How do I Check an Audio Jack?
By LangstonD
Audio jacks are 3.5 mm TRS jacks that carry an analog stereo audio signal through various devices. Most audio devices have a jack in which the user can insert a headphone plug. There are times where these audio jacks are faulty. Checking through a couple of common errors and some not-so-common issues can help resolve any audio jack issues.
Checking Audio Output Device
Turn on the device that is connected to the audio jack that you wish to check.
Connect the headphones or speakers and determine if there are any sounds coming from them. Make sure that you have a pair of headphones that are known to work.
Check the mute setting on your device. If you're using a computer, simply load up the "sound control" panel. There should be a radio button with the words "Mute" next to it or an icon indicating whether the sound is on or off. Check or click the mute button so sound is enabled.
Check the mute setting on any application you're using to play the audio. If you're using a computer, check your audio drivers to make sure they're installed properly. To check drivers, right-click on the "My Computer" icon and click the "Properties" option. Next click the "Device Manager." When the device manager window pops up, look for the "sound, video and game controllers" group. Click that group and check under the file tree for audio or high definition audio drivers. If there are any unknown devices, scan them to see if drivers can be found.
Check the physical audio jack to see if there is any object that might be obstructing the connection.
Check Audio Input Device
Connect the male-to-male 3.5 mm audio jack to the input device as well as the source audio output device. Make sure the audio jack on the output device is working correctly by connecting a pair of speakers or headphones to it.
Turn up the volume on the audio input device and make sure the device is on the appropriate input setting.
Press play on the audio out device and see if the receiver device is able to play back the sounds from the output audio device. A simple reference would be connecting an MP3 player to a car's sound system with a male-to-male 3.5 mm audio cable. The car's speakers should then be able to play back the sound from the MP3 player.
Check the audio cable to make sure there are no holes or breaks in the cabling.
Check the audio jack for any objects that might be obstructing the connection.
References
Tips
- Check the manual for the product you are using to see if there are any settings to change in case the audio jack acts up.