VX2100 headphone jack repair?

[George Ellis]

Has anyone had to repair their headphone jack yet? Being a RCA mini-jack, I knew it might be an issue. Mine went out suddenly instead of progressively, but it is the classic problem where holding the plug to the side makes it work. So, the jack prongs have moved out of place.

Is this strictly "send it in" or is there a chance of Do It Yourself?

[J. Stephen McDonald]

Originally Posted by George Ellis

Has anyone had to repair their headphone jack yet? Being a RCA mini-jack, I knew it might be an issue. Mine went out suddenly instead of progressively, but it is the classic problem where holding the plug to the side makes it work. So, the jack prongs have moved out of place.

Is this strictly "send it in" or is there a chance of Do It Yourself?

The VX2100 headphone output is a 1/8" mini stereo phone jack. It's under the smaller flap to the left of the flap that covers the RCA A/V jacks. Are you sure you are using the right one? If this jack doesn't give a good connection, you might try using some other headphones or adaptor plugs. Sometimes, different plugs of the same type will make better contact than others. If this headphone jack is out of order, there are self-amplified headphones you can buy that will take an output from the RCA line-output jacks.

The headphone output is in a small alcove of the chassis, that doesn't appear to hold any of the main circuit-boards. If you opened the chassis, this jack might be removable, without disturbing anything else. If so, you might be able to replace it, if you ordered one from Sony Parts. I'd try the previous suggestions I made, before I tampered with anything internal, however. You're always taking a big chance of frying or breaking something important, if you do any soldering or other work on internal circuits without proper training. A service manual is a good investment, if you're going to try fixing anything yourself. I don't have one for the VX2100, but I paid $30. to Sony Parts for one for a professional Beta camcorder and it was a bargain. It contains the full text of the standard owner's manual, as well as a thick service section.

[George Ellis]

Thanks Steve! The minijack is under the flap with the LANC control. I have a RCA to mini stereo cable and that works with my Sennheiser HD280s. That keeps me going and much less chance of issues with the RCA vs minijack. I will leave the minijack alone for the meantime.

Thanks again.

[Pete Cofrancesco]

My vx2000 headphone jack stopped working too. I believe the torque from my 1/4 to 1/8 headphone adapter damaged it. I'm sending it back to sony for repair and buying new headphones that don't need an adapter. I was afraid of damaging it so I'll pay the extra for sony to do it.

[Mike Rehmus]

I'd not send it to Sony unless you find out how not to pay the flat-rate repair cost. Far more cost effective to send it to Armatos in NYC. They'll just work on what you want fixed. Might have them clean and adjust the transport too.

[Martin Mayer]

Originally Posted by Pete Cofran

My vx2000 headphone jack stopped working too. I believe the torque from my 1/4 to 1/8 headphone adapter damaged it. I'm sending it back to sony for repair and buying new headphones that don't need an adapter. I was afraid of damaging it so I'll pay the extra for sony to do it.

Pete! - hopefully you'll fit a right angle 1/8in plug from Radio Shack directly to your headphone lead first, next time!? Gotta be a cheaper solution!? :D

[Boyd Ostroff]

Originally Posted by J. Stephen McDonald

The headphone output is in a small alcove of the chassis, that doesn't appear to hold any of the main circuit-boards. If you opened the chassis, this jack might be removable, without disturbing anything else..

No problem, just pop off the side like this ;-)

http://www.camcorderservice.nl/fotos...-VX2000_09.JPG

http://www.camcorderservice.nl/fotos...-VX2000_11.JPG

Probably a lot easier said than done however. Anyway, these photos give you some idea of what's inside if you are brave (or foolish) enough to try a homebrew fix..

http://www.camcorderservice.nl/indexvx2000.htm

[George Ellis]

Or, use the RCA stereo to mini-jack cable from Radio Shack ;)

[Dave Ambrose]

Originally Posted by George Ellis

Or, use the RCA stereo to mini-jack cable from Radio Shack ;)

there is not enough gain to monitor audio effectivly this way

[Pete Cofrancesco]

Boyd: If I knew it was that easy I might have been tempted to do it myself. I've done soldering and it looks like its attached to the board in 3 places. you just have to becareful how much heat you applied so you don't damage the board. The school I work for has a repair budget so I'm going to let Sony do it even though it looks like an easy job that I could do.

Originally Posted by Martin Mayer

Pete! - hopefully you'll fit a right angle 1/8in plug from Radio Shack directly to your headphone lead first, next time!? Gotta be a cheaper solution!? :D

I bought a new pair of Sony MDR7506 that have 1/8 plug. I figured I'd hit two birds with one stone. I've been using a pair agk240, which are fantastic, but take up a lot of room in my bag. I used them for both camera and editing but I would often forget them at home. This way I'll have a dedicated headphones that stay in my bag.

right angle adapter is a good idea. i think i'll get one of those too. thx

[Pete Cofrancesco]

Sony told me the minimum repair charge would be $546. So I ordered the part instead for $5 and will try to make the fix myself. George let me know how it worked out for you.

[Pete Cofrancesco]

I got the part and soldiered it on. Headphone works fine now, only problem is i drop a screw inside the camera and i can't shake it out. So sometimes when i turn it on the lens servo makes a funny noise. Dam screw must be touching the contacts. Everything works its just got a screw loose. ;-)

[J. Stephen McDonald]

Originally Posted by Pete Cofran

I got the part and soldiered it on. Headphone works fine now, only problem is i drop a screw inside the camera and i can't shake it out. So sometimes when i turn it on the lens servo makes a funny noise. Dam screw must be touching the contacts. Everything works its just got a screw loose. ;-)

I've had loose screws in my head for years, but I still manage to carry out my basic functions.

Give us a play-by-play of just what you did to open the camera and carry out the replacement of the headphone jack. Does the new part look exactly like the original jack?

[Pete Cofrancesco]

here's the play by play:
1. unscrew, around the top handle, battery alcove, and side panel.
2. lift off side panel
3. unscrew the circut board that has the external ports
4. unscrew lanc/headphone board
5. unsoldier headphone jack
6. soldier new jack on.
7. reassemble

here are some pics.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr1.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr2.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr3.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr4.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr5.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr6.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...repair/cr7.jpg

[George Ellis]

Pete, who did you order the part from to replace this? I think it is getting to be time to fix it.