Audio Systems: Audio cutout, rca phono, headphone jacks

Question
I plugged a set of headphones into my Pacific PTV7004 TV. The TV speaker sound cut out and was replaced with a low static noise that got louder as I increased the volume. No sound came through the headphones. No sound returns to the TV when I take out the headphones. There is no option in the TV menu to switch between speaker and headphone, and switching of the TV doesn't fix it. What can I do to restore the sound?

Answer
The headphone jack is actually a switched port.  When the headphone plug is inserted into the jack it opens up the speaker circuit, shutting off the speaker, and applies the audio output to the headphone circuit.  When the headphone jack is removed, the contacts of the jack restore the audio to the speaker circuit.

If this does not happen the jack inside the tv could be defective or broken or one of the wires has come loose, etc.

Now: If the headphone plug or wiring had a shorted condition it could have damaged the audio amplifier and wiped out the output transistors.  

In either case you must have it repaired either by yourself or a trusted technician.  It is not difficult technology to repair it.  But is it worth it?  You will have to decide that on your side!

Final comment; is it possible you were connected to the audio output (which is intended for feeding an external amplifier) rather than a headphone jack?  Headphone jacks are usually mounted on the front panel somewhere; the audio output jacks are usually on the back panel and are rca/phono type connections.

Let me know further if you have additional questions.
Cleggsan