6.1 sound in Windows 7 not supported?

[biomanzee]

Hi all,

I just installed a used 6.1 speaker set but apparently Vista and Windows 7 don't support 6.1 sound. The Creative drivers, and Windows control panel setup only allows 5.1 and 7.1 but which one should I choose for 6.1?

When using the control panel to test the speakers as 7.1, the rear center sounds when the PC is testing the Side LEFT speaker. Switching to 5.1 obviously doesn't test that rear center. I initially thought it'll be better to set it as 7.1, but if the rear center speaker is really acting as a side left speaker, I'll be getting inaccurate sound, right? I couldn't find anyway to have it combine the rear left and right speakers' sounds.

But setting to 5.1 ends up playing music in Winamp as 2.1.... 7.1 allows full use of all speakers.

 

[PurdueRy]

Music is stereo. Therefore if windows is playing it from the front two speakers it is playing it correctly. You have to use various DSP or other effects to move music into surround sound which many people do not like.

 

[biomanzee]

I had Winamp set up to play from all speakers on my old 7.1 speakers. So should I set up 5.1 or 7.1 for my 6.1 speakers?