[solved] Sound goes from stereo to mono

[starmagoo]

I have noticed something and I hope I can fix it quickly. When I use headphones and increase the volume, I only hear sound on the left side on the headphones from about 50% upwards. Unrerneath I hear sound on both sides.

I can adjust this as often as I like and with different headphones.

What could cause this?

[kite]

It is most likely the volume pot itself because it is a stereo pot (it's basically 2x linear pots in the same package) and they aren't really proper audio grade ones (not sure you can get them this small) so they are probably misaligned internally.. The real way to fix is probably to replace the pot itself (not really that easy).. there is no switching from stereo to mono in software etc, the only thing is the amp is mono, but the amp is AFTER the headphones..

I'm not sure on an easy fix, for my personal one i only get this issue between 0-1% volume (like REALLY low) but never as high as 50%.. make sure the 6pin connectors are firmly connected both ends, you could try adding a bit of solder the the audio jack points, but it most likely isn't this.

EDIT:
The GOOD news is that on the new Circuit Sword this is no longer a problem because the CSO doesn't use an analog pot

[starmagoo]

You were right, it was the volume pot itself. I have replaced it and since then the volume control works continuously.

Thank you for your excellent suggestions!

[starmagoo]

There's still a little problem. I can now turn up the volume with headphones but I can't turn it down completely. Could this have happened through soldering?

[kite]

Possibly? Was it a 10k pot you used?

Perhaps it got damaged by heat? Or perhaps the pot is designed differently? When turned all the way down the output is basically shorted to gnd.. you could try lowering the volume in Linux a bit lower? Or replace pot again! Haha..

[starmagoo]

Possibly? Was it a 10k pot you used?

how do I know that? It looks the same like yours.

[kite]

Possibly? Was it a 10k pot you used?

how do I know that? It looks the same like yours.

On the bottom if it says something like B10K, then it's 10k ... i think there are also B50K and maybe B100K? Which was 50k and 100k respectively .. ALL should work, as always at 0% on the pot, the wiper should be touching GND..

Check your soldering on the pot, perhaps re-touch them as the GND one may not be fully soldered? Note that GND on the pot is labelled as AGND, it is not the same GND used elsewhere (well, it technically is BUT it has a specific feed point to eliminate noise)

[starmagoo]

On the bottom if it says something like B10K, then it's 10k ... i think there are also B50K and maybe B100K? Which was 50k and 100k respectively .. ALL should work, as always at 0% on the pot, the wiper should be touching GND..

On the bottom is written "B103". The same as on your pot.

ALL should work, as always at 0% on the pot, the wiper should be touching GND..

What do you mean exactly?

Check your soldering on the pot, perhaps re-touch them as the GND one may not be fully soldered? Note that GND on the pot is labelled as AGND, it is not the same GND used elsewhere (well, it technically is BUT it has a specific feed point to eliminate noise)

Ok I will check this. The new pot looks the same like the old one.

SpoilerShow

left the old one and right the new one

[kite]

left the old one and right the new one

Yep they are the same, my fault it should have been B103 which is a 10k pot! Double check soldering, and try replace once more.. other than that i'm not entirely sure what it could be!

[starmagoo]

I replaced the pot for the second time. Now it's working perfect.
So maybe it was me.