ASUS MOB onboard sound problem - help please!

[aptec]

I have an ASUS P4T533-C based system with a Pentium IV 2.26Ghz chip, 512MB of RAM, a Leadtek GeForce 4 Ti 4400 graphics card, all running under Windows XP Pro.

I am using the motherboard onboard sound - two Advent desk-top speakers plugged directly into the Line-Out jack on the board.

Two days ago, for no apparent reason, the left speaker quit working. I checked all the cables, and all the volume control levels and everything appears to be as it should.

I plugged my speakers into another system and they both work fine.

I plugged another set of speakers into my system and the left one didn't work.

I plugged a set of headphones into my system and the left channel doesn't work.

I have tried uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers for the onboard sound, and it has no effect.

When checking the cables I noticed that when I pulled the connector slowly out of the jack until it was almost completely out the left-hand speaker suddenly began working again. Pushing the plug back into the jack made the left-hand speaker stop working again.

I've pushed and pulled and changed and checked and uninstalled and installed and reinstalled and rechecked and am now completely frustrated.

Any suggestions welcome.

 

[rettahc]

Buy a decent sound card. It sound like a solder joint may have lossened up.

 

[Taurus]

yeah, there's something physically wrong with the port. you could try fixing it, or buy a decent sound card with better sound quality and eax support and the like.

 

[aptec]

OK, thanks for the help. I guess it's off to the store this afternoon for me.

Any suggestions on a good sound card?

 

[Taurus]

depends how much you're willing to spend and what you'll use it for (games, etc). soundblaster audigy is good, great for games, good quality, but maybe a little pricey if you're a casual listener. hercules muse and fortissmo products are a little cheaper and i think they're known for being decent value cards.

basically, stick to brand names like soundblaster, hercules, philips, and yamaha.