Helpful ReplyDropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :(

Author
davdud101
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1058
  • Joined: 2010/07/15 13:30:44
  • Location: Detroit, MI
  • Status: offline
2017/11/03 05:20:54 (permalink)

Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :(

So today I somehow bumped into my crappy egg carton monitor stand which knocked one of my cheap Alesis 3's off my desk. When I picked it back up, the 1/4in jack was cracked - a little less than half the plastic housing for the jack came off, so a cable can't be connected to it since it's way too loose. :/
 
I only paid $50 for these, so I sure as heck won't send them in for repairs! I'm opting for home-repair - when I popped the back off, I saw there's nothing more than the jack attached to two wires going into the tweeter and woofer, nothing more. So it looks like it should be a really simple, easy fix - just don't know whether to try and find a new part (not sure where it'd be or what it'd cost!! I've searched the net for spare parts and I'm not expecting cheap multimedia monitors like these to be made for home-servicing) or to see if I can repair the existing part as it is.
 
Any recommendations? :)

 
Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
Gear: Cakewalk BBL - PreSonus Firepod - Alesis Elevate 3 - Axiom 49
DAW: Win10, AMD FX-8300, 16GB DDR3
#1
DrLumen
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 621
  • Joined: 2005/07/05 20:11:34
  • Location: North Texas
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/03 11:42:19 (permalink)
Well, I normally would suggest Radio Shack but they are adio S. You can order it from Allied Electronics.
 
https://www.alliedelec.com/switchcraft-12a/70214523/
 
Another option for you is some place local like
Electronic Connection
37387 Ford Rd
Westland, MI 48185
(734) 595-6655
 
There are 2 types of 1/4" jacks. One is 2 wire (mono) and a 3 wire (stereo). Either will work. Just use the inner most terminal and outer shell connections if you get the 3 wire. Solder it in and you are golden.
 
PS: You might check the thread length of the one you have. If the jack is mounted in some think material you may need the 1/4" threaded one instead of the 5/32" (0.156) long thread.

-When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

Sonar Platinum / Intel i7-4790K / AsRock Z97 / 32GB RAM / Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB / Behringer FCA610 / M-Audio Sport 2x4 / Win7 x64 Pro / WDC Black HDD's / EVO 850 SSD's / Alesis Q88 / Boss DS-330 / Korg nanoKontrol / Novation Launch Control / 14.5" Lava Lamp
#2
DrLumen
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 621
  • Joined: 2005/07/05 20:11:34
  • Location: North Texas
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/03 14:27:19 (permalink)
I give up! The spam filters keep blocking my posts.

-When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

Sonar Platinum / Intel i7-4790K / AsRock Z97 / 32GB RAM / Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB / Behringer FCA610 / M-Audio Sport 2x4 / Win7 x64 Pro / WDC Black HDD's / EVO 850 SSD's / Alesis Q88 / Boss DS-330 / Korg nanoKontrol / Novation Launch Control / 14.5" Lava Lamp
#3
Starise
Max Output Level: -0.3 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 7563
  • Joined: 2007/04/07 17:23:02
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/03 15:28:31 (permalink)
If you have a local radio shack give them a try. If not, it's a 1/4" mono female audio jack online. They aren't expensive. A small adjustable wrench and a soldering iron should be all you need. You can use a cheap pencil soldering iron. I think Newegg has them. Any radio Shack also does. 60/40 rosin core solder. Melt some on the tip of the hot iron to tin it. Rub it off with a wet rag or a sponge. The tip will now look shiny. Careful!!! The iron is HOT!!!!  Install the new connector and solder the cut and stripped wires in place. It helps to also tin the wire ends before you join it to the connector.  The process needs to happen fairly fast or the cheap iron will overheat the wire and burn the flux away. One the iron is up to temp all it takes is a brief touch on the connector, then feed the solder onto the heated junction point. If the tip gets black or the wire insulation begins to melt, it was overheated or the tinning burned off the tip.
 
So the tip touches it, stays on a few seconds, once hot enough to melt the solder feed the solder using your other hand, just a little of it. Iron comes off immediately. Done!

Intel 5820K O.C. 4.4ghz, ASRock Extreme 4 LGA 2011-v3, 16 gig DDR4, ,
3 x Samsung SATA III 500gb SSD, 2X 1 Samsung 1tb 7200rpm outboard, Win 10 64bit, 
Laptop HP Omen i7 16gb 2/sdd with Focusrite interface.
 CbB, Studio One 4 Pro, Mixcraft 8, Ableton Live 10 
 
 www.soundcloud.com/starise
 
 
 
Twitter @Rodein
 
#4
msorrels
Max Output Level: -70 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1025
  • Joined: 2003/11/08 02:04:59
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/03 15:58:53 (permalink)
There are only 72 Radio Shack's left
http://fortune.com/2017/06/01/radioshack-closes-more-stores/
 
Their store locator finds nothing in the Pittsburgh area and a few "dealers" in Ohio.  Sad really.
 
Lots of places sell soldering irons though and there are lots of YouTube videos and web pages on how to use them.

-Matt
 
#5
Cactus Music
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 8424
  • Joined: 2004/02/09 21:34:04
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/03 16:21:48 (permalink)
When you say the wires go directly to the speakers? That seems odd, there should be a crossover. 
Anyhow in a pinch if you don't have an extra jack around you could hardwire the cable. Make sure the tip is + 
That will get you back in business. 

Johnny V  
Cakelab  
Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
 http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
 
 
#6
Starise
Max Output Level: -0.3 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 7563
  • Joined: 2007/04/07 17:23:02
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/10 16:41:44 (permalink)
Matt, yeah it is sad for sure. I just noticed the RS closest to me has closed as well. At one time there were electronics component stores around here where you could get almost anything. I think TV and stereo repair shops  kept them in business.
Now most don't take a 5 year old TV in for repair. They junk it and buy another one. The failure rate of electronics seems to be less overall. so if you get 5-10 years out of something, the new tech entices you to buy the latest. 
 
Maybe a few here remember the old IC transistor cross over books. You could take the info off of an IC and find a match. The local supplier usually had it in stock. I guess those days are long gone.
 
Still lots of stuff on ebay that says "needs work". I have picked up a few real bargains like that and fixed a simple problem the original owner didn't want to bother with.

Intel 5820K O.C. 4.4ghz, ASRock Extreme 4 LGA 2011-v3, 16 gig DDR4, ,
3 x Samsung SATA III 500gb SSD, 2X 1 Samsung 1tb 7200rpm outboard, Win 10 64bit, 
Laptop HP Omen i7 16gb 2/sdd with Focusrite interface.
 CbB, Studio One 4 Pro, Mixcraft 8, Ableton Live 10 
 
 www.soundcloud.com/starise
 
 
 
Twitter @Rodein
 
#7
JonD
Max Output Level: -39 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 3617
  • Joined: 2003/12/09 11:09:10
  • Location: East of Santa Monica
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/11 15:55:49 (permalink)
If you can't find a way to fix it yourself, here's a used pair for $50:
 
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Alesis/Elevate-3-Pair-Powered-Monitor-113553446.gc
 
There's also another (cleaner-looking) pair on Ebay at around the same price.

SonarPlat/CWbBL, Win 10 Pro, i7 2600K, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, 16GB DDR3, Radeon HD5450, TC Electronic Impact Twin, Kawai MP11 Piano, Event ALP Monitors, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Too Many Plugins, My lucky hat.
#8
mettelus
Max Output Level: -22 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 5321
  • Joined: 2005/08/05 03:19:25
  • Location: Maryland, USA
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/11 19:47:41 (permalink)
Just realized this is a week old already, so this may be time-late... I am not sure from the OP, but seems they are electrically fine, just the jack connection is loose in the case (i.e., mechanical only)? If that is only a mechanical issue, there are some crazy strong and cheap adhesives out there that will fill holes as well... plumber's goop, shoe goo (pretty much the same product, really), is a clear superglue-like gel that is cheap and useful. Just don't get it on your fingers while working.

ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero (Wi-Fi AC), i7-8700k, 16GB RAM, GTX-1070Ti, Win 10 Pro, Saffire PRO 24 DSP, A-300 PRO, plus numerous gadgets and gizmos that make or manipulate sound in some way.
#9
davdud101
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1058
  • Joined: 2010/07/15 13:30:44
  • Location: Detroit, MI
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/24 15:38:06 (permalink)
I thought of a HIGHLY POSSIBLE other solution - these bookshelf monitors connect using a standard 1/8in M-to-1/8in M cable. What if I removed the jack from the box and connected the wires of the 1/8in cable directly to the internal wires of the box? Which wire connects to which (etc) matters, obviously, but it's just two wires connecting two wires. And then I could run the cable straight out of the hole that the jack was mounted in and it'd be like new.
 
Of course there's something to be said about actual monitor stands to avoid this issue in the future.
 
I may just do it today as its a seemingly very easy procedure, but first I wanna know if its possible! I'm also tired of having the one side of my system sound like a cardboard box because the back isn't mounted on.
 
Pic below:
" />
 
 

 
Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
Gear: Cakewalk BBL - PreSonus Firepod - Alesis Elevate 3 - Axiom 49
DAW: Win10, AMD FX-8300, 16GB DDR3
#10
Cactus Music
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 8424
  • Joined: 2004/02/09 21:34:04
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/24 23:37:53 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby davdud101 2017/11/27 00:44:47
Unless that's a shadow, am I seeing 3 wires? I see one red and 2 black? 
Naw, it looks like a shadow. 
Anyhow my guess is the RED is positive which is the TIP of your patch cable or the none braided wire when you open a patch cables jack to take it apart. 
 
So an option is to sacrifice a patch cable, wack the end off or just un soldier it from the jack and soldier that to the wires inside the speaker after you cut them free from the broken jack. 
 


Johnny V  
Cakelab  
Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
 http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
 
 
#11
davdud101
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1058
  • Joined: 2010/07/15 13:30:44
  • Location: Detroit, MI
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/27 00:46:37 (permalink)
Cactus Music
Unless that's a shadow, am I seeing 3 wires? I see one red and 2 black? 
Naw, it looks like a shadow. 
Anyhow my guess is the RED is positive which is the TIP of your patch cable or the none braided wire when you open a patch cables jack to take it apart. 
 
So an option is to sacrifice a patch cable, wack the end off or just un soldier it from the jack and soldier that to the wires inside the speaker after you cut them free from the broken jack. 
 





Nope - used flash so it may give the appearance of a third wire. But thanks, Cactus! This is the exact solution I was looking for - juts couldn't put it into as good technical words as you did there. Thankfully, if this for some reason DOESN'T work out, I'm only out of a cheap cable realistically. I'll post my results later on tonight!

 
Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
Gear: Cakewalk BBL - PreSonus Firepod - Alesis Elevate 3 - Axiom 49
DAW: Win10, AMD FX-8300, 16GB DDR3
#12
davdud101
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1058
  • Joined: 2010/07/15 13:30:44
  • Location: Detroit, MI
  • Status: offline
Re: Dropped monitor - cracked 1/4in jack :( 2017/11/27 01:15:56 (permalink)
Wooooohoo!!! You guys couldn't possibly comprehend how flipping excited and proud of myself I am right now! Granted it's  asimple opperation - strip the wires inside, strip the cable, twist em together - but it WORKS!!! After a week or so of struggling with one-sided, unreliable cardboard-box sound, my right monitor is back for round two!
 
Thanks Cactus, and of course everyone else who gave input
 
(Edit): humorously enough, it looked like my cable, which had red/white shieldings, was OPPOSITE the speaker which had red/black. I had it inititally with the reds connected and was wondering why it felt like all the bass was gone in my test tracks and that the bass would come back when everything is panned to only one side. haha!

 
Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
Gear: Cakewalk BBL - PreSonus Firepod - Alesis Elevate 3 - Axiom 49
DAW: Win10, AMD FX-8300, 16GB DDR3
#13
Jump to:
© 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1