After a couple weeks of use, my lightly used N800 -- purchased on eBay -- has lost half of the audio when using a headset. When the provided headset went dead on one side, I plugged in a known good headset and got the same result.

Is this an internal mechanical issue?

Could the headphone jack just be dirty?

What's the best way to troubleshoot and resolve the issue?

Thanks...

I've owned other devices (an iPaq and one laptop in particular) in the past where the headphone jack simply wasn't secured to the PCB very well and over time the leads either broke or became completely dislodged from their moorings. It wouldn't surprise me terribly if something like this were the case as I've noticed (at least with mine) that inserting the headphone into the jack requires a good little bit of force. Aside from taking it apart, I can't really think of any way to check it. But I'm not very electronically inclined so perhaps someone else knows of a way to check it without voiding your warranty. If you bought it new and sealed I would personally contact Nokia support about it and see if I couldn't get it fixed or replaced.

I have had exactly the same thing happen to me, it also coincided with the power connector becoming very loose. Having contacted nokia you have to post it off to them to get them to fix it, which can take up to a month.

Hi, did you ever send your n800 in? I am having the same problem by not getting any sound in the Right channel on the headphone jack.

Thanks for any response.

I'm a newbie to the N810 and have begun working my way through the complexities and oddities (and occasional pleasures) of the device. I've found the same problem discussed here - the speakers both work (although with significant crackle) but if I use headphones, the right stereo channel can't be heard at all, regardless of which manufacturer's headphones I try. The HS-48's, a pair of Apple earbuds and a pair of Bose earbuds all fail to play the right channel. I've sent an email to Nokia repair.

I returned mine to the store and got another one that works fine. You just have to make sure the jack on the headphones are plugged in tight.

same problem with my 2 days old n800
no sound from right side with my regular headphone!

Did you all try to push the plug all the way in? It needs a good push. Try it.

I remeber creative labs using crapola heapone jacks, even on their higher end products, it amazes me companies still do crap like that, make an innovative desireable product, and then skimp on staple parts.