Realtek Surround Sound issue 5.1

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gbrownie5

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So I have a 5.1 surround sound speaker setup that I'm trying to hook up to my PC. It has 3 3.5mm jacks. I plug those into the green (front L/R), orange (Center/Sub), Grey(side L/R).

The result is that the left side and front speakers work great but the right is barely audible to not audible.

Yet, if I plug those jacks into 3 different phones (outputting stereo to each) all the speakers work and have full volume.

This leads me to think its the sound card but why? I have a onboard realtek HD 7.1 sound card (set to 5.1) running windows 10

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Solution
P
NOTE correction near end.

I find your wiring descriptions confusing. You do have the pairings correct, though: Front L and R on one plug, Front Centre and SubWoofer on a second, and Rear L and R on a third.

For each plug you should be using a three-contact 3.5mm plug, also called "tip, ring and sleeve". In the Front L/R pair, the L speaker's + wire goes to the jack Tip connection, the R speaker's + goes to the Ring, and both - speaker wires share the Ground (Sleeve) connection. This yields two speaker circuits sharing one common Ground in a 3-contact plug.

Similarly, I believe the wiring in the others is: Centre + to Tip, Sub + to Ring, common Grounds to Sleeve; Rear L+ to Tip, Rear R+ to Ring, common Grounds to Sleeve.

See the...
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gbrownie5

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I was under the impression that 5.1 had no rear just side aka surround speaker....well either way neither surround speaker (back ones) work when plugged into black.

My setup is like this :
speakerplacement-5-1.gif


The speakers that you see the sound waves coming out of in the picture are the ones that work using the Realtek HD sound test. The others don't or produce super super low volume that's barely audible.

Here's my setup in realtek
291z6kk.jpg

 
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Paperdoc

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I will assume that you are following the instructions for the color codes on the speaker jacks. But I have two other suggestions to try.

1. On my Realtek system (and many others) there is a special feature designed to allow you to re-assign output ports to different functions. However, it comes with a condition - you MUST follow particular procedures when connecting speakers. If you don't they get poor or non-existent signals and don't work. So, to clear any previous errors and start over, follow this sequence. You will need to set up your system so you can have access to the back panel for plugging in speakers AND be able to see your monitor and use your mouse.
(a) Unplug all three sets of speakers, then reboot your machine. You already have it configured for 5.1 sound, I see.
(b) Plug in ONE speaker pair (say, front L/R) to the correct port. WATCH the screen for a window that pops up. It should say it detected something plugged in and suggest what that might be. It might even be correct. But do NOT ignore that - you MUST answer, either by confirming the suggestion or choosing another. If you don't the window will disappear BUT it will NOT use the default suggestion it had shown you. With no answer, it will send NOTHING out of that jack!
(c) OK, with one set connected properly, repeat for a second speaker set on its port, and answer the window question. Do the same for the third.
(d) Now you should have sound from all your speakers. Probably there is a speaker test demonstration in one of the screens of the Realtek sound manager on your system tray at bottom right.

2. Now, the odd volumes. Maybe that's a problem with the jacks on the back panel. Check the plugs you pushed into them to be sure they are all the way in. Sometimes right-angle plugs get snagged on nearby fame or jack bodies. If that appears OK, look closely inside the Realtek Sound Manager. First, verify that it also shows that you are using 6 speakers for 5.1 sound. Now go to where you can adjust each speaker to achieve left/right balance and front/back balance. You probably need to be playing some 5.1-channel recording for this.Those balance settings may be set wrong. See if you can get the sound working properly there.
 
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gbrownie5

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I should mention that I'm wiring this myself...this is what i'm working with. 6 positive and negative pairs (FL, FR, Center, Sub, RL, RR). So, I spliced FL&FR, RL&RR, Center&Sub together in 3 separate Y configuration and ground going to the subs ground on each.

Before, I forgot to ground and sound came out perfect but I'd get some heavy static from time to time. Now that I have grounded, I get crystal clear sound no hum or anything but the right side speakers don't work.

I know the speakers work as I can plug in each channel to my phone and they work nice clear and from both R and L but when I put it in the pc I only get half sound (only left)

Thanks Paperdoc I'll try your solutions when I get home I'm at work right now. and ko888 I've tried pretty much every configuration possible and that's just what works ( you're right though in that pic I had accidently unchecked the surround sound speakers ) This setting doesn't seem to make a difference though .
 
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gbrownie5

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Paperdoc: I don't get any box asking me what each speaker is. All I see is "You plugged/unplugged an audio device". And I know at least the green one works because I get full volume when I play stereo music through each one seperatly.

ko888 - I've updated my driver to the one provided and some of my information looks different and I can swap sub/center. But still have the problem of the right speakers
myconfig.png


Note: I put a red or green mark over each speaker to show which ones work and which don't. I also reconfirmed the rear jack does nothing.

I greatly appreciate you guys trying to help
 
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Paperdoc

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NOTE correction near end.

I find your wiring descriptions confusing. You do have the pairings correct, though: Front L and R on one plug, Front Centre and SubWoofer on a second, and Rear L and R on a third.

For each plug you should be using a three-contact 3.5mm plug, also called "tip, ring and sleeve". In the Front L/R pair, the L speaker's + wire goes to the jack Tip connection, the R speaker's + goes to the Ring, and both - speaker wires share the Ground (Sleeve) connection. This yields two speaker circuits sharing one common Ground in a 3-contact plug.

Similarly, I believe the wiring in the others is: Centre + to Tip, Sub + to Ring, common Grounds to Sleeve; Rear L+ to Tip, Rear R+ to Ring, common Grounds to Sleeve.

See the photo on this website listing:

http://www.amazon.com/Rean-NYS231-3-5mm-Stereo-Nickel/dp/B011NM1GA6/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1457572315&sr=8-16&keywords=3.5mm+stereo+plug

Note that the Tip connection is in the Centre of the back side where you solder leads on and Ground is the outermost part.

BIG OOOPS! I mis-typed the connection for Rear + : I had it to Sleeve, should be to Ring!
 
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