5.1 Speakers; 5.1 Soundcard; no 5.1 sound!!!

[phhnyc]

This is really beginning to drive me nuts. All right, I got the Logitech Z-640's; got a pretty generic soundcard; Aopen Cobra AW850D with (supposedly) 5.1/6ch support - everything seems cool. Put together this new machine, installed everything correctly. Here's the snag:

When I run the proprietary software "demo" that came w/ the soundcard installation CD, I get sound coming out of all my speakers. However, when I play an mp3, I get sound ONLY out of Front Left & Front Right...I've reinstalled the drivers, the hardware a million times. I changed the settings in Control Panel "Sounds" from 2 speakers to 5.1, still no luck. I can only get music, system sounds (windows welcome, all that stuff) out of my front right and left speakers - nothing coming out of center, nothing coming out of rear, subwoofer - so what gives?!? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[phhnyc]

MP3s are a 2 channel stereo source. Most soundcard drivers will copy the stereo image to the 2 rear speakers, seems yours are doing just that.

You center channel will not work unless you play a 5.1 sound source such as a DVD or 5.1 encoded OGG, AAC, WMA, etc. audio file. This is normal and it is how 5.1 systems function. Some soundcard drivers do have the option to mix both the L and R channels together and play them though the center speaker. However, this completely ruins the stereo effect you would normally get from the L and R speakers

 

[xSauronx]

the sub should be working, mp3s or not

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: phhnyc
This is really beginning to drive me nuts. All right, I got the Logitech Z-640's; got a pretty generic soundcard; Aopen Cobra AW850D with (supposedly) 5.1/6ch support - everything seems cool. Put together this new machine, installed everything correctly. Here's the snag:

When I run the proprietary software "demo" that came w/ the soundcard installation CD, I get sound coming out of all my speakers. However, when I play an mp3, I get sound ONLY out of Front Left & Front Right...I've reinstalled the drivers, the hardware a million times. I changed the settings in Control Panel "Sounds" from 2 speakers to 5.1, still no luck. I can only get music, system sounds (windows welcome, all that stuff) out of my front right and left speakers - nothing coming out of center, nothing coming out of rear, subwoofer - so what gives?!? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well I think I know why there's only sound coming out of the front speakers - the sounds you're playing are only stereo. However, yes, there should be sound out of the subwoofer, at least I'd think there should be.