No actor's voices: changed Realtek speaker config from "stereo" to "5.1 speaker"

[GoodEnough]

I have the Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Sound speakers. I just upgraded to a new PC. I went into the Realtek HD audio manager, and changed the speaker config from "stereo" to "5.1 speaker". When I played a DVD movie, the actor's voices were muted out, but all other sound was audible. I put if back to "stereo", so I could watch the movie. Anyone know what I should do?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Surro.../dp/B000JJM8XE

 

[sdifox]

you need to connect all six channels to the speakers. 3 stereo minijack cables that came with the speakers.

 

[GoodEnough]

I think they are.

I have 3 colored jacks coming out of the soundcard.

The subwoofer has 8 cables going into it:
The 3 mini Green, Black, Peach trio,
and then the 5 bigger white, black, peach, red, yellow jacks.

All 5+1 speakers emit sound when in stereo mode.

 

[sdifox]

did you try the speaker test? it should speak the channel name and your appropriate speaker is supposed to emit the channel name.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is the "matrix" button pushed down on the speaker controls?

 

[Gunbuster]

sounds like your center channel is not working/setup right.

 

[GoodEnough]

I just did the speaker test. Turns out, I had to uncheck all the "optional speakers" to get the center channel working.

However, there is still a problem.

In "5.1" mode, the rear pair of speakers don't work. When the rear speakers are tested, the sound actually comes out through the side pair of speakers. Also, no sound comes out of the subwoofer during its test.

Under "quadrophonic" mode, 4 speakers work independently (2 sides, 2 rears), however, the middle speaker (the one that plays the voices in 5.1 mode) isn't part of the config (presumably b/c only 4 speakers are part of this config)

Any ideas?

Edit: Damn, I just went back and CHECKED all the optional boxes under 5.1, and now all 5 speakers work independently !?!

 

[GoodEnough]

Actually, I had to turn the Matrix button OFF to get the surround sound working. Go figure!

 

[sdifox]

Actually, I had to turn the Matrix button OFF to get the surround sound working. Go figure!

matrix is feeding the stereo sound to the rear speakers...creating a matrix.

 

[Ross Ridge]

Actually, I had to turn the Matrix button OFF to get the surround sound working. Go figure!

It synthesizes surround sound out of a stereo signal, so you don't want to use it when you're already feeding it surround sound.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Actually, I had to turn the Matrix button OFF to get the surround sound working. Go figure!

Yeah, my meaning was to tell you to check it, not to have you engage it.

 

[GoodEnough]

Ohhhh, got it.
So when I am hearing legit surround sound, I turn it OFF.
When it is stereo, (like an mp3), then I turn it ON.
Thanks! It makes sense now!

 

[GoodEnough]

In the Reaktek test, does anyone know why the middle channel plays when the subwoofer is supposed to play? I think there is no sound coming from the subwoofer. I hate those damn things. Take up tons of space, and don't even do anything. Also, there is no volume knob on this subwoofer.

 

[biostud]

AFAIK sub and center channel is fed through the same line, just find some bass intensive sound and try to hear the difference with the center/sub channel disconnected.

 

[Raduque]

AFAIK sub and center channel is fed through the same line, just find some bass intensive sound and try to hear the difference with the center/sub channel disconnected.

Yeah, Sub/Center is on one connector, like Left/Right is on one connector. Your Realtek control panel software should have an option to "Swap Sub/Center". Check that option, and your LFE should go to the subwoofer, while regular sounds go to the center channel.