Broken speakers in NOS X3x docking base?!

[zoltan87]

So I bought a new old stock Thinkpad X3x docking base, that has the built in stereo speakers. They supposed to sound quite good, miles better than the X32 built in speaker.

I just opened up the sealed package and docked my laptop in it. And the built in speakers make absolutely zero noise. They seem to be completely broken. Is this possible? As I said, it was a brand new unit. I remember quite some time ago I had an other similar docking station in quite beat up shape, and that one had one broken speaker, but the left side was still working in it.

It's extremely frustrating, as I was planning to use this setup for retro gaming, and I wanted to use the built in speakers, I don't like headphones.

[dr_st]

It's unlikely that both speakers are broken, but who knows.

Check whether you get sound in each of following situations, and if so, where is the sound coming from:

1) Laptop undocked
2) Laptop undocked and headphones/speakers plugged into the laptop
3) Laptop docked
4) Laptop docked and headphones/speakers plugged into the laptop

Verify that the sound is not muted and the volume is not zero (sometimes different audio profiles are used for docked/undocked).

Try reinstalling the audio drivers.

[Trzyzet]

Which power supply are you using? Sometimes some ports or functions does not working on weaker chargers. If I good remember, this dock needs at least 90W.

[Thinkpad4by3]

The X3x doesn't take the 90W brick. It takes the 56W or 72W IBM bricks.

Possibly, from the 15 years in a box, the connector as oxidized maybe? Try docking and redocking the machine a few times. Hey, what do they say about unplugging and plugging it back in .

[zoltan87]

Thank you guys for the suggestions, I just had some tinkering time this morning, and also a few days ago I ordered a second X3x docking station in used condition, which arrived this morning.

The bad news is, something is definitely wrong with my NOS docking station, as the newly bought used dock's speakers worked immediately, nice and loud. So I guess maybe there is some oxidization indeed as suggested, or that the whole speaker assembly is broken .

Not happy about it, as one of the main reason I bought the NOS unit was, that I wanted a perfectly working unit in clean condition. The used dock I bought a few days ago even though works perfectly, It's pretty gross, upon arrival it was extremely sticky everywhere. I have no idea in what environment it has been used, as it wasn't too dusty, but all the surfaces on it were sticky as hell, and even after a good clean with wipes and alcohol, it still doesn't feel right to the touch.

If I will have some more time, I might will disassemble my broken dock, and have a look inside, or even possibly change the speakers. It just feels like a waste of time, as it was supposed to work out of the box.

One off-topic observation: both docking stations have dvd drives in them, but the used one has a drive made in 2000, and the NOS dock has a drive made in 2004. The older DVD drive is a LOT heavier, there really is a huge difference. I wonder if the old drives were over-built, the technology just wasn't there yet to make it light, or they started to cheap out on the newer drives.

[Thinkpad4by3]

One off-topic observation: both docking stations have dvd drives in them, but the used one has a drive made in 2000, and the NOS dock has a drive made in 2004. The older DVD drive is a LOT heavier, there really is a huge difference. I wonder if the old drives were over-built, the technology just wasn't there yet to make it light, or they started to cheap out on the newer drives.

Take a look at the first CD drives, HDDs, or calculators, or for that matter everything. Go on YouTube and search for Technology Connections CDs. Then you should ahve a teensy bit more respect for the engineering going into CD drives.

tl;dr: it's miniaturization of technology over time.

[zoltan87]

Take a look at the first CD drives, HDDs, or calculators, or for that matter everything. Go on YouTube and search for Technology Connections CDs. Then you should ahve a teensy bit more respect for the engineering going into CD drives.

tl;dr: it's miniaturization of technology over time.

Gonna check it out. Not sure what made you think though, that I have no respect in the engineering aspects of these things. It's just incredible that they can achieve such weight savings in something like a disc drive, in the span of only a couple of years.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Gonna check it out. Not sure what made you think though, that I have no respect in the engineering aspects of these things. It's just incredible that they can achieve such weight savings in something like a disc drive, in the span of only a couple of years.

Never said you didn't have respect, just said you would have a bit more.

[PePeFR]

Hi,

I had a similar (but different outcome) issue recently with my X31 :
I ordered a good condition Ultrabase, with DVD/CD-RW drive. it's complete with battery cover, in quite a good cosmetics aspect.
But... no sound. I tried to put some contact cleaner spray on both the computer and the base, with no effect.

To be able to cross-check my X31 with a different base, I ordered a "manufacturer refurbished" product, which is pretty much like NOS stuff... delivered in IBM package.

Unfortunately, I still don't get any sound !

The speaker of th X31 works well when undocked. When docking, the sound shuts down. The headphones plug works (sound ok in phones and speaker shuts), in undocked as well as in docked configuration.

I searched for pinout schematics for the big ultrabase connector to try to check the sound pins, but I was unable to find it anywhere.

Really strange !!

[dr_st]

I searched for pinout schematics for the big ultrabase connector to try to check the sound pins, but I was unable to find it anywhere.

Search the web for "Tokyo-2" planar. You should find a schematics PDF. From what I see, DOCK_LINE_OUT_R is pin 9 and DOCK_LINE_OUT_L is pin 69, and the routing of audio to the normal line out or the dock line out is controlled by the DOCK_ATTACH# which is pin 66. If only I knew where they are counting from...

[PePeFR]

Thanks !
I grabbed the doc, now need to get use of it.

[RealBlackStuff]

Search the web for "Tokyo-2" planar. You should find a schematics PDF. From what I see, DOCK_LINE_OUT_R is pin 9 and DOCK_LINE_OUT_L is pin 69, and the routing of audio to the normal line out or the dock line out is controlled by the DOCK_ATTACH# which is pin 66. If only I knew where they are counting from...

With a bit of luck, there's a number 1 printed on the motherboard, near a corner of that connector.
It has Molex P/N 54577_2401, which has been replaced by Molex 54557-2409

2.00mm Pitch MFB (Futurebus+) PCB Receptacle, Right-Angle, 1.60mm PCB Thickness, 5-Row, Through Hole, Gold (Au) 0.76µm, 240 Circuits, Lead Free

Do a google-search with: SD-54557-004
You will see a post by: sigma.octopart.com > Molex-545570... pdf
Click on: Untitled - Octopart under that, to download the connector-drawing.
I don't understand its numerics, but you might.