Audiolab M-DAC Nano Headphone socket repair

[Wozzaaah]

Annoyingly, while listening to some music last night I leant on my little headphone amp and managed to completely detach the headphone socket from the pcb.
I've opened it up and to me it looks like 3 of the pads have just popped apart but the other 3 have actually been ripped off the pcb and are still attached to the socket. What are my chances of a successful repair?

For info, this is the other side.

 

[Bullet2012]

I would think the chances of a successful repair would depend upon the tools used and the skill of the tools operator.
For example if I was to attempt the repair using a BFH the the chance of success is less than zero

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'm ok-ish with a soldering iron but it's the lifted pads which worry me. £140 for a new one so I'd like to try and salvage it if possible.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Put the socket back in place, drill through the lifted tabs, put a bit of wire through the holes and solder both sides?
Maybe.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I can't. Take a look at the other side, it's all charging coil.
This thing is small, only 40mm square.

 

[Bullet2012]

This thing is small, only 40mm

Poor Mrs Wozaaah.

 

[Fazerruss]

Dont go near it with a drill as it could be a multi layer PCB with tracks in the way. I would put it back in place with super glue under the taps that have been ripped off and resolder the other ones. Once glue is dry scrape off some varnish near the ripped off tracks and bridge the join with solder and a strand of wire if needed.

 

[Barking Mat]

Might be worth posting to @eLuSiVeMiTe , with his posh new soldering hot air gun thing?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Poor design for a jack.
Even a dollop of hot glue would have helped strengthen it up.

I'd side with this.

Dont go near it with a drill as it could be a multi layer PCB with tracks in the way. I would put it back in place with super glue under the taps that have been ripped off and resolved the other ones. Once glue is dry scrape off some varnish near the ripped off tracks and bridge the join with solder and a strand of wire if needed.

 

[zx9]

Check the pin outs of the headphone socket and that you have tip, ring and shield on the three soldered pads you should be good to just re solder I can't think of why it should need the switch connections on the other side, it is not like it has an internal speaker or other line out put.
As above re glue the switched side and crack on with the soldering.

Edit: After repair confirm it is working then encapsulate / bond with hot glue gun to re enforce the construction.

BTW: How are they? I have been thinking of buying a Dragonfly for the last year or so but there is always something else to spend the pennies on.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Check the pin outs of the headphone socket and that you have tip, ring and shield on the three soldered pads you should be good to just re solder I can't think of why it should need the switch connections on the other side, it is not like it has an internal speaker or other line out put.
As above re glue the switched side and crack on with the soldering.

Edit: After repair confirm it is working then encapsulate / bond with hot glue gun to re enforce the construction.

BTW: How are they? I have been thinking of buying a Dragonfly for the last year or so but there is always something else to spend the pennies on.

I did wonder why it had 6 connections, maybe the 3 that look like they're ripped off were just anchor points and were bonded, not soldered?
It's absolutely superb! Partnered with my Shure 1540s it's sounds wonderful!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Poor design for a jack.
Even a dollop of hot glue would have helped strengthen it up.

I'd side with this.

Yes, it's quite vulnerable, hot glue sounds like a good idea if I can repair it.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Poor Mrs Wozaaah.

Good things come in small packages.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

What about using silver conductive paint. You're not dealing with high current here. So long as you can scrape back the pcb track, then conductive paint is easy to manoeuvre on a cocktail stick. You have to let it dry before it's fully conductive. Carefully solder back the good pads, repair the broken pads test. then use a glue gun to secure the socket down.

 

[voipio]

A closer view of th PCB might help, but it looks like there may be a through hole connection to the right hand side middle pad, and a track going to the pad on the right hand side lower edge of the PCB. Does the headphone amp sense when phones are connected, as a power switch? It seems likely all the pads need to make some sort of contact. It will be possible to repair, using a microscope, fine tipped iron and wrapping wire.

 

[mtt.tr]

Microscope and razor blade you might 'might' uncover a trace enoug to solder it.

If not you could follow the trace and solder on some very fine wire.


I used to use both options when Bluetooth motorcycle headset were exspensive but hands free were not.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Microscope and razor blade you might 'might' uncover a trace enoug to solder it.

If not you could follow the trace and solder on some very fine wire.


I used to use both options when Bluetooth motorcycle headset were exspensive but hands free were not.

I've just had a very tentative go at that. I managed to uncover a small part of two of the tracks but the 3rd is very difficult as there's some tiny, tiny components around it, so small they're almost invisible to the naked eye.
Sadly I think repairing it may be beyond my capabilities.

 

[MCKDAVID]

Nothing to lose then, have a go anyway.... Worst case scenario, it's already bollaxed, you can only bollaxe it some more... Nothing ventured nothing gained.. have at it....

 

[sako243]

Post it down to me and I'll take a look at it if you want? Those components are positively massive to some of the ones I've dealt with in the past.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Thanks Ed, that's a very kind offer but....
Out of curiosity I've just tried holding the socket in place on the 3 intact pads and... it works!
I'll break out the soldering iron, reattach them and glue the socket to the board, all being well it will sort it.
Thanks for all the advice everyone, much appreciated.