Sound issues w/ DK

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

I got my 4 board DK PCB for 10 bucks off ebay.  ('d prefer a 2 board, but beggars can't be choosers)

I got my cab and monitor from a guy north of me for $150...they restored it for me, re-capped the monitor, everything.  Came w/ all original, clean controls, nice control panel overlay, marquee, and bezel...all I had to do was put in new, clean T-molding.

So I know I sound like a spoiled brat when I complain about this..sorry in advance.


I CAN'T GET MY SOUND TO WORK!  My wife doesn't complain about this, as she's in grad school getting 2 masters degrees, and studies constantly while I'm mashing away at DK...

I have a new sound cable I purchased online...and I THINK I have it installed correctly. I've got it going from the pcb to what, if I understand correctly, is the sound input on the monitor...I turn the machine on and I can hear a bit of a hum from the speaker...so I know it's getting SOME kind of signal.

I have little to no experience in electronics...so I just wanted to know if anyone could perhaps help me with troubleshooting this thing.

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to offer!

[Spyridon]

Start by checking the easy stuff first. 

Make sure your speakers are hooked up. 
Adjust the volume pot on the monitor
Adjust the volume pots on the PCB (I'm guessing that the board has these)


If you paid someone to restore the cab for you, they you have a right to complain if something doesn't work.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

I didn't pay someone to restore the cab...I paid $150 for the game...they were nice enough to clean it up, install a monitor w/ fresh capacitors, etc....it just so happens that the sound doesn't seem to be working.  i have a sound cable...and I THINK it's in the right place...i hear a dull hummmmmmmm coming from the speaker..so it's getting SOME kind of juice...just not sure what else to investigate on it!

That's where you knowledgable folks come in!...I hope..


y'know, I'm not sure if the boardset does have volume pots..its the 4-board DK PCB.

[channelmaniac]

OK,

The problem here is that there are multiple places for failure.

1. Inspect the speaker and wires coming from the amp.
2. Check the sound amp on the monitor. Resolder the connectors on it and replace any bad caps.
3. A bad ribbon cable can cause this as well. Test/replace it.
4. Check the power supply to make sure all the outputs are there and are correct.
5. Look for broken components on the game board. DK/Jr/3 uses too many discreet components to make the sound effects. If any are physically broken then you will have incorrect or missing sounds.

Since you have hiss coming from the speaker the speaker and leads to the amp should be OK - (Item 1)

It still could be a problem with cracked solder joints or other issues on the amp. The amp is located on the Sanyo monitor in DK cabinets. This would be the issue if you had a non-Sanyo type monitor in the game. (item 2)

If you had an oscilloscope you could make short work of tracking the problem by looking for the sound waveforms on the output of the game board.

RJ