I only get sound from one speaker


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Old 12-02-20, 08:05 PM
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I only get sound from one speaker

I have an Oppo DV-980H DVD player. I use it with Creative Gigaworks T40 left and right speaker
I cannot get stereo sound from both speakers. I only get sound from the right speaker. It doesn't matter if it's music or movie dialogue. The DVD player is connected directly to the right speaker via red/white audio cable. Then sound is fed to the left speaker by cable from the right speaker. The speaker


only has one green audio input port

1. Experimented with all the DVD player settings
2. Switched the red and white audio cables with color-coded ports on the DVD player rear panel
3. Communicated with Oppo support. They were unable to come up with a solution.

Is the DVD player supposed to be connected to a stereo or receiver first to get sound from both speakers? Again, my DVD player is connected directly to the right speaker. Strangely enough, when I connect the speakers to my desktop PC, I always get stereo sound from both speakers
 
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Old 12-02-20, 08:22 PM
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The green audio input jack is going to be a stereo jack. You need to make sure your connecting cable has the stereo 3.5mm plug on it. If it's a mono plug...... only one speaker will work.
 
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Old 12-03-20, 05:34 AM
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Here is the adapter I have always plugged into the green audio input jack. It has the two black stripes on the metal pin. This is correct.............right? So what is the problem? Is there an internal defect with the DVD player?


 
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Old 12-03-20, 07:20 AM
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First of 20 questions.You exchanged the red and white plugs at the DVD player only and it was still the right speaker that worked and the left speaker was silent?
Second of 20 questions
With the right speaker only playing and the left speaker unexpectedly silent, very slowly pull the adapter out of the green jack but a maximum of 1/4 inch (7 mm). Does the sound switch to the left speaker?

Third of 20 questions
Exchange the red and white plugs in the adapter only. Repeat the preceding pull test.

Fourth through seventh of 20 questions
Retry the pull test with just one (either red or white) plug in the back of the adapter. Four possible combinations.

Eighth through tenth of 20 questions
Do you have another adapter, with the same 1/8" (3.5 mm) pin but possibly with just one thin black stripe on the pin, possibly with just one jack at the other end for the red or white ended cables? Try this one with just the red plug cable and just the white plug cable and repeat the preceding pull test.
 

Last edited by AllanJ; 12-03-20 at 07:37 AM.
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Old 12-03-20, 08:15 AM
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I switched the red and white audio plugs at both rear DVD player panel and at the speaker audio input adapter. Same result: Still only sound at the right speaker. No sound on the left speaker. I don't have another adapter to test with.

But I will do the other tests after work tonight. Then I'll reply tonight or tomorrow
 
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Old 12-03-20, 08:23 AM
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You've eliminated the RCA cable and the DVD player as having a problem.
 
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Old 12-03-20, 08:41 AM
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deleted .........................
 
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Old 12-03-20, 11:30 AM
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What would the problem be then? It can't be the speakers, right? I get stereo sound with both speakers when I play music from CD's or off the Internet when using my desktop PC.

Should I still do the tests Allan suggested?
 
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Old 12-03-20, 04:10 PM
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Since you plug in another stereo source and it works..... it would appear to be a defective RCA to 3.5mm adapter.

The left channel is the tip so pulling the adapter out probably won't make the left speaker work even if the adapter is bad.
 
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Old 12-03-20, 10:31 PM
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I didn't think those adapters failed. I don't see any visual defect. So you're suggesting try a new adapter
only for now, and not a new red/white audio cable yet?
 
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Old 12-03-20, 10:44 PM
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I'm applying logic.

You swapped the RCA cable ends..... left and right. The left channel remained dead.
If it was the cable or the player.... the dead channel would move.
You use a different stereo source and both speakers work
What else is left ? The adapter.

I don't use those adapter blocks I use the cord as shown in my previous post #2.
 
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Old 12-04-20, 07:08 AM
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Ok. I understand what you're saying. So I'll go to Walmart this weekend and pick up the RCA audio cable with red and white connectors on one end, and the 3.5mm double striped stereo black connector at the other end. And I'll avoid the adapter block this time. I'll report back.
 
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Old 12-04-20, 02:36 PM
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Another test you can do, using a multimeter set to ohms or continuity or resistance.

On adapter, measure from plug tip to hole in white jack Should get full continuity or -near 0 ohms.
Measure from plug middle strip to hole in red jack. Should get full continuity or near 0 ohms.
Measure from plug long stripe (closest to adapter body) to either jack shell in back (two tests). Should get full continuity or near 0 ohms each time.
 
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Old 12-05-20, 02:02 PM
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Success! I replaced the 3.5mm to RCA audio cable today and I now have sound from both speakers.

Now that I look back on it, I can remember accidentally knocking over the right speaker a couple times some years ago. The speaker took a 2 foot plunge to the floor dragging the adapter speaker input connection with it. I'll bet this damaged the cable end plug or the adapter. Thanks guys.

(Actually, I was surprised the speaker still worked after it fell to the floor two times)
 
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Old 12-05-20, 04:35 PM
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Success !! Good news.
 
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Old 12-06-20, 08:04 PM
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Thanks again. I guess I got off easy for a $14 audio cable
 
 

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