Surround Sound + Stereo Headphones, lose center channel

[neromir]

I've got a PC running Windows 7 with some 5.1 surround speakers plugged into the back. The PC is a Dell XPS 410, and has a SigmaTel onboard sound device on it (the driver I recently installed for it said it was STAC-92XX-C). I have the Win 7 sound set to output 5.1 audio.

Anyway, here's the problem: I have some stereo headphones-- just 2 channels-- that I plug in to the front jack, and in some games and programs I lose the center channel. Guild wars, for instance-- I'm standing in front of a fire, with the headphones off, I can hear the fire crackling if I'm directly facing it. Turn to the sides, sound shifts, etc. But if I plug the headphones in, I can't hear it if I'm facing it-- only if I turn to one side or the other. This happens in other programs as well, although interestingly, Winamp doesn't seem to have problems with it.

Do you guys have any suggestions for how I could resolve this? If I set Win 7 sound to only output stereo, it properly mixes the center channel between the two stereo headphones/speakers, but then with the headphones out the extra (rear, center) speakers are silent. I've tried to set up something like what this guy wants (http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/79164-how-get-seperate-headphones-speaker-settings.html), but I'm doubtful if my sound device supports it-- I haven't been able to get it to recognize the front jacks as a separate audio device.

 

[corkyg]

I would get a set of surround sound headphones. When you connect your stereo phones, they neutralize the center channels b y virtues of their 3.5mm connector.

http://www.google.com/search?source...GGLG_enUS316US316&q=Surround+sound+headphones

 

[neromir]

That's true, but there ought to be a way to get the system to detect and re-mix that center channel into stereo when the headphones are plugged in. Does anyone know a way to do that?

Personally, I wouldn't necessarily mind having surround headphones, but I just bought these stereo headphones a few months ago, and I'm not really in a financial situation to buy a big nice set of surround ones.

 

[corkyg]

I think that kind of operation is beyond the capability of the computer's audio system, on board or added card. It might be possible by using an external 5.1 breakout box so the speakers as well as headphones would connect to it. ???

A quick check on that indicates it might be more expensive than changing headphones.

Also, you might want to ask this question in the Audio/Video HTC forum. But do it without double posting.

 

[0roo0roo]

in games and headphones you should use "headphone" mode in game audio settings, not 5.1. hrtf is not 5.1
hrtf works just fine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA
listen with just stereo headphones

 

[nipplefish]

I think that kind of operation is beyond the capability of the computer's audio system, on board or added card. It might be possible by using an external 5.1 breakout box so the speakers as well as headphones would connect to it. ???

My Audigy 2 ZS Platinum can do this. It's a function of the driver. Your onboard sound may or may not support it; you might have to switch the speaker config manually.

Surround sound headphones suck.

 

[neromir]

On the topic of switching manually, I just found this, which helped a bunch: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2068820

Running this thing I can hit a hotkey and have it switch to 5.1 or stereo and back. Really good work around for now-- especially if it turns out my soundcard just doesn't support the multiple audio devices thing. Also saved me a bunch of time-- I had just decided I was going to write a program like this myself and was about to dive into the Windows APIs when I found this while searching for a starting point.