Question about suround sound speakers and nforce2

[imported_MrRoboto]

Hi folks. I got a SN41G2 shuttlex with the nforce 2 chipset for sound (built in, no soundcard). I just got a new set of Dell 5950 5.1 suround sound speakers. The speakers work great, but I think I'm not getting real 5.1 sound coming out of this box. It sounds like I'm getting left and right in the front speakers, but not in the rear speakers. Is the nforce 2 capable of real surround sound, or am I out of luck and need a new sound card?

 

[PurdueRy]

::looks into crystal ball::

I see a computer....a computer hooked up via a digital connection...sigh...you need to use analog

In the case that this is not true....what are you using to test for surround sound?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is this them?

Product Highlights
5650 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers with Subwoofer

Enhance your audio experience ? clear surround sound, multi-channel listening
Features four Satellites, one 5.25" Subwoofer and Center Channel
Delivers total power of 100 Watts RMS
Color-coded cables for easy setup
Flat panel attachment compatibility
This product has been tested and validated on Dell? systems to ensure it will work with your computer
Supported by Dell? Technical Support when used with a Dell system

I didn't find 5950 speakers.

If that's the case, it looks like they're only analog input which is probably what you want.

If you're listening to music, it will only come out the front L and R and the sub too. Music is just stereo so it doesn't include surround info.

There's might be a mode to make it come out all the speakers in your sound utility program if that's what you want.

Have you tried a DVD? If that works, you have them set up right.

 

[imported_MrRoboto]

For testing, I'm using the nforce control panel. When I try the test sounds, I hear the right, center, left, but when it comes to left and right rear, they basically sound like center speaker. And it's not music so much as DVDs and games. I was hoping to hear those Doom 3 monsters sneak up behind me. 🙂

Oh, and those are the right speaker, and unfortuanately, they didn't come with any software at all (woot purchase).

 

[PurdueRy]

you have them plugged in right? because it announces the speaker position right? like "center" "Right surroud" yadada does it say anyhting for the surrounds?

 

[imported_MrRoboto]

It does. It says 'right, center, left, rear right, rear left', but the rear left and right sound like their coming from the center.

 

[PurdueRy]

well....are they coming from the center...or not? Make sure you have your speaker wire polarity right. That can cause an outta phase signal making it tough to hear the direction(I betcha thats what is wrong)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Forgive me if the colors I mention aren't right, but there's a green one, a black one, and a yellow one, right?

The green should be for the fronts, the black for the rears, and the yellow for the center.

Are you sure you have them connected correctly? I can't really think of why the rear info would be coming out the center.

Have you gone up to the rear speakers during the test to see if anything is coming out of them?

What happens when you unplug the center plug and run the test? What about when you unplug the rear plug?


And for software, I meant for the sound card not the speakers. I meant the nforce control panel. It might have a mode called "clone" that would map stereo to all your speakers.

Do you know what it's set on now? Is it set on 5.1?

 

[PurdueRy]

whoops, I forgot that this doesn't involve speaker wire polarity....does it sound LIKE its coming from the center or is it ACTUALLY coming from the center?