Home › Forums › Sparkfun MP3 Shield Library Support Forum › Sound isn't working :( › Reply To: Sound isn't working :(
I highly doubt it is absolutely required just to give the thing power
Well, you are highly wrong. Not only is it absolutely required, by trying to run the shield with unsoldered headers may have already damaged your shield. Loose headers create brownouts and very high frequency noise across data and power lines. One or both of those symptoms may have damaged the sensitive MP3 Decoder. Both symptoms are nearly impossible to see with a regular volt meter.
Before Michael or I can help you any further, solder the pin headers (all of them) to the shield and report the results. I’m not trying to be mean, but you are asking us to help you get your car moving even though it has no tires on it.
