Broken headphone input jack Command8

[TDub]

I realize this is not the Command 8 forum, and i have posted there, but its a pretty small audience over there, so thought i would see if anyone here had any ideas:
I know its a known issue that the headphone input on Command 8's are ... well ... crap. Have plugged a couple of headphones into it, only to not be able to get it out without some serious strain (and broken headphones once) ... but even when i do put headphones in, I only get sound from one side ... if i pull it out halfway, it switches to just the other ear ...
Any ideas on this one?
thanks

[albee1952]

Why not just plug the phones into the Mbox?

[TDub]

Hey albee,
yeah, that's how i've always done it, is plugged right into my 002R ... but i recently did some reorganizing of the studio, and the 002R is now a bit further away from my desk ... whereas the command 8 is right on the desk.
It sounds like a connector thing: its like the connector inside is touching one ring on the headphone jack ... then push further down and it touches the other (L / R) ... but just not touching both. I may unscrew the jack input and pull it out to take a look at it.
thanks

[albee1952]

Yeah, if you don't mind diving in, that's what I would do as well. Most jacks are soldered right to the PC board, so if they get yanked(somebody steps on the cable or trips on it) that can crack the solder or break the jack. For me, adding a headphone amp helped(but I needed to cover a few people).

[QuacksMeUp]

Same loss of stereo separation (headphones only) after I had to YANK the headphones plug from the Command 8 jack. This jack has always been problematic; very stiff and difficult to remove my headphones.

Well, gang, it's not stiff anymore; broke one of the jack prongs. And without that, I get sound in one ear only; which ear depends on how far I push (or don't push) the jack in.

Fortunately, the jack is easy to get to. Just remove the Command 8's bottom plate.

Now, just need a replacement part. Shouldn't be hard to find something online or at Radio Shack.

[SKI]

Interesting.
I have owned 3 different Command 8's and never had any issues with the headphone connection sound wise or physical.

Have used them with many different headphones, expensive, cheap and everything in between.

Opening the Command up to get the piece out of the connector isn't a hard task but based on your habits it would probably happen again.