[ericengerd]

My daughter's Ipod recently developed a peculiar problem. The sound coming through the headphones is strangely distorted. The instrumentals seem normal, but the vocals are much softer, distorted, and cut out all the time

We've tried different headphones, and no difference. This tells me the headphones are fine.

We can plug it in to a base station with speakers (Ihome), and the sound is completely normal.

Any ideas on what can cause this, and how to fix?

[Juneappal]

Originally Posted by japher

My daughter's Ipod recently developed a peculiar problem. The sound coming through the headphones is strangely distorted. The instrumentals seem normal, but the vocals are much softer, distorted, and cut out all the time

We've tried different headphones, and no difference. This tells me the headphones are fine.

We can plug it in to a base station with speakers (Ihome), and the sound is completely normal.

Any ideas on what can cause this, and how to fix?

You know this already, but I don't see how it could be anything but a bad headphone jack. depending on what model you have, that may not be a very user serviceable part, unfortunately. You could try a mono plug instead of the stereo plug and see if that works better - it won't sound as full, of course.

Or you could relegate that one to powering the home stereo and get her a new one for Easter.

-Adam

[analogika]

First thing: try restoring the iPod software using the iPod software updater (preferably the latest version downloaded from the Apple site).

There's an off-chance it might help.

[lilford]

Also try using the EQ, to turn it on for vocals and that migth help the vocals sound clearer.

[analogika]

Actually, EQ can worsen distortion.

[analogika]

For destroying what many hands have spent countless hours mixing and mastering to the point where it sounds like it's meant to.

[lilford]

Weird that EQ is.