5.1 Channel Audio - Sound only from Front Left and Right Speakers

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Pramodoux

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Mar 11, 2013
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Dear all,

I have been reading 1000s of posts on the net for 5.1 Channel speakers giving outputs only through the front left and right speakers. Well, I am no exception

- Connected all the cables correctly to the respective jacks... but still...
- Tried atleast 5 different of HD Audio Drivers (including the latest by the onboard device maker VIA - v10_1200a, as well as the Microsoft generic HD Audio driver)... Installed, Completely wiped, Reinstalled, all possible combinations... but still...
- Tried adding the Sound Blaster 5.1 Channel PCI Card (SB 5.1 VX)... but still...
- Tweaked all possible 'Playback Devices' options... but still...
- Tried different 5.1 Channel testing audio files... but still...

But still still my speakers (brand new iBall MJ04 - iBall's latest model) doesn't play 5.1 Channel Audio

Following is my system specifications:

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 @ 2.66GHz
Package (platform ID) - Socket 775 LGA
Mainboard Model - P5KPL-CM
Northbridge - Intel P35/G33/G31 rev. A2
Southbridge - Intel 82801GB (ICH7/R) rev. A1
Onboard Audio - VIA VT 1708B, 8-CH High Definition Audio
Memory Type - DDR2
Memory Size - 4096 MBytes
OS - Windows 7 Ultimate (64 Bit)

Though this board supports 8 Channel audio, even 5 Channel is not being played.... when an audio file or video file is played, all speakers flare up.... playing the audio is all speakers... this is NOT 5.1 channel audio... this is just 'Speaker Fill'.... playing the same sound in all the 5 speakers.... tried disabling 'Speaker Fill' option in the VIA Audio Panel.... NOTHING WORKS

After reading through 1000s of posts on the net about this issue, I think I have no other option, but to change/upgrade my mother board.... so... please advice me:

1. Which motherboard (that is compatible with my processor) will play genuine 5.1 channel audio when run on Windows 7 ???

Intel lists the following Compatible Chipsets
Intel® G31 Express Chipset
Intel® G33 Express Chipset
Intel® G35 Express Chipset
Intel® P35 Express Chipset
Intel® Q33 Express Chipset
Intel® Q35 Express Chipset
Intel® X38 Express Chipset
Intel® P31 Express Chipset
Intel® G45 Express Chipset
Intel® P45 Express Chipset
Intel® X48 Express Chipset
Intel® G43 Express Chipset
Intel® P43 Express Chipset
Intel® Q43 Express Chipset
Intel® Q45 Express Chipset
Intel® G41 Express Chipset

Which among the above will really play GENUINE 5.1 Channel audio ?

2. If anyone has other suggestions than changing the motherboard, please let me know....

Awaiting some 'REAL' help

Pramod.
 
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Did it occur to you that your brand new speakers might be defective?

Did you try your speakers in another computer? Like if a friend has a 5.1 setup that currently works and you swap for your speakers that would be the best test you could do. Or bring the speakers back to the store and ask them to test the kit over there.
 
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I was going to suggest the same exact thing. the speaker system my be defective. try it on a different system.

"- Tried adding the Sound Blaster 5.1 Channel PCI Card (SB 5.1 VX)... but still..."

this option is why I think your speakers are the issue. the SB cards have there own sound processor and drivers eliminating te mother board totally. I run a Sound Blaster X-fi 7.1 pci card and don't have the drivers for VIA installed and have no issues.
 
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How is the speaker system connected to the PC? If the answer is optical cable or coax cable, ie. a single digital cable, then prepare to be disappointed. If you are only trying the digital link, please also try the analog outputs from the motherboard.

You will also need to enable multichannel output in the software as well. Typically on Win7 this is in the Sound Control panel. Please click on the Speakers option, then click configure in the bottom left of the panel. It will give you the options of how you want the audio rendered.

Please do testing with two types of audio - 1) standard 2 channel audio (mp3 or something) 2) a digitally encoded surround sound audio (a retail DVD with known 5.1 audio). The motherboard audio will react differently to the two different source files.
 
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Thank you for the suggestions MC_K7 and bgunner.... Both of you have a very valid point there.... somthing which never struck my brains !!

I will definitely check this by tomorrow and post back.....

But the following facts still makes me believe that all the speakers are working good enough:

1. All the 5 Speakers + the Sub Woofer produces sound (the same sound though) when I play an audio file (like an mp3 or aac)
2. Using the remote control that came with the speaker set, I can reduce the volume of each 'speaker set' while playing an audio file.... thus, when I reduce the Front Speaker (the only detected set under 5.1 setup in 'Playback Devices') volumes to zero, sound is still up and running from the Center, Rear and the S-Woofer. Similarly, I can reduce the volume of Center, Rear and S-Woofer to zero to completely mute the system
3. The built-in FM Radio tuner of the speaker system plays music through all the speakers
4. Not a great fact to support my beleif !! but still.... the entire speaker system was unboxed just 5 days back.... feeling sad about it actually 🙁

..... but I take your suggestion and will came back after verification at a friend's place by tomorrow.... Thanks a ton both of you......

 
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Thanks festerovic...

The connection from the Speakers to the PC is through 3 coax cables, leading from 6 (2x3) RCA connectors behind the Sub Woofer. 1. Front Left+Right, 2. Rear Left+Right and 3. Center+SubWoofer... to the Green (1), Black (2) and Orange (3) jacks respectively of the Audio port on PC.

Have explored all possible 'Sound Control Panel' options including the one available for 7.1 audio on my PC... I read somehwere that trying to cheat the PC by selecting 7.1 channels instead of the connected 5.1 would do the trick... but that only tricked me !!!

I have tested the speakers with almost all possible sound files... I have a digitally encoded 5.1 channel .aac fle, which reads the name of each speakers while channeling through them. That file gives me only two speeches 1. Front Left and 2. Front Right !!! Although I can see that the file is still continuing to play (the names of other speakers), I do not hear a thing....

 
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Have you tried pressing the button called Pro Logic? In the manual it says it alternates between 2.1 and 5.1 audio. Could be affecting the original 5.1 signal.

You mention that you use 3 x 3.5mm to RCA cables as the means to hook up the speakers to PC. Try using a pair of headphones in each of the output jacks you are using to see if the sound that is being played is correct. This will isolate the issue to the speakers, or to the PC (config problem). IE: if you plug the headphones into the rear channel jack, the audio should say "Left Rear, Right Rear".
 
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Dear MC_K7 and bgunner.....

Sorry for the late reply... got caught up with work....

I took my speakers to the shop today.... and tested them to find that they are working perfectly fine.....

Now.... I sincerely believe that either my Motherboard or Motherboard + Windows 7 does not give out 5.1 channel signals....

By the way is any one getting true 5.1 channel output from their systems running Windows 7 ? If yes.... please let me know the motherboard make...

 
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Dear festerovic ,

Could you tell me where this 'Pro Logic Button' is ?


 
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I do get true 5.1 using my logitech x540 set (I prefer on music to use my 2.1 Bose for sound quality) but only true 5.1 with compatible audio. By this I mean play a DVD that has 5.1 in it. Music usually defaults to 2.1 then is spread to 5.1 using the Sound blaster program for my sound card.

No Prob with the late response, life Always comes first, home systems can wait.

Like some one mentioned, "festerovic" to be exact, have you tried a set of head phones in the rear ports of the motherboard? Because you tried the speaker system on an other system my guess is you wont here anything but worth a try. As you have tried uninstalling and re-installing drivers, is there any chance you can try the sound card again? If you can and it doesn't work then I would say it would be the operating system being the issue. Just make sure you install the proper drivers and program for the card along with switching it to 5.1.
 
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Thank you once again bgunner for spending your valuable time helping me....

I just connected my Creative head phones to both the onboard jack as well as the Creative SB card jack... and played the 5.1 test audio file.... the file keeps playing... but I hear only the words 'Front Left' and 'Front Right' 🙁

The Creative SB Card is now always attached to the PCI slot.... stopped all removing of that card, uninstalling and installing of drivers, restarting of system etc. etc.... thoroughly fed up with this to be frank.....

Now the only option is to test on a different OS like Vista or XP... which is quite tough... need to get the respective CDs....

You said "but only true 5.1 with compatible audio" >> but do you get to hear all the speakers when you test using the Sound > Playback Devices option in control panel (or the volume icon in sys tray) ?? I simply do not get that as well 🙁

I'm fine with upgrading my Motherboard.... but do not want to end up once again with a wrong 'MoBo + Windows7' combination that kills 5.1 output......

By the way I just loved the words "life Always comes first, home systems can wait." !!! But now its this home system that's making my life miserable :pt1cable:
 
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According to the manual, there is a Dolby Pro Logic button on the subwoofer unit, its the third button from the left. It says Pro Logic. Press it once while you are playing the audio file you linked in a loop. See if it does anything.

I tried the audio sample on my pc, and it is indeed the correct multichannel audio format, exactly as a DVD would have. With 2 channel audio configured, it plays all channels of the sound file. I hear Front Left, Center, Front right, Rear Left, Rear Right. If you had the settings wrong, then it would be playing like that on your two front speakers.

I think the problem is: 1) the cables 2) the actual jacks being used on the PC (should be Green (front) Black (rear) Orange (sub/center)) 3) the speaker outputs that connect to the other channels on the back of the subwoofer are not working 4) Pro logic button is switched to 2 channel.
 
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I personally tried the same file you linked to but only got my front speakers to work saying front left, switched, front center( but I believe it came from all 3 front speakers) switched, then front right, after that the rest came from the front speakers. "Hear" is my issue. "Had one ( maybe ) to many beers" LOL, but the program I used was " file viewer" as I don"t trust that program to give me 5.1 I can't say as that is a good file, or ( most likely) program to play it.

is this file strait from the creative file? kind of sounds like it is, but I only get 3 channels. I will respond tomorrow when the beer has left me. As is, it is hard to type and not use the backspace button.
 
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Thanks for mentioning that program. I retested the audio file and was able to get all my speakers to play correctly. So the Audio file is good :)
 
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Hi there, I don't know if I can help but I have full time 5.1 Dolbl Digital Live as an option on my PC it came standard on my Intel G45 mobo. You need to hook it up via SPDIF-Out on your PC to your speaker system. I actually have a thread that discusses this topic. If you still need further assistance from me I will check back another time.
 
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First unplug 3 cable (orange, green and black) then Go to control panel - Hardware and sound - Real tek HD audio manager - tick center, subwoofer and rear pair, front left and right and speaker fill
Then click Device advance settings.
select "make front and rear output devices playback two different audio streams simultaneously" and give ok
The plug all the three pin one by one and select proper option in the popup windows. (Here the hidden option will get exposed)
thats all.



 
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