Help with 5.1 audio on MSI X99S SLI Plus

Horrgakx · Jan 11, 2018

Hi all. I had a previous thread about getting 5.1 out of my motherboard somehow and I've drawn a blank. What I WANT to do is get Win10 to output 5.1 to my Onkyo amplifier but I'm struggling with it.

Currently I have an optical cable connecting the motherboard to the amplifier but that would be too easy,because, probably due to licence issues, the sound IS NOT 5.1, it's just two channel.

The motherboard has some physical 3.5mm sockets labelled as follows;
- "Line out" (used as a connector for speakers/headphone) - I assume this is the standard L/R out?
- "RS out" (rear surround)
- "CS out" (centre/subwoofer)

The amplifier has 'Phono' sockets on the back labelled as follows;
- Front L/R
- Surround
- Centre/Sub

They seem to match up! Is this a standard way that these sockets would appear?

What lead(s) would I need to connect everything up correctly, does anyone have any recommendations please?

rocktalkrock · Jan 11, 2018

In Windows, have you configured your speakers to be 5.1 surround or stereo?

Horrgakx · Jan 11, 2018

You mean as I currently have it via optical? There is no other option than stereo (and yes the drivers are up to date).
There is a driver out there which promises to get round this issue with Realtek chips but I've tried it and there's no difference.

rocktalkrock · Jan 11, 2018

Horrgakx :

I'm asking if "Speakers" in Windows is currently set to 5.1 surround or stereo. This should enable or disable surround in the 3.5mm jacks.

Horrgakx · Jan 11, 2018

I don't see an option that mentions "Stereo" or "5.1".
In the properties box for the audio, I right-click the "Realtek Digital Output" device, Properties. In the Advanced tab I have 2-channel 16 or 24 bit options with various sample rate options.

If there's a way to turn from 2-channel to 5.1 then I've not found it.

rocktalkrock · Jan 11, 2018

If you go to "Control Panel > Sound > Playback > Speakers", right click and choose "Configure Speakers".

Horrgakx · Jan 12, 2018

I was hoping there'd be an answer here but there is no "Configure Speakers" option. I think this is the issue. Here's a screenshot of the properties you've described....
https://ibb.co/cajfXR

So back to my original question; Currently I have an optical cable connecting the motherboard to the amplifier but that would be too easy,because, probably due to licence issues, the sound IS NOT 5.1, it's just two channel.

The motherboard has some physical 3.5mm sockets labelled as follows;
- "Line out" (used as a connector for speakers/headphone) - I assume this is the standard L/R out?
- "RS out" (rear surround)
- "CS out" (centre/subwoofer)

The amplifier has 'Phono' sockets on the back labelled as follows;
- Front L/R
- Surround
- Centre/Sub

They seem to match up! Is this a standard way that these sockets would appear?

What lead(s) would I need to connect everything up correctly, does anyone have any recommendations please?

rocktalkrock · Jan 12, 2018

Horrgakx :

As far as i can see the lines are matched up properly. One standard way to connect an audio device and your PC is to match up the 3.5mm socket colors. [blue, green, yellow, red]

As for your lack of a "Configure Speakers" option, your screenshot shows you do not have "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices" check-marked. Your other devices may be hidden because they are disabled.

Horrgakx · Jan 12, 2018

Yep I have some options disabled - one is my monitor (who wants audio through the monitor these days) and the other was my headphones but I disabled that just for the screenshot to make it look more concise.

rocktalkrock · Jan 12, 2018

Horrgakx :

According to Appendix A in your motherboards manual, you should have “Realtek HD Audio Manager” software to configure your speakers to 5.1 surround. Do you have this software installed?

https://i.imgur.com/7Y1rWGa.jpg

Horrgakx · Jan 12, 2018

Ah that website is crap, I've been there before, it says "object moved to here" then when you click it you're returned back to where you were.

I've installed the "Realtek Driver with SRS Premium Sound" before in order to try to get it working on the optical socket but someone suggested that owing to licencing conditions (Dolby, DTS, etc) is the reason why I can't get a 5.1 signal down the optical cable. That's why I'm wanting to try copper cables to connect it up. It's a right pain in the ar$e.

rocktalkrock · Jan 12, 2018

Horrgakx :

How about Imgbox?

http://imgbox.com/ygUKn4Ba

Horrgakx · Jan 13, 2018

What about Imgbox?

rocktalkrock · Jan 13, 2018

Horrgakx :

Can you see this link?

https://ibb.co/m7h1NR

Horrgakx · Jan 14, 2018

Yep I can see the link but it is a screenshot of the application, which doesn't really help. I'll explain - I did some digging and people are saying go to the motherboard manufacturer for the specific Realtek audio drivers instead of using the generic one. So I did that and updated the full package.

However nothing is different. I still have only 2-channel audio available with no other options. So you can understand my frustration.

rocktalkrock · Jan 14, 2018

Horrgakx :

According to the appendix in the X99S SLI Plus manual, your motherboard outputs 7.1 channel audio and stereo "simultaneously", so you don't need to select one or the other.

Realtek Audio
The Realtek audio provides 10-channel DAC that "simultaneously" supports 7.1
sound playback and 2 channels of independent stereo sound output (multiple
streaming) through the Front-Out-Left and Front-Out-Right channels.

You should contact MSI Technical Support and ask them if you can output 5.1 to your Onkyo amplifier. They should know for sure, one way or the other.

Horrgakx · Jan 14, 2018

I'm using the digital (optical S/PDIF) into the amplifier, there's no option on Windows to make this anything other than 2 channel so I really don't know why I shouldn't be able to.

Next thing to try then is the copper cabled method.

rocktalkrock · Jan 14, 2018

Horrgakx :

▶Audio Ports
These connectors are used for audio devices.
■ Line-In/ SS-Out: Line-In is used for connecting external audio outputting devices. SS-Out is side surround line out in 7.1 channel mode.
■ Line out: Used as a connector for speakers or headphone.
■ Mic: Used as a connector for a microphone.
■ RS-Out: Rear surround sound line out in 4/ 5.1/ 7.1 channel mode.
■ CS-Out: Center/ subwoofer line out in 5.1/ 7.1 channel mode.

Horrgakx · Jan 15, 2018

Do you think these are the correct leads I need (ie. three off)??

Amazon 3.5mm stereo to Phono

If so, how do I know which channel is which - just a case of testing each channel at a time?

rocktalkrock · Jan 15, 2018

Horrgakx :

That splitter cable has a 3.5mm stereo jack at one end and 2 phono plugs at the other. You would plug that into the speakers/headphone "Line out" to split the stereo signal.

What is the model name of your Onkyo amplifier?

Horrgakx · Jan 15, 2018

Its a TX-SR605

rocktalkrock · Jan 15, 2018

Horrgakx :

So the only place to connect the cables is the "DVD IN". For 5.1 you would connect to;

Front left
Front right
Center
Surround left
Surround right

You would leave out all the "Surround back" speaker connections, which are only for 7.1 surround.

Horrgakx · Jan 15, 2018

Thanks for that. I think I need another; Subwooder?
So the cables I mentioned will be fine?

rocktalkrock · Jan 15, 2018

Horrgakx :

The motherboards 3.5mm "CS out" (centre/subwoofer) is the 2 combined. The splitter cables on Amazon will work.

Horrgakx · Jan 17, 2018

Ok - so this is REALLY weird. I *AM* getting 5.1 through this setup (ie. Output via optical on Win10 which says "2 channel"). On some Amazon Prime series I'm getting full 5.1 and on some YouTube test videos I'm getting 5.1 (though not on all of them).

So what's happening? It's weird.

Help with 5.1 audio on MSI X99S SLI Plus

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