NW-S70x manufacturing fault with left channel?

[spann]

Hi,

I bought my first NW-S703 in November - I listen to it when out walking, I carry it in my front left pocket and use the supplied phones. Delighted with the sound quality and the noise cancelling.

After about a month and a half (used about an hour each day), I started getting a crackling in the left hand headphone. It disappeared if I turned off noise cancelling - but then a few weeks later the left headphone went off completely.

Naturally I thought it was the headphones causing the problem - so I recklessly bought another NW-S703, plugged in the old headphones to the new unit and was suprised to find they worked fine, it was the old unit itself with the problem.

Anyway, I started using the new player with the old headphones. Six weeks later and the dreaded crackling reappeared in the left channel... turned off noise cancelling, it was ok, but sadly yesterday, the left headphone has started to give up completely.

I wonder if it is someway I am stressing the unit by carrying in my front jeans pocket, but that's two units I've had now and they've both failed in the same way. I wonder if it's a loose contact, but there's no way I can get into the unit. Very disappointed - there's no other mp3 player out there with the same combination of sound quality, batt life, and the very useful noise cancelling.

Anyone else had this?

Cheers,

spann

[depeche2001]

Hi.

I had a similar problem with the left side of the supplied headphone.

The sound started to got lower, when noice cancelling on.

But I did not check it whith Noice cancelling off...

Anyway, I see that I'm not the only one having troubles...

http://www.atraclife.com/forums/index.php?...ic=3444&hl=

I set back the unit to Japan ( I bought it from ebay) just to replace or fix the problem...

cheers

[spann]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I think turning off the noise-cancelling just defers the problem - it eventually breaks anyway.

I can't help but think there's a manufacturing fault or design flaw in these players somewhere because it is the left channel that seems to be consistently breaking. It's a shame - I've had previous flash sony players and treated them in exactly the same way and they have lasted for ages.

Not sure what to do next. I think that a loose connection develops somewhere in the headphone socket on the unit, perhaps it's related to the fact that the shuttle control is around the socket.

I'd be interested to hear if Sony manage to fix your unit.

I guess I may try one of the new budget E01* players - they have similar battery life and other characteristics, but sadly without the surpisingly effective noise reduction. *Sigh*!

Cheers,

spann

[depeche2001]

Spann:

After reset the Player, clear the left channel and other's likely solutions, I sent back the unit to Japan just to replace it or at least, to get a fix of the problem.

I bought this Player on eBay from a Japan store.

The "international warranty" does not work here (Argentina) and it does in Japan.

Like you think, it's a shame to get this kind of trouble from a SONY device.

I always treated them very kind, but surely that because it is the best manufacturer (in my opinion), there's no reason to be worry about...

But this noice cancelling feature seemed to got a wrong step...

I will try, like you, with the new E013/5/6 series that at least has

[depeche2001]

CLEAR SOUND and CLEAR BASS feature.

Cheers

[lmfboy01]

Hi ppls,

HELP!

I too am experiencing the same problem with my s706 purchased in Japan.

Well it first started with me thinking my headphones were bad, which they actually were. Got my replacement NC022's and they worked fine for some time. But do to delays for the replacement, in the meantime i purchased a Cowon D2 w/a pair of shure E500's(which is pretty awesome). Then my battery died out one day so i decided to use my sony. To my dismay, crackling noises from both headphones were very apparent along with just total horrendous sound. Thought it was my headphones, but I plugged in my shure's and it was the same. So i think i have concluded my player as totally unuseable! which sux... It was awesome as a primary and even a secondary player!! Love the noice cancellation feature and the EQ is top quality. It feels like such a trajedy to have this baby sitting on the shelve.

So basically i was wondering if you guys found any solutions on how to fix it. I believe the problem has somethign to do with the headphone out output.

I'd warranty it but i high doubt sony USA would accept it, as being a model made for and bought in Japan. I have the warranty card and box and everything but i need to go searching for the receipt.

Any helpful suggestions appreciated!!

[Guest Stuge]

This is really strange .I'm using my NW-S703F everyday (For about 3-4 hours ) and never had this kind of problem .

Looks like you people got your walkman from a Defective lot .

[spann]

Hi,

Sadly I don't have any advice on how to fix it!

I still find it peculiar that two units - purchased a couple of months apart - both developed this very particular fault in the same channel, whereby first there is crackling with noise cancellation on only, followed by crackling and intermittent output on the left channel regardless of the noise cancellation setting.

Viewing the unit from behind, if one applies pressure to the headphone plug towards the front of the unit then I find the signal comes through ok which makes me think that the problem is a loose contact. Of course, this is rather tiresome, and I suspect it would break eventually anyway.

I have given in on these units for now. I notice that most of the 1GB models in the NW-S* range mysteriously aren't available on sony-style uk now anyway - at least they weren't yesterday, apart from the pink unit!

As I value sound quality highly, I have plumped for an NW-A805 model for now although I will definitely miss the noise cancellation.

Cheers,

spann

[lmfboy01]

spann,

did you try to warranty it?

i'd buy it again but for whatever reasons they dont make the 4gb version in the US.

if they had them in pink i'd be all over them!

tuff guys sport pink

[markey]

This is really strange .I'm using my NW-S703F everyday (For about 3-4 hours ) and never had this kind of problem .

Looks like you people got your walkman from a Defective lot .

I agree, must be a faulty batch out there. The NW-S706F is my most used player at the moment, getting about 2-3 hours play per day and never had a problem with it.

[Zizone_]

Maybe it is not the faults in player itself but due to the headphones with heavy connecting point from extension cord. Possibly due to this constant weight or frequently pulling by it, the left headphone may have been damaged; considering, the player played fine when used other headphones.

I really think Sony should provide clip for the extension cord so the constant pulling and discomfort on left ear can be fixed and possibly prevent left headphone from getting damaged, i.e. Audiotechnica provided clip for the extension cord.

Edited April 27, 2007 by Zizone

[lmfboy01]

so i decided to take a better look into what i think is causing the problem. took a flashlight and peeked into the headphone jack of the player. i did notice that when looking straight forward into the jack, there is only 1 gold plate on one side. i dont know the exact term used for the but im pretty sure it is a connection point from the jack to the input of the headphone. it sort of looks like there is supposed to be 2 of these on both sides.... maybe 1 has broken off? can someone else confirm this? it would be in the inside all the way at the end where the top of the input of the headphone jack would be. .. if that is so, then i will regretfully say my S706 has died after only 6 months of use

on a side note, i was wondering if anyone knows the phone number to Sony World, im going to try to get this baby fixed at some point. it is still one of my fav's

[markey]

so i decided to take a better look into what i think is causing the problem. took a flashlight and peeked into the headphone jack of the player. i did notice that when looking straight forward into the jack, there is only 1 gold plate on one side. i dont know the exact term used for the but im pretty sure it is a connection point from the jack to the input of the headphone. it sort of looks like there is supposed to be 2 of these on both sides.... maybe 1 has broken off? can someone else confirm this? it would be in the inside all the way at the end where the top of the input of the headphone jack would be. .. if that is so, then i will regretfully say my S706 has died after only 6 months of use

on a side note, i was wondering if anyone knows the phone number to Sony World, im going to try to get this baby fixed at some point. it is still one of my fav's

I think that single gold plate you refer to is the sensor for the noise cancelling. There should only be one of those.

[spann]

Hi,

Yes, there is definitely only one gold plate - I assume related to the noise-cancelling circuitry.

In reply to Zizone, it is definitely the two players I have had that are at fault, not the headphones; after the first broke, I bought another identical unit and plugged the brand new head phones into the old unit. Crackling on the left channel. Conversely, the old headphones with the new unit worked fine... until of course the new unit broke also.

I haven't tried the warranty; not sure I have the patience for all the faffing around, although I should have tried it really.

Some good news at least, my nw-a805 shipped today! Am interested in seeing how the sound quality compares with that I've had from the NW-S70x units, which I have to say I was very impressed with before they broke.

Cheers,

spann