Hi everyone!,
I’m having an odd issue with my Yamaha MX61 synthesizer. I’ve had it for about a decade and never had any problems with it. I take very good care of it. It’s in a case when not being played, hasn’t been gigged with, is clean, etc. I have also tried all of the methods suggested in the manual for addressing the problem, and none has worked (including “factory reset,” which I’ve done twice). The issue is the following: Please bear with me, as I may include way more detail than is necessary (certain details might be implied by other ones, etc.). I’m just at a loss, and so figure I should include everything. Thanks so much in advance.
When my headphones are plugged into the Phones jack of my MX61, I only get sound on the right side. (Halfway plugged in, sound from the left. I know this might not be relevant, but I thought it was curious).
When my speakers are plugged in (two Yamaha HS7’s) to the two external outs (L/Mono and R/Output), I only get a signal from the right side, but individually they each work (i.e. when one speaker is plugged into either of those outputs, it gets a signal).
So the basic issue seems to be that when a stereo output is demanded (either via headphones or speakers), only the right side signal is sent. And I’m assuming that I still get sound from L/Mono when a speaker is is plugged into it because the R signal is being summed with a non-existent left side signal.
I don’t know if these additional details are relevant, but
When headphones are plugged into L/Mono, I only get sound from left side.
When headphones are plugged into R/Output, I also only get sound from left side.
I’ve also “jogged” cables through the jacks a few times and cleaned them gently with a Q-Tip.
Thanks again!,
John
No … good info.
If Line Out not working then Head Phone not working either - Head Phone amp comes from Line Out.
Can you get a Stereo 6 1/4mm jack lead and plug into AUX IN - then touch either the tip or the ring and check if you hear either in the Head Phone (or speakers connected to Line Out) - goes through the Master Volume.
If that works then the problem is further back. Try that first.
I’m sorry…I’m not quite able to understand your recommendation here. Stereo 6 1/4" jack lead would just be a headphone cable, right? And once it is plugged into the AUX IN, how would I touch its tip or ring? You’re saying to plug in headphones (to the phones jack) or speakers to the L/Mono and R/Output and then, while touching the tip or ring of the plugged in stereo 6 cable, see whether I hear something?
Hi! I figured out what you meant. I attached my headphones cable to a connector I have (that makes it the Stereo 6 cable you referred to), then I plugged the headphone side into the Aux In, and when I had one speaker plugged into the Mono/L jack and touched the ring (of the first cable), I got a signal through the speaker (though the tip did not produce any noise). So what exactly are you saying this means? Also, earlier today I had a very brief buzzing/whining from the DC outlet port (until I turned the synth off and back on) and now there is buzzing present around the L/Mono port (it’s very, very quiet, but noticeable if you listen closely). I have to be honest and say that I did not hear the DC outlet port sound until after I unscrewed the bottom of the synth and slightly opened it to merely look at the state of the circuit boards (everything looks completely healthy and in order - as far as I know with my limited knowledge - no signs of corrosion, burning, no weird smells, etc.), after which I closed it right up. I didn’t attempt to make any repairs (I haven’t the faintest idea where to start) and was very delicate and careful. Because I turned the synth on with the Aux In plugged in (to run your experiment), and have never before plugged anything into this port, it’s possible that the buzzing I heard near Mono/L when the synth booted up was caused by this port’s having something in it for the first time (along with whatever initial malfunction we are trying to diagnose. I assume that’s the cause, because the sound is now present whenever the keyboard is on, regardless of what’s plugged in (and there were many prior turnons/turnoffs that succeeded my opening of the case that did not involve this sound). In any case, I hope what I’ve said answers your question, and I apologize if I complicated things with my troubleshooting.
Headphone cable may not be that good - maybe something like this.
or this:
… just a stereo jack that you can touch the tip and/or ring to induce a humm/noise.
Or if you got a 1/4" jack to 3.5mm stereo jack and plug into something that can produce sound.
Just want to check the analogue paths.
Haha ok now I am confused again. Would what I described above not qualify as a legitimate test of what you’re talking about? The cable I used was 1/8" trs on one side (this went into the Aux In) and 1/8" trs into a 1/4" inch adapter on the other. When I touched the ring of the 1/4", I heard sound through the speaker plugged into L/Mono. I hope you saw my response just now! Sorry if I’m complicating things.
Sounds OK - so 1/8" TRS in AUX and other side 1/8" TRS (no need for 1/4" adapter really).
So - when touching 1/8" ring there is sound in speaker but when touching 1/8" tip there is nothing – correct?!
You could also put the headphones in - that’ll give you TRS Ring → right and TRS Tip → left.
I tried without the 1/4" adapter, and these were the results (with headphones plugged in).
When I touch either ring on the 1/8", I hear sound from the right side of the headphones. If I touch the first ring (closest to the keyboard), I hear a clipping. Second ring (farthest from the keyboard), I hear a loud, buzzing sound. When I touch the tip, I hear this same clipping signal sound from the right. I don’t get any signal on the left side of the headphones.
Thanks so much for your help again!
Just to get terminology clear
Would it be possible for you to plug it into a radio or phone of sorts?
Reading your previous I can almost assume that problem may well be the Master Volume pot … or maybe a connection between the jack board (where all the jacks plug into) and the little board that holds the Master Volume and power on light.
I would love to have tried this, but I took it into a repair shop today. They’ll have an assessment in a week. Thanks very much for your guidance, though!
