[pruettsk]

yeah, so part of my 1/8" to RCA adapter broke inside my TiBook's headphone jack... only the tip, but I can't get it out (tried tweezers & everything). What sucks is that I can't get any sound. The piece of the adapter in there is even overriding the built-in speakers.

I'm about to try a drop of super glue to pull it out, but I don't want to mess up the inside of the output port any more than tweezers/pliers might have already.

OR... would a Griffin iMic work if I can't get the piece out, or am I SOL?

thanks,
~ scott

[rjenkinson]

double post.

-r.

[rjenkinson]

use the glue, but do it carefully.

-r.

[s0litude]

THAT SUCKS!

[capuchin]

Dear God.

How in the hell did you do this? I'd be surprised if the jack is still working at all considering the amount of force required to break the adaptor.

You may want to consider taking it into a mac shop to have someone try and pull that thing out - it's a lot easier when you've taken the case out of the equation. I still think you've probably damaged the port.

I mean... Wow...

[pruettsk]

how?

simply put, the thing that broke is a cheaply built radio shack adapter that's been pulled in & out many times over the past couple years every time I needed to take the PB on the road. It just gave out one day... the inner core snapped.

so will the iMic usb adapter work?

yes, this does suck. Having to resort back to changing CDs instead of using iTunes is driving me nuts... for starters.

thanks...

[SplijinX]

Pretty sure that the iMic is for sound input only, won't help in terms of acting as an output jack. The output they are talking about is so you can use the mic features to record to a source other than to a computer. Even if you could, it might still be overridden since you have a piece stuck inside the port.

Not sure about the glue thing, I'd have to see a picture of how bad it is. You'd have to get a pretty good grip in it to pull it out if it is fully embedded in the port.

[rocky2]

Same thing happened to me too on a DA desktop. The godammed white plastic tip of the mini-jack on the digital Apple Pro Speakers just broke off in the socket as I pulled it out one day. Have never been able to get the broken piece out and resorted to using USB speakers and headphones instead. It is a real PITA and I suspect a fault in the Apple Pro speaker plug caused it but Apple Japan would not listen. The repair required a new motherboard at huge expense so I gave up.

[pruettsk]

so usb speakers will still work even if the computer thinks an analog set is still plugged in?

creative's extigy won't work on a mac, right?

of all the things to break... haha. PITA is right.

[vinster]

I wouldn't think you have anything to lose by trying super glue. I would try sanding down a plastic toothpick until you have a flat surface and putting a very carefully-placed drop of super glue on the end. Let the glue start to dry a bit and then with very good lighting and the powerbook tilted so the port's pointing downward bond the plastic toothpick with the broken headphone jack and let the glue set for a few minutes before attempting to extract the broken tip.

If you try this, let us know your results.

[rocky2]

I have used USB Plantronics headphones and no-brand USB speakers ever since with no problems. There is an upside too--since the plastic bit is jammed in there, the Mac thinks external speakers are connected (they are not) so it plays the start-up bong through the non-existent speakers and not the built-in internal speaker. Result--silent startup, which I like.

An another PITA problem, a friend of mine had the tiny little connector on the end of the braided internal airport antenna built-in the G4 case come off in his hand--result not able to connect airport card. Again, this connector cannot be bought--Apple suggested a new case! We searched every backstreet in Akihabara (the parts mecca of the world) and could not find an antenna cable with this connector so now he uses a wired Net connection.

[kirk533]

The iMic will work for in-put AND out-put, just not both at the same time.

[MountainMac]

Well, you're not the only one--as evidenced in this thread.

Good luck!

MM

[pruettsk]

thanks guys. I've been pretty busy recently & haven't messed w/ this yet. I'll head out & buy some super glue today. If that doesn't work, I'll get a USB setup. As long as I can output sound to my main 8-speaker setup I'll be happy.

[richc]

You may not want to use super glue, it might be too brittle and just break off. 60min epoxy will make a stronger bond, just a suggestion.

[Macrat]

Originally posted by rocky2:
Same thing happened to me too on a DA desktop. The godammed white plastic tip of the mini-jack on the digital Apple Pro Speakers just broke off in the socket as I pulled it out one day. Have never been able to get the broken piece out and resorted to using USB speakers and headphones instead. It is a real PITA and I suspect a fault in the Apple Pro speaker plug caused it but Apple Japan would not listen. The repair required a new motherboard at huge expense so I gave up.

If it is just a peice of plastic, I would just get a small drill bit (much smaller than the opening) and carefully take out chunks until its gone. Just don't go crazy by using a power drill and jamming it in there.

[rocky2]

Good lateral thinking--might try it when the time comes to get rid of this now old Mac. (Going off topics) I'm lusting after a G5 but the "suitcase" size (beautifully engineered suitcase though) of the "desktop" G5s makes it impossible to go on or under my desk. Have to wait for a G5 Powerbook and go that route I suppose.

[rag on a muffin]

1/8 inch jack: worst idea ever for anything but a portable. why dont they use 1/4 inch jacks in the powerbooks?