5.1 Surround Sound Support

[amanaslam]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if I could get some help with some audio issues i'm having with my PC speakers. I currently own a pair of Logitech Z506 5.1 surround sound speakers. I also own an MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard. The issue that I am having is that I am only receiving audio out of 2 of the 5 speakers and wanting to make sure that audio goes through them all. I understand that I may need a sound card which would allow me to achieve this so I have been looking at the Creative Sound Blaster Z. I was wondering if this is something that I would need to purchase and solve my issue. Many thanks.

 

[doolittle]

Try to get the on-board working first, if you grab your manual on the eng version page 23 (or 1-9) it will show the audio jacks and page 93 (A-5) shows the connections. Your Z506 will have 6-channel input via 3 jacks, green black and orange. you will need 3 x 3.5mm patch cables for this, green is your front speaker in (L/R), black is the rear L/R speaker in and orange is for the center and sub channels. Green / front to the Line-out, black / rear to the RS-out, and orange / center & sub to the CS-out. Page 90 (A-2) and 91 (A-3) shows the Realtek setup and you should be able to select the proper speaker output in the Realtek software once it's all hooked up. It should also detect what jacks are being hot plugged so that can assist as well.

It's possible you only have the L/R setup now so that's why you only hear the 2 channel output.

 

[Wolfshadw]

If you look here: Logitech Z506 Quick Start Guide, you will see that you need to use both cables A (Audio In) and B (Sound Card)

Cable A will go to your motherboard's Line Out
Cable B will go to your motherboard's CS-Out and RS-Out ports (see pg. 1-9 of your

-Wolf sends

 

[amanaslam]

If you look here: Logitech Z506 Quick Start Guide, you will see that you need to use both cables A (Audio In) and B (Sound Card)

Cable A will go to your motherboard's Line Out
Cable B will go to your motherboard's CS-Out and RS-Out ports (see pg. 1-9 of your Motherboard Manual

-Wolf sends

Hi,

Thanks for the response, I have reattached all of the cables in the order that you suggested and when I test them through the 'Sound' wizard via Windows all of the speakers work as they should. Unfortunately, there has been no change to my current situation when I am listening to audio through my speakers. Any other advice? Thanks.

 

[amanaslam]

Try to get the on-board working first, if you grab your manual on the eng version page 23 (or 1-9) it will show the audio jacks and page 93 (A-5) shows the connections. Your Z506 will have 6-channel input via 3 jacks, green black and orange. you will need 3 x 3.5mm patch cables for this, green is your front speaker in (L/R), black is the rear L/R speaker in and orange is for the center and sub channels. Green / front to the Line-out, black / rear to the RS-out, and orange / center & sub to the CS-out. Page 90 (A-2) and 91 (A-3) shows the Realtek setup and you should be able to select the proper speaker output in the Realtek software once it's all hooked up. It should also detect what jacks are being hot plugged so that can assist as well.

It's possible you only have the L/R setup now so that's why you only hear the 2 channel output.

Hi,

Thanks for the response. As of Wolfshadw's response below I have done what he has said any the audio seems to be working when I test it through the Sound wizard but does not work when I am listening to normal audio. Any more advice? Thanks.

 

[Wolfshadw]

If you look here: Logitech Z506 Quick Start Guide, you will see that you need to use both cables A (Audio In) and B (Sound Card)

Cable A will go to your motherboard's Line Out
Cable B will go to your motherboard's CS-Out and RS-Out ports (see pg. 1-9 of your Motherboard Manual

-Wolf sends

Hi,

Thanks for the response, I have reattached all of the cables in the order that you suggested and when I test them through the 'Sound' wizard via Windows all of the speakers work as they should. Unfortunately, there has been no change to my current situation when I am listening to audio through my speakers. Any other advice? Thanks.

Try this:

1) Right click on the speaker next to the date/time in the lower-right corner of the screen and select Playback Devices.
2) In the Sound window that opens, select your speakers and click on Properties.
3) In the Speakers Properties window that opens, click on the Sound Blaster tab.
4) Click on the Settings button.
5) In the Audio Control Panel window that opens, click on the Speakers tab.
6) In the Speaker Configuration drop down, make sure 5.1 Speakers is selected.
7) Click Close.
8) In the Speakers Properties window, click on the Advanced Tab.
9) Click on the Test button to make sure audio is coming out each speaker.
10 If working, click OK and OK again to close out the audio windows.
11) Test your speakers with some audio playback.
12) Let us know what happened!

-Wolf sends

 

[doolittle]

Hi,

Thanks for the response. As of Wolfshadw's response below I have done what he has said any the audio seems to be working when I test it through the Sound wizard but does not work when I am listening to normal audio. Any more advice? Thanks.

Now you need to select a 5.1 source - in your game options there should be some options like "5.1 surround" in your sound output option. There are also test videos like this one however use the download link and play back in a video player like VLC, since it will properly play back your surround modes (the browser does not).