Geneis 1 VA3 audio problem

Howdy Assembler peeps. I'm a modding/repair novice after some help from more skilful beings than myself

Problem: Audio out of the headphone jack is crudola.

Volume slider from position 0 to ~4 - audio plays from left channel only, is not as loud as it should be and the bass is very crackly.

Volume slider positions ~5 to 10. Audio plays with the expected volume and clarity. IE, there is no prolem in this range of the volume slider.

Fixes attempted so far:

- All caps replaced.
- Audio jack switched with a unit that is known to work in other genesis console.
- Volume slider switched same as audio jack.
- Reflow of joints on audio jack pcb.

The result of each attempted fix was the same, this console still puts out crappy audio from the headphone jack.

So the caps, audio jack, volume slider and solder joints are not the cause of the problem. Audio cable can also be ruled out as it works fine on my other Model 1. It's not a power supply problem, unless the Genny 1 VA3 and VA6 require different power. Which is not the case as far as I'm aware.

I'm not really sure what's left to try, other than the sound chip...?

 

How about the Sony A1034 headphone amp? Sounds like perhaps you either aren't getting the right signal indication from the volume slider (still) on the left channel, or the chip itself is having issues.

 

Is that an alternate amp that I would need to install or is that the chip that is on the motherboard near the headphone jack? At work atm so can't check.

 

It is a chip inside the Genesis. Look above the volume slider and the power switch when you get the chance.

 

Yeah I remember that one, surrounded by clusters of caps. Guess I'll get the multimeter out and poke around until I figure something out

 

its the sony cxa1034p need to replace.

 

Do you speak from experience with a similar problem? I remember that code from seeing it when doing the recap. I will reflow all the joints on the sound circuit then replace the chip if the problem persists.

 

Yeah i have had this fault before.

 

Just got a replacement chip

Edited cos double post and inaccurate content.

 

Replaced the chip but the audio issue remains. Will replace the other components in the headphone circuit and see what happens.