I just bought and set up a set of z-5500 Logitech speakers. I discovered that the 5.1 surround sound does not work. I have tried all the settings in Realtech HD Audio Manager, updated all the drivers, tried all the different effect settings on the Logitech control pod. Here is what happens:
When I test the speakers in Realtech Manager (and through the Vista sound option from control panel) the same thing always happens:
The front speakers test fine, but the rear/center/sub produce no sound. When I actually go to play something in iTunes or windows media player all the speakers play, but they play the same thing the front speakers play. Everything is set up correctly I quadruple checked. I have an MSI motherboard, MS-7379, Vista Home Premium 64 bit.
I have been to the end of the internet and back trying to find the answer, but no luck... (although there is apparently a lot weird stuff on the internet!)
Any help would be appreciated.
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Hmmmm... according to the manual I found here, it needs to be done throught the MSI (Realtech) HD Audio Panel. (Appendix A)
http://static.tigerdirect.
The only other thing I see is maybe the Audio I/O tab, and check it that way.
Wow my Realtek looks nothing like the one in the manual.. is it because it's Vista?
Here is a screenshot of mine..
Realtek Screenshot
>> is it because it's Vista
More likely because they are newer drivers and they changed the Manager also.
The screenshot looks OK. I'm not really sure where to go next.
Maybe:
- turn off the front panel output jacks.
- see if you can borrow another set of speakers for testing.
- turn the onboard sound off, and try a pci card.
>> turn the onboard sound off, and try a pci card.
It looks like the Realtech is the 'onboard sound card' (part of the motherboard).
You can disable it in the bios, and install a PCI card with 5.1 to test. I would go but one just for teating, but if you know somebody that has one laying around that you could borrow, it might be worth a shot.
I was just thinking, maybe you need something that actually uses 5.1 to tell if it is working correctly.
A regular sound file might just come out as stereo over the front and rear.
But since you can't get it to respond correctly in the Manager, that is probably not it. : /
I discovered that there is actually a switch on the back of the Control Pod (not mentioned ANYWHERE in the documentation) that switches between Stereo and Direct. I think this switch was knocked between phases, so it was neither here nor there. But once I put it on direct, and put the effect to 6-channel direct, everything worked. Thanks for your help coral47
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by: coral47Posted on 2009-08-17 at 21:26:04ID: 25120111
Did you check the Speaker Properities by right-clicking the Speaker icon in the Task Tray? They might be set to only Stereo.
I don't have a Vista running right now, but I do have W7, W2K, and XP, so it should be similar to:
W2K/XP. Click Adjust Audio Properities > Audio tab > Playback > Advance button.
W7. Playback devices > click the Listed speakers to highlight them > Configure button.