Z560's + Turtle Beach SCruz, shouldn't I have surround?

[Crank]

Hey, did a quick search and didn't find any problems like mine. Here's the deal:
Ordered the Logitech Z560's from Dell based on the rave reviews from the Hot Deals forum. They were to replace a simple 2.1 setup that were Boston BA635's...which I was quite happy with.
I've got a PII/400 (to be upgraded SOON), Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard, 512MB ram, Win 98\SE....I think that's the important stuff.
Anyway, I played Gunman Chronicles (Half Life Mod) to check out the surround......well, basically, I've got nothing unless I enable M3D on the control pod, which, from what I can tell, is just a weak way of faking actual surround sound.
I have my TB set to 4 channel audio, with the Versa Jack set to Analog Out, Gunman Chronicles is set to enable A3D, which sounds better than EAX - though neither of them make ANY sound without M3D being enabled on the Logitech pod. Got the 2 front speakers plugged into the green, normal, front output of the TB, and the rear speakers plugged into the yellow Versa Jack port.
WTF? Am I missing something? Shouldn't I have fairly decent positional surround sound? I don't (oh, and yes, I do have the speakers well placed both in front of and behind me).
You guys have come through in the past, and I'm sure you will now - am I doing something wrong, or is that the way that 4.1 'surround' is???? If that's the case, there'll be a set of Z560's on sale on EGay SOON!
Yes, the bass response is MUCH better than my Boston's, but hey, they were free, and good enough!

Thanks in advance.

 

[toadstool]

Are your speakers digital or analog??

According to the setup I see, you should ONLY be using the versa jack for "digital" speakers.

Analog should be using the first 2 connections.

If you double click on the "aqua volume control " on the system tray, it shows you setups for different types of speakers.

if you haven't checked that, take a look and see if your connections match.

 

[Crank]

Um....well....I'm not sure if there's such a thing as 'digital' speakers...wouldn't sound too good to our human ears , but I've got my TBSC set to have the Versa Jack set to output ANALOG OUT, so there shouldn't be a problem there.....unless I'm missing something, which is ALWAYS a possibility

 

[MrHelpful]

LOL! I can just imagine it now.

"on.. off... on.. on - on - on - on FATAL BSOD"

 

[MrHelpful]

You're not supposed to use the Versajack in a 4.1 system.

The rear speakers are supposed to connect to the REAR channel output on the sound card.

 

[MrHelpful]

See that black port?

That's where the rear speakers should go.



AA0 serves up a dish of crow to MrHelpful who's already sick of it

 

[AA0]

the light green is marked front, and the black is rear, as it is on my system

Versajack is both analog and digital, I keep headphones on there sometimes, now I keep my normal computer speakers there, and the surround sound system on the normal ones, for when send my DVDs over to my tv.

 

[Crank]

Well well well....pretty interesting what happens when you actually hook the right plug into the right jack.
Thanks for pointing out what a dumbass I am!
I have to say, though, that I tried A3D and EAX again, and I'm not impressed.
A3D just played very weak backgroundish noises, much like what you get with the M3D button on the control pod.
EAX did a much better job of making it 4 way positional, but really makes all the sound seem out of phase - you lose a TON of pinpoint accuracy to be able to hear people talking behind you, and such.
Maybe I've got my hardware/software drivers not configured properly?

Thanks,

 

[MrHelpful]

A3D and EAX were designed for 2 speaker systems.

 

[Crank]

I'll be a monkey's uncle. Sure enough, it works better without A3D and EAX on....learn something new every day.
Still not all that impressed by surround sound, but oh well.
I appreciate the help from all you guys.
Thanks.