more info and be helpful, I've been too busy to keep up with it lately so I've just had the amp on all day/night and the issue doesn't seem to be happening. I'll report back after I get the new jack.

[Paul Birkeland]

Well, I can tell you that I repaired a Crack yesterday that came with a long note from the customer about how he had a dropping channel and resoldered his connections half a dozen times but couldn't figure out what was going on.

The wire from B6 to terminal 9 was loose...

If you can physically see damage to your headphone jack, then replace it.  If you plug in your headphones and you can see that the contacts aren't lifting off the shorting positions, then this is another reason to replace the jack.

[Petricore]

Replaced the jack. Much much better engagement with the headphones, but sadly the problem still exists. Really loud in one channel and quiet in the other until the amp warms up.