What's wrong with my stereo?

[YetiMonsoon]

I have a Kenwood KDC-X396 CD receiver, and recently--out of nowhere--whenever I try to listen to music with my MP3 player through the auxiliary input I can't hear the vocals, but only the background music. All my music sounds like a bunch of really distorted karaoke tracks.

The problem isn't the chord or the device because I have the same issue when using a different chord or a different device. Also, I do not have the problem when I use the CD player or the AM/FM radio. I only have the issue when I try to use the auxiliary input.

Help, please.

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[Side Show 10+ year member]

try reset the headunit....... (deck)

 

[YetiMonsoon]

I reset the deck, but the problem still persists.

 

[Wingman0121 10+ year member]

Sounds like your aux input is messed up, if the stereo input is shorted (such as if it isn't plugged in all the way) then it'll sound really weak, no bass, barely any midrange and the treble will sound scratchy or just bad in general. Do you plug and unplug the cord going to the aux input a lot? The contacts inside might be bent, try wiggling the plug while plugged in and turn it back n forth like it's a volume knob and see if anything changes. You can also try pulling the plug out ever so slightly and see if you can get clear sound from at least left or right channel.

 

[Jepalan]

My guess: cracked solder joint inside the head unit where the aux jack attaches to the pc board. Not uncommon is you constantly plug/unplug in/out of the radio face aux jack, or if the cord got yanked.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

have you tried your mp3 player and cord on a demo board or anything with decks wired up to see if you get the same problem with there setup? or is it only your headunit?