<div>
go to your sound settings in windows and ensure that all speakers are enabled and do the sound test. &nbsp;Afterwards you need 5.1 sound source to get 5.1 sound.
</div>


<div>
You need to connect your speakers to <b>Line out </b><b>1 through line out 3</b> and make sure <b>Surround mode </b>is selected from sound blaster settings. <br />
You also may need to <b>disable onboard sound</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/12_w50/1214813/1.jpg" target="_blank" title="1.jpg (14 KB)"><img alt="1.jpg" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 264px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/12_w50/1214813/1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/12_w50/1214816/3.jpg" target="_blank" title="3.jpg (76 KB)"><img alt="3.jpg" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 590px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/12_w50/1214816/3.jpg" /></a>
</div>


3.jpg

1.jpg

<div>
When I do the sound test in Windows, it appears to test all speakers, but sound only comes from the front speakers. &nbsp; Not sure how to disable onboard sound. &nbsp; Is it disables in Setup? &nbsp; I have set up the Sound Blaster software per Ramin's illustration. &nbsp; When I test the speakers it appears to test all, as &nbsp;in Windows, but sound only comes from the front speakers.<br />
<br />
Does it matter whether I use the optical connection versus the 6 connection? &nbsp; I have tried both, with the same result.
</div>


<div>
If your connections are the same with below picture then you have to Enable DTS / Dolby surround from your Settings. it needs a software setting.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/12_w50/1214851/2.png" target="_blank" title="2.png (31 KB)"><img alt="2.png" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 675px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/12_w50/1214851/2.png" /></a>
</div>


2.png

<div>
When I try to enable DST or Dolby I get this message:<br />
<br />
Sound Blaster Z-Series Control Panel<br />
The SPDIF-Out (Sound Blaster Z) device is being used by another application. &nbsp; Please close any applications that may be playing audio to this device and try again.<br />
<br />
I do not know of any other application that may be using this. &nbsp; What should I look for?
</div>


<div>
Check your <b>BIOS</b> for onboard Sound and Disable it.<br />
<br />
Or uninstall sound blaster Software and driver, Restart the PC and reinstall the software and driver.
</div>


<div>
I disabled Sound in the BIOS, it did not help. &nbsp; I will uninstall the Sound Blaster software. &nbsp; Do I need to physically remove the sound card as well?
</div>


<div>
Just to be sure you can re-seat it. but it's not necessary.
</div>


<div>
I re-seated the card. &nbsp; Still only sound from front speakers.
</div>


<div>
In Windows Sound, there are two items, Speakers Sound Blaster Z Ready and SPDIF-Out Sound Blaster Z Default Device.
</div>


2017-12-12_14-56-44.png

<div>
Thanks, &nbsp;and I'm glad we could help.
</div>


<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I have a Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card connected to a Logitech 5.1 analog speaker system. &nbsp; I can only get sound front he right and left front speakers.
</div>
</div>


I have a Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card connected to a Logitech 5.1 analog speaker system.   I can only get sound front he right and left front speakers.

Why do I only get sound from the left and right front speakers?

Components are those devices that are internal to a computer -- the PC boards, the central processor (CPU), the memory (RAM), disk and video controllers and so on.

Components

A home theater is a theater built in a home, designed to mimic (or exceed) commercial theater performance and feeling, more commonly known as a home cinema. Today, home cinema implies a real "cinema experience" at a private home. Components and attributes include home cinema, backyard theater, home theater in a box (HTIB), audio-video (AV) receiver, front video projector and projector screen, home theater (PC, HTPC or media PC), media center, and switchable projection window.

Home Theaters

Hardware includes cell phones and other digital living devices, tablets, computers, servers, peripherals and components, printers and scanners, gaming consoles, networking hardware such as routers, hubs, switches and modems, storage devices and security equipment such as firewalls and other appliances.

Hardware

A personal computer is a general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities and price make it useful for individuals, and is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer time-sharing models that allowed systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time. Personal computers may be connected to a local area network (LAN), either by a cable or a wireless connection, and through that to the Internet. A personal computer may be a laptop computer or a desktop computer running an operating system such as Windows, Linux or Macintosh OS.