Quantum HD8 Headphone Issues

[algleymi]

Hi there, not quite Studio One/Studio Pro related but curious if anyone has experienced this issue with their Quantum HD8.

A while back, I picked up my headphones and touched the cable and happened to have had a static charge. When I put my headphones on, audio was only playing out of the right side and there was lots of noise coming out of both sides. After talking to Presonus Support and since I bought the interface used, there was no warranty so no way to fix it. So I switched to using Phones 2 output. (I primarily mix using VSX, now Immersion One).

Fast forward to today, I was working on something this morning and everything was working fine through Phones 2. I took a quick break and came back, put my headphones on, and audio would only play through the right side. Unlike the first time when I had a similar issue with Phone 1, there was no static shock or anything when I touched the headphones.

Just to keep track, when the other jack had an issue it would play audio only out of the right side but had significant noise. And by noise I mean hissing, crackling etc.

So I started to troubleshoot. I hadn't use Phones 1 in a while so I plugged the headphones in there and to my surprise there was no noise, but now audio was only playing out of the LEFT side.

So now, Phones 1 outputs only out the left side, Phones 2 only outputs through the right side. Neither produce unexpected noises, and pristine audio. When I switch to my main monitors, audio comes out as expected on the Left and Right monitors.

The metering on the hardware (and in Studio Pro) shows audio in both channels.

This happens both in Studio Pro as well as system audio like playing Youtube or listening to music.

Continued to troubleshoot and here are all the things I've tried:

• Tested on my old VSX headphones
• Tested with a different cable
• Tested with a different 1/8" to 1/4" plug
• Ensured all jacks were firmly plugged in
• Ensured HD8 firmware was up to date
• Factory Reset HD8
• Switched phones 1 and 2 to outputs 3/4 instead of Main L/R
• Went through Fender Universal Control and ensured there was nothing weird with the setup (which really wouldn't matter at this point since I factory reset it)
• Shut down my computer and turned it back on later
• Turned off and turned on the interface
• Unplugged and replugged the interface
• Confirmed headphones I tested/cables/etc work normally on other devices

The issue persists.

I'm sort of at a loss. It almost seems as though the left and right output is now split between the two headphone jacks but not sure how that happened. (Also baffled that Phones 1 is now randomly working without significant noise but on the opposite side than when it initially stopped working). Or it's a wild coincidence that each jack got damaged so that one plays left side audio and one plays right side audio, but nothing happened between the time I stepped away and came back (maybe 5 minutes?); no power outage, flickering, no one was home so someone else didn't touch anything, no audio was playing while I stepped away.

Long shot that anyone knows what's happening but I've also read through the manual multiple times now and do not see anything about somehow splitting the stereo signal between headphone jacks.

Anyone have any insights here? I did submit a support ticket on this issue just hoping that maybe someone here knows something and I can get it resolved quicker or at least confirm it's broken.

 

[algleymi]

Ok just tried a couple more things:

• I switched my Main output in Studio Pro to Mono on the L channel and I can faintly hear playback in left side
• And moving to Phones 1 and switching the mains to Mono on the R channel I can faintly hear playback on the right side
• Moving it back to stereo Main L/R and Phones 2, I panned everything hard left and the left side audio is still coming out the right side, but sounds like it's playing the left side of the stereo image, still in my right ear
• Did the same in Phones 1, panning everything hard right and the right side audio is coming out the left side.

I'm baffled. Or maybe someone who has some electrical engineering background will say - no this makes sense. Something's fried in the headphone jacks hah.

 

[lokeyfly]

There's a lot to chew off here, so pardon the quote snippets. I list them for a reason, and I want to best reveal in your very deep tracing of steps, that you have some very important factors here, based on your used audio interface, the static discharge which is seriously bad towards microprocessors, ram, and DC circuits in general.

A while back, I picked up my headphones and touched the cable and happened to have had a static charge. When I put my headphones on, audio was only playing out of the right side and there was lots of noise coming out of both sides.

After talking to Presonus Support and since I bought the interface used, there was no warranty so no way to fix it. So I switched to using Phones 2 output. (I primarily mix using VSX, now Immersion One).

Fast forward to today, I was working on something this morning and everything was working fine through Phones 2.

I took a quick break and came back, put my headphones on, and audio would only play through the right side.

Just to keep track, when the other jack had an issue it would play audio only out of the right side but had significant noise. And by noise I mean hissing, crackling etc.

So I started to troubleshoot. I hadn't use Phones 1 in a while so I plugged the headphones in there and to my surprise there was no noise, but now audio was only playing out of the LEFT side.

So now, Phones 1 outputs only out the left side, Phones 2 only outputs through the right side. Neither produce unexpected noises, and pristine audio.

When I switch to my main monitors, audio comes out as expected on the Left and Right monitors.

This happens both in Studio Pro as well as system audio like playing Youtube or listening to music.

I dont see why it wouldn't happen in Studio Pro. Issues point to your audio interface, and potential static discharge

It almost seems as though the left and right output is now split between the two headphone jacks but not sure how that happened. (Also baffled that Phones 1 is now randomly working without significant noise but on the opposite side than when it initially stopped working).

Random again will not point to software.

Or it's a wild coincidence that each jack got damaged so that one plays left side audio and one plays right side audio, but nothing happened between the time I stepped away and came back (maybe 5 minutes?); no power outage, flickering, no one was home so someone else didn't touch anything, no audio was playing while I stepped away.

Long shot that anyone knows what's happening but I've also read through the manual multiple times now and do not see anything about somehow splitting the stereo signal between headphone jacks.

The manual will not cover such inconsistencies.

Anyone have any insights here? I did submit a support ticket on this issue just hoping that maybe someone here knows something and I can get it resolved quicker or at least confirm it's broken.

So a brief synopsis:
A support ticket on such events as this are not going reveal anything. Support cannot role up why monitor 1 and monitor 2 outputs were inconsistent. Noise that was sometimes occuring, then not, then back points to really poor shielding in or around your PC. Even cabling. From the moment you had the static discharge (which can happen, if someone never had a wrist strap, to a proper static work station with a 1 megohm resistor attached, and that happens only in typically a manufacturing workplace). Don't feel bad, a wool sweater, carpet (or none) or any number of things could have set that off. The problem is the after effects could have produced permanent damage. Yet, you still had inconsistencies even after that. That is typically not a software issue. Remember, Studio One for all practical purposes is not so far off from Studio Pro 8. So tha fact that they both have the same results between each other (as I recall), is normal. You're really having issues in the way of hardware, be it computer or audio interface.
There is nothing that is going to reveal a one side of monitor 1 doesnt work, while another side of monitor 2 doesnt work, then both don't, do, etc.
Sound legitimate?
There is NO set-up, or expecting support is even going to establish anything except a standard start point. That is not your issue.
You're issues are all over the place. You need to beak down the issues yourself. Start with a minimum of cables, and develop consistency. Avoid the hums, and create repeatable progress. If you still cant, it really sounds as though your hardware, and setup need a clear going over. You cant expect someone else is going to pick up those erratic changes. Its changing on you through time. That should tell you something.

 

[TimC340]

Sounds to me like the internal soldered connections to the headphone hacks are breaking down, especially if the speaker monitor audio is ok. If it’s out of warranty I’d take to to a specialist repairer.

 

[SwitchBack]

Fault-finding is a systematic process, and even then it can throw you a curveball. I had a pair of headphones fail in one ear on one amp and being fine on a second amp. So amp output problem, right? Wrong! The first amp had the jack on the front. The second amp had the jack on the back, twisting the headphone cable in such a way that the faulty cable made good contact, making me kick myself after swapping out amps and taking the ‘faulty’ one apart.
The left-right thing is another pitfall as some headphones are easily reversed. And half-clicking a headphone jack puts the right channel on the left ear, so double-check.

 

[lokeyfly]

.
The left-right thing is another pitfall as some headphones are easily reversed. And half-clicking a headphone jack puts the right channel on the left ear, so double-check.

Add to that, with algleymi, it works, then it doesnt, then the left, then the noise, then the ........
Not something support is going to oblige.
Time to dive in.

As Switchback and Tim mention, observe even the quirckiest aspects. Also the used audio interface could lead to suspicion. Leave no stone, unturned.

 

[algleymi]

There's a lot to chew off here, so pardon the quote snippets. I list them for a reason, and I want to best reveal in your very deep tracing of steps, that you have some very important factors here, based on your used audio interface, the static discharge which is seriously bad towards microprocessors, ram, and DC circuits in general.
















I dont see why it wouldn't happen in Studio Pro. Issues point to your audio interface, and potential static discharge

Random again will not point to software.

The manual will not cover such inconsistencies.


So a brief synopsis:
A support ticket on such events as this are not going reveal anything. Support cannot role up why monitor 1 and monitor 2 outputs were inconsistent. Noise that was sometimes occuring, then not, then back points to really poor shielding in or around your PC. Even cabling. From the moment you had the static discharge (which can happen, if someone never had a wrist strap, to a proper static work station with a 1 megohm resistor attached, and that happens only in typically a manufacturing workplace). Don't feel bad, a wool sweater, carpet (or none) or any number of things could have set that off. The problem is the after effects could have produced permanent damage. Yet, you still had inconsistencies even after that. That is typically not a software issue. Remember, Studio One for all practical purposes is not so far off from Studio Pro 8. So tha fact that they both have the same results between each other (as I recall), is normal. You're really having issues in the way of hardware, be it computer or audio interface.
There is nothing that is going to reveal a one side of monitor 1 doesnt work, while another side of monitor 2 doesnt work, then both don't, do, etc.
Sound legitimate?
There is NO set-up, or expecting support is even going to establish anything except a standard start point. That is not your issue.
You're issues are all over the place. You need to beak down the issues yourself. Start with a minimum of cables, and develop consistency. Avoid the hums, and create repeatable progress. If you still cant, it really sounds as though your hardware, and setup need a clear going over. You cant expect someone else is going to pick up those erratic changes. Its changing on you through time. That should tell you something.

Thanks for the reply. Just a few points of clarification - I realize it's not a Studio Pro/One issue but I figured there may be a decent crossover of Studio Pro/One users who have bought the Quantum HD interfaces, hence the post. The comments about Studio Pro were only about my troubleshooting steps, not thinking it was a potential cause of the issue.

The static charge issue happened over a year ago and ever since that incident, I discharge any static before touching any of my gear by touching grounded metal. The noise and such happened after that incident in Phones 1, hence the switch to Phones 2. I've had no issues since until yesterday.

The confusing aspect was when this second incident occurred, that did not involve static discharge to my electronics (or at least none that I felt - and I did ground myself before touching anything), is that when trouble shooting and switching back to Phones 1 for the first time since the initial static discharge issue over a year ago, the noise was gone and the Phones 1 output had now changed to only producing audio on the OTHER side (initially after that first encounter it was producing audio on the Right side, and now it's on the left side).

As of now, I've tested multiple headphone cables (even brand new high quality ones, multiple 1/8" to 1/4" converters, multiple headphones etc.

I get that its changing over time, but it hasn't been a gradual change. It's been two points in time. Once a year+ ago, and then again yesterday. But since the initial incident there has been no noise for that time frame and even after this incident yesterday.

To me, this probably tells me the initial incident slowly started causing damage to components around it. It is just a weird coincident that now each jack produces audio in one side. Phones 1, which is the left headphone output, produces audio on the left side, while Phones 2, the right headphone output, produces audio on the right side. Like I said, probably a weird coincidence but something that I wondered if there was a setting that somehow changes each output to left and right from the stereo image.

BUT all of this is a moot point as of today since Phones 2 no longer produces any audio.

 

[algleymi]

Add to that, with algleymi, it works, then it doesnt, then the left, then the noise, then the ........
Not something support is going to oblige.
Time to dive in.

As Switchback and Tim mention, observe even the quirckiest aspects. Also the used audio interface could lead to suspicion. Leave no stone, unturned.

Yeah purchasing used always makes me nervous but I do a lot of due diligence when evaluating sellers. And it worked like a charm for the first 8+ months or so of owning it until I stupidly touched the headphone cable while having static build up. So I doubt it was an issue with the unit at the time of purchase. But sadly, buying used means no warranty. And even more disappointing, Presonus won't fix anything that doesn't have a warranty, even if I offer to pay full repair price.

I feel like the next step for me is cleaning the jacks. Not sure if you or others have recommendations, but would something like DeoxIt work? Or even Isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab? Never done something like this before.

 

[algleymi]

Sounds to me like the internal soldered connections to the headphone hacks are breaking down, especially if the speaker monitor audio is ok. If it’s out of warranty I’d take to to a specialist repairer.

Yeah in my initial support case a year ago, since I don't have a warranty, I can't send it in even if I agree to pay full repair price. I have a good friend in Nashville who builds amps, repairs amps, builds stompboxes, and does general electronic work for some big touring bands, but he said he won't touch it. Not comfortable working on audio interfaces hah.

I would hope it's just a solder issue, or even cleaning the jacks, but given the initial static discharge I wonder if something else is fried. What's weird is typically when there's a significant electric shock that bricks the jack, there's static noise that persists, which isn't the case right now. There was static noise after the initial incident a year ago but it's gone (so I guess maybe initial damage that now has completely fried part of the component and is only producing sound on one side? Idk.

So need to do some research on potential places to get it repaired, or if indeed both phone jacks are damaged (which seems to be the case), I may just cut my losses and try and sell it and take a decent hit on what I could get, and buy a different interface.

 

[Gerran]

I don't know if you use the other outputs a lot, but getting a seperate headphone amp might be the cheaper solution..

 

[SwitchBack]

I'd take the interface into an electronics repair shop, with a laptop to make it play. Then ask if they can do a local check in/around the headphone sockets. A local mechanical fault should be an easy/cheap fix. If it's not (i.e. something in the electronics) then without a service manual I wouldn't bother having it fixed, as reverse engineering can be time-consuming/expensive.

 

[algleymi]

I don't know if you use the other outputs a lot, but getting a seperate headphone amp might be the cheaper solution..

Yep I'm actually looking into this. Also realizing the output of these headphone jacks on the Quantum HD8 aren't ideal for getting the full range and transient punch that the Immersion One Planar Magnetic headphones can provide - so I'll definitely be doing this.

 

[algleymi]

A handy chat with Gemini, for what it's worth gave me some insight, if accurate. Since the new Immersion Ones are 32ohm planar headphones, being driven by 33ohm headhphone output impedance on the HD8, this may have caused thermal stress on the headphone amp in the HD8. Apparently (haven't validated this response from Gemini), when electronic components are "heat-stressed", the typically fail right as they begin to cool down. Which would make sense because when I walked away from my computer, I wasn't playing audio during that time.

And given the static charge issue from a year ago... it added to it.

SOOOO, assuming that's accurate, I may save me some time/money for repair/diagnostics, and just buy a headphone amp that works well with my new headphones and move on. Then maybe I will eventually look to get it repaired if possible.

 

[SwitchBack]

That 32/33 Ohms is a perfect match actually, so a failure from that isn't likely. Did you run those outputs full blast/clipping? (as lengthy clipping can be a failure cause).

 

[algleymi]

That 32/33 Ohms is a perfect match actually, so a failure from that isn't likely. Did you run those outputs full blast/clipping? (as lengthy clipping can be a failure cause).

So I don't think that's the case. Apparently there's this 8:1 rule on impedance, where essentially for best performance you want 1/8th the output impedance from what the headphones are rated at. So 32ohms headphones you'll want 4ohms or less. But that seems to really affect more sound quality than anything else. The bigger issue seems like the mW recommended rating of the headphones. They recommend 500mW or more to drive them (I believe it's rated at 250mW but higher is recommended), and I believe the Quantum HD8 supplies around 230mW. So THAT is where the headphone amp in the HD8 would be working overtime to try and power the planar magnetic headphones, causing heat issues.

 

[Jemusic]

Sounds like it could be an issue with the headphone sockets and how they are mounted onto a PC board I would say. It could be just a matter of some dry joints. Or a better approach might be to replace the headphone sockets and solder new ones in. Presonus should be able to supply the new sockets.

Another approach is to get the stereo signal form somewhere else and feed into a decent headphone amp. One that will give you the volume you need plus it will be separate to the HD8. A good example might be the Behringer Powerplay Pro XL. It's got 4 headphone outputs and drives any headphones to very loud levels as well. Plus many other features. Also the phones outputs on the Presonus Monitor Station V2 are really good as well with solid sockets and tons of levels etc..Headphone impedances are simply overcome with a good headphone amp system.

Many headphone outputs on audio interfaces are lacking in level so its best to hand over serious headphone drive situations to other and better devices.

The monitor outputs on my Yamaha 01V digital mixer failed and I looked into repairing and it was a nightmare. So I just invested in the Monitor Station V2 and it provided tons of features and solved all my headphone issues in one.