Audio Issues - Only getting 2.1 when I should have 5.1 - Help!

Teacake96 · Aug 9, 2013

So as the thread title describes, I am only getting 2.1 sound with my 5.1 speakers. This is really annoying. I know there are probably other threads on this ( sorry to start a new one) but none seem to work for me.

I have tried the speaker fill enhancement, did nothing, the speakers are using Realtek HD audio - Driver version 6.0.1.6699 - Not sure how to fix it. Whenever I test the speakers for surround, I get 5.1, but whenever I play music or games it is only 2.1. Threads on this were older that I found, anyone got any suggestions?

I may know the issue though. I have recently done a clean re-install of windows 7 (I practically destroyed my last installation in a way, bit hard to explain.) and I may be missing some drivers however I am not sure on what those may be. Thats what I think may have caused it anyway because before I reinstalled, they worked fine.

System Specs are:

CPU: i5 3570k
MOBO: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4
GPU: Gigabyte 7970 Ghz Edition
RAM: 8Gb (4x2Gb) Corsair Vengeance
Storage: Plextor 256gb SSD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium.

Help would be greatly appreciated,
Regards,
Tom.

mauller07 · Aug 9, 2013

You need to set your games to surround manually usually, also music will only play 2.1 because it is only stereo, you need a music player that has a dsp that will upsample to surround. Check your dsp modules on your music player for surround upsampling.

Teacake96 · Aug 9, 2013

mauller07 :

Explain DSP? Itunes is what I use for music. I think I had a similar issue when I first built my pc but not sure.

Tom.

boju · Aug 9, 2013

Games that do support surround but don't have any ingame adjustments will be configured with Windows.

What games are you trying to play?

On top of my head games that i have played that do support 5.1 is all of HL2 series, L4D, Rage, GTA4. If you have any of these games i would like to know if you're still are only receiving 2.1.

Teacake96 · Aug 9, 2013

boju :

Ah, I am trying to play Arma 2, I will also install BF3 when I get around to it. It's not so much the games that worry me, I use a cheap headset and am not too worried on the sound of Arma anyway, its music. If I want to blast a song, All I can hear is the two front speakers and sub, not the center or rear speakers which would otherwise fill my room with sound.

This is a real pain.

Any suggestions?

Tom.

boju · Aug 9, 2013

What speakers are you using and how is it connected to the pc?

the realtek driver is old, might be worth a shot updating it from http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/ as they're more upto date directly compared to their carriers.

under High Definition Audio Codecs (Software)

I have a set of Logitech 5.1s and youtube plays through all speakers so hopefully its something simple.

Teacake96 · Aug 10, 2013

boju :

Yea I got the Logitech 5.1s, not sure if youtube plays through all though.
Just checked and it doesn't.
Downloading the latest realtek drivers now.

Still though, need a solution to this.

Anyone?

Tom.

boju · Aug 10, 2013

what is the specific model and how is it connected?

We are getting to the solution, i and everyone else trying to help need to know whats involved first, it will help both ways.

boju · Aug 10, 2013

btw you would know if its playing through all speakers. its either they all are or not..

Teacake96 · Aug 11, 2013

boju :

Yeah true true. Sorry for my impatience.
Ah they are Logitech X 530s. Connected to my motherboard on the rear I/O panel using the Green/Black/Orange 3.5mm Jacks that are connected to the speaker. Each is correctly connected to their respective colours.

I can solve this issue and get it to play through all five via the supplied adapter to the left and right RCA cables for an xbox and then use a left/right RCA cable to a standard headphone jack and connect it that way but it still is not like the way it was and I would prefer to get it how it was. I shouldn't need to connect it that way and I do not wish to.

Also, I updated to the latest Realtek driver, no change. Maybe not a driver issue?

Tom.

boju · Aug 11, 2013

Thanks for that, the connections are fine. Was hoping maybe updating driver besides being newer would reset something that may have changed.

In HDAudio Manager i'll go through some of the settings that i have mine (x540s) on and see if it makes any difference.

Speaker Configuration:
All speakers except for side pair is checked.
The other 3 options like bass/speaker fill and swap aren't checked.

Room Correction: disabled

Default format: DVD format - most like nothing here would impact rear speakers, i wouldn't think so.

Under Device advanced settings (upper left cog icon)

Playback device: top option check

Under connection settings (spanner bottom right)

HD Audio front panel is checked.

Maybe your motherboard allows headphones to be plugged and speakers still usable but if there are headphones, replug it so HD Audio manager brings up the devices menu and then check headphones.

boju · Aug 11, 2013

how far away are the rears? thinking if you go upto them is there anything coming out at all? maybe just too low - then room correction, up the db level maybe. Fronts maybe overpowering since theyd be sitting closer to you.

Teacake96 · Aug 11, 2013

boju :

I will check them soon. Out at the moment. I will try your suggestions though.

Teacake96 · Aug 11, 2013

boju :

I can not find the cog or the spanner, they seem not to be there, all I have under device advanced settings (a hyperlink type button) is the option to mute rear output when front output is connected or to make them play two different audio streams, simultaneously.

Maybe your motherboard allows headphones to be plugged and speakers still usable but if there are headphones, replug it so HD Audio manager brings up the devices menu and then check headphones.

replug it so Audio manager brings up the devices menu? What do you mean exactly by replug?

Tom.

boju · Aug 11, 2013

well mine looks like

You don't have anything like this? In control panel under sounds, it should be there. If not install the driver again as some people needed to install the driver twice for the audio manager to install.

Teacake96 · Aug 13, 2013

boju :

Na mine looks nothing like that! Mine looks like this https://www.google.com.au/search?q=realtek+hd+audio+manager&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=seYJUoLfPMm7iwKOg4CwAQ&biw=1517&bih=714&sei=xeYJUpOrNquWjAK1joCoDA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ZKUV6NJiN1WVeM%3A%3B02M8uu9eH5geHM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.freetrialdownloads.com%252Fcdn%252Fimages%252F309-image-Realtek-HD-Audio-Drivers.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.neoseeker.com%252Fforums%252F62%252Ft1831322-windows-8-headphones-not-plugged-in%252F%3B816%3B635 Sorry for such long link.... I will have a look at it this weekend, I live away from home during the week..

I will install driver again if that is what you recommend.

Tom.

boju · Aug 13, 2013

it used to be like that for me and when i installed the updated driver it changed to what i posted. But should still do the same thing or have near enough same options.

np, I'll wait.

gamerk316 · Aug 13, 2013

Music is always encoded as stereo; unless you enable "Speaker Fill" or upmix to 5.1 (Pro Logic, or some other enhancement method), you are going to get stereo, period.

Games *should* be running 5.1 as long as windows is configured to use 5.1. Really don't have an answer for that one...

BigDingus · Mar 20, 2014

I also have this exact problem. Any update guys?
I noticed this thread has been marked as solved?

agent76484 · Feb 9, 2015

Teacake96 :

most 5.1 soundcard drivers should install an application that controls them ,

open that application and look for output, if u have 6 channel Input ( 5.1 ) and 2 speakers Output that might be the problem , so try switching from 2 speakers Output to 6 channel ( or 5.1 )

Audio Issues - Only getting 2.1 when I should have 5.1 - Help!

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