Not getting sound out of my rear speakers

[A Casual Fitz]

I just set up my logitech x-540 5.1 speakers and I'm trying to play a music DVD on 5.1 mode via windows media player and I can't get the rear/center speakers to produce any sound. It isn't the speakers though because I can throw on matrix mode and sound comes out. But I shouldn't have to do that because matrix just adds sound in those speakers for a 2.0 input.. I have windows media player set up for a 5.1 output and the DVD is set to 5.1 in the audio options menu. I've run out of things to try, anyone know what I can do?

 

[Job]

Perhaps the specific part of the DVD you're playing is not in 5.1 - eg, similar to the menus on DVDs which are stereo, even if set to 5.1

 

[Paperdoc]

I had that problem. I was using the on-board audio system on my ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe motherboard.

The trick for me was in the audio drivers and software. Once the driver was installed from the CD supplied, I called it up with a right-click on the speaker icon at lower right. Somethwere in its several tabs was a drop-down choice box for which type of sound system I was trying to use. By default it was for 2-channel; changing to 5.1 fixed it all.
Then the driver / app, on other tabs, had some tools for balancing and testing the speakers, and for doing wierd effects like echos in a large tiled bathroom or an outdoor amphitheater.

 

[CurseTheSky]

What sound card / onboard sound are you using? Is it a Creative card?

If so, look for your Creative Audio Console (usually in Start -> All Programs -> Creative). Under the Mode tab, change to 5.1 mode.

Just one thing to try.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

It's onboard sound..and I already have it set to 5.1. I also played through the DVD concert and wasn't picking up any rear deals. Hmm..

 

[randomint]

what sound card do you have? if it's a creative card, then set it to 5.1 in the sound blaster settings or the "Creative Surround Mixer" and test all the speakers. it should say something out of all speakers.

also try to load up a game with 5.1 sound and see if that works.

and check your cable connections .. usually they are pretty "idiot-proof" but you never know

edit: also check the sound settings in Control Panel..make sure it's set to 5.1

 

[A Casual Fitz]

It's Realtek AC97 Audio onboard sound, and it's set to 5.1.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Maybe I just need a new sound card..though I want to be sure that's the problem before I go out and buy one.

 

[Frintin]

I have onboard Sigmatel sound on my Intel DG965WH and I have no or real weak sound in the rear channel using WMP 11.

Not sure how to fix it in Windows Vista Home Premium. Getting ready to install my AUdigy 2 ZS now that they supposedly have drivers that work.

 

[Job]

Check it on a DVD action movie where you know its gonna be 5.1 - maybe the concert wasn't recorded in mutli-channel surround

 

[corkyg]

Job probably has it. If what you are playing doesn't have rear channel sound, you won't hear anything.

I can give the example on live HD TV. With a proper HD signal, there is 5.1 sound over the rear channels. Switch to a non HD channel and it goes away.

Same thing can happen on CDs or music sources.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Job probably has it. If what you are playing doesn't have rear channel sound, you won't hear anything.

I can give the example on live HD TV. With a proper HD signal, there is 5.1 sound over the rear channels. Switch to a non HD channel and it goes away.

Same thing can happen on CDs or music sources.

So even if there's a 5.1 surround option in the audio options it may not come out based on the DVD?

 

[Job]

Fraid so - 5.1 mode in DVDs just means that the DVD will output 6 different channels to 6 different speakers - it cant output sound to 6 speakers if there's only 2.1 recorded on the disk itself. Take a look at some DVDs of old movies - on the back it'll say 'Dolby Surround DTS' or something similar - but the sound will only be mono or stereo in reality - its just they're only channelled to the front stereo satellites instead of all of them.

A live concert likely wont be recorded for 6 speakers as all you'll get out of the rear speakers is audience noise!!

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Well I just installed an Audigy 2 ZS and tried to listen to my recently purchased 5.1 mix of Opeth's Ghost Reveries with no luck. It's driving me crazy that I have no clue what to do now.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Originally posted by: Job
Fraid so - 5.1 mode in DVDs just means that the DVD will output 6 different channels to 6 different speakers - it cant output sound to 6 speakers if there's only 2.1 recorded on the disk itself. Take a look at some DVDs of old movies - on the back it'll say 'Dolby Surround DTS' or something similar - but the sound will only be mono or stereo in reality - its just they're only channelled to the front stereo satellites instead of all of them.

A live concert likely wont be recorded for 6 speakers as all you'll get out of the rear speakers is audience noise!!

It should at the very least route audio to all 6 speakers rather than only getting something out of the front 2 and subwoofer.