7.1 audio not working anymore

[ivan0590_SPAIN]

Hello. A few months ago I bought my SteelSeries Siberia 840 headsets.
Since I want to use 7.1 and Dolby Audio, I have the audio connected with the optical cable. I mean, the cable is connected from the optical in of the transmitter base to the optical output of my motherboard. The motherboard is a Asus Prime Z270-A, which has a Realtek ALC1220 onboard soundcard. And my OS is Windows 10 Pro x64.

Everything was working great until yesterday. I turned on my computer as usual and when I started playing a videogame I noticed that the 7.1 funcionality wasn't working. The Dolby Audio was on in the transmitter base and it seemed fine. So, I entered in the sound devices to see the Realtek Digital Output device properties to test the audio. Then was when I discovered that the Realtek Digital Output device was in working in stereo.

I tried to reboot my PC to try to fix it. During restart, I noticed some messages from Windows (like when Windows installs updates) saying something like that some features were being applied. I don't remember the exact message. Of course, the reboot didn't work.

Later, I tried to reinstall the Realtek HD drivers but this had no effects on the problem.

Maybe Windows removed some feature that enables 7.1 audio. I don't know what to think, as I said before all this happened suddenly with no warning.

 

[rontonomo]

optical cables cannot carry 7.1 your headset was lying to you most likely use virtual 7.1...

 

[ivan0590_SPAIN]

optical cables cannot carry 7.1 your headset was lying to you most likely use virtual 7.1...

I know that. The headsets are 2.0 and they use virtual 7.1. They are not real 7.1
Months ago I was able to get the virtual 7.1 to work without too much problem. But right now I can only hear two channels.

 

[rontonomo]

ok well just so you know virtual 7.1 will still show as 2.0 stereo in i windows sound devices

 

[ivan0590_SPAIN]

ok well just so you know virtual 7.1 will still show as 2.0 stereo in i windows sound devices

You are right, I incorrectly assumed that Windows sound devices would show me 7.1.

I have tried some things in order to fix my issue and I think that maybe the problem is fixed.
Mainly, what I have done is restoring the system to a recent restore point. But I have also contacted SteelSeries support. They told me to reset the transmitter base and do the pairing again, which I did after restoring the system.
I will know for sure if it's fixed when I test the sound in a game.

 

[ivan0590_SPAIN]

Upps, I forgot to reply about what happened.
The problem seems to be solved. I have tested the sound in a couple of videogames (shooters) and I had no issues. I was able to determine the direction of the sound.

I still don't know why this problem ocurred. My solution was going back to a previous restore point, reseting the trasmmiter base and do the pairing again (this is done in the trasmmiter base).

Thanks rontonomo for helping me.