5.1 surround audio won't work properly?

[sadab0]

All my speakers work (except for my center) but that's not what I'm concerned about ; my center speaker has actually been broken for some time now.

My problem is that the audio that comes out most of the time is stereo and my rear speakers and subwoofers don't play anything, The only time it works is when there's a 5.1 channel audio option on VLC and it defaults to that. Otherwise youtube, windows media player and vlc all don't play in surround sound it just defaults to stereo for some reason.

 

[SkyBill40]

The likely reason none of the other sources play in surround is because they're recorded in stereo. Unless you use some kind of virtualization effect from your receiver, it'll probably remain stereo. The receiver knows what kind of signal it's being fed and won't play it accordingly through all chanbnels unless the source material says so.

 

[ien2222]

It sounds like it's working properly. If the content is stereo (which 99%+ of youtube and music libraries) it'll play as stereo.

Depending on the hardware you are using, you can get to it fill the rest of the speakers. On an AVR, set it to matrixed/prologic IIx/virtual surround/etc depending on the type of AVR. If this is a computer, in the audio settings there might be selection like the pervious stated, or something like "fill speakers" though you may not have an option to do so.

 

[sadab0]

The likely reason none of the other sources play in surround is because they're recorded in stereo. Unless you use some kind of virtualization effect from your receiver, it'll probably remain stereo. The receiver knows what kind of signal it's being fed and won't play it accordingly through all chanbnels unless the source material says so.

I don't use a receiver (the subwoofer has all the connections)
Every cable is connected to the subwoofer and it doesn't have any buttons like fast forward or anything like that it's just like regular computer speakers.

It worked fine on my last computer though with realtek HD audio manager.

 

[sadab0]

It sounds like it's working properly. If the content is stereo (which 99%+ of youtube and music libraries) it'll play as stereo.

Depending on the hardware you are using, you can get to it fill the rest of the speakers. On an AVR, set it to matrixed/prologic IIx/virtual surround/etc depending on the type of AVR. If this is a computer, in the audio settings there might be selection like the pervious stated, or something like "fill speakers" though you may not have an option to do so.

I found the speaker fill option and it fixes the problem with VLC and Windows Media Player, unfortunately the subwoofer doesn't work if it's on. Youtube doesn't work altogether.

 

[SkyBill40]

It's hard to say then if it worked previously and doesn't work now as you say. What I said about he content encoding in terms of the mix is true, however.

I used to run a 2.1 setup and it used the 3.5mm plug whereas my new one uses USB. Are you sure that the sub itself is still working correctly? Do you have any way to check it for proper functionality? Perhaps it's just time to get a new setup. Either way, good luck.

 

[ien2222]

I found the speaker fill option and it fixes the problem with VLC and Windows Media Player, unfortunately the subwoofer doesn't work if it's on. Youtube doesn't work altogether.

Hmm...not sure why the sub would stop working when using "fill" or why youtube would stop altogether. What are you using for sound on the computer?

 

[sadab0]

[strike]Ok, for reference I'll say that my center speaker started working again. [/strike] Nvm, my center speaker broke again -_-
@SkyBill40: I used the Windows Sound Manager to check if everything works properly and it does.
This is what I used to check: http://i.imgur.com/oEwOFNA.png

@ien2222: You misunderstood the Youtube part, I meant that Youtube doesn't work with my center, rear speakers and subwoofer. It just plays sound from my two front speakers. As for my sound, I'm using the "Altec Lansing VS3251" setup.

Also, can someone tell me how to direct the audio from my center speaker to my two front speakers? Since my center speaker is broken, a lot of the times when I'm watching 5.1 encoded audio all the voices and subtle sounds are meant to be played from the center so I end up missing it.

 

[SkyBill40]

You can't redirect the center channel to the L/R channels.

 

[sadab0]

You can't redirect the center channel to the L/R channels.

Guess I gotta go with the new system setup then.................How does 5.1 encoded audio sound on a stereo system?
Particularly these:http://www.cnet.com/news/build-your-own-desktop-stereo-for-under-70/ with a subwoofer

 

[SkyBill40]

Dunno. I run a 2.1 setup and given the equipment I have (all Definitive Technology speakers), anything and everything sound awesome. Outside of that, I would expect the sound to be just fine since it should be automatically be downmixed to play on your setup.

 

[ien2222]

Sorry sadab0, computer went down last weekend and I just got it back up (mostly) today, didn't mean to duck out of the conversation like that.

Looks like Skybill covered your questions pretty good there.