Cannot change default audio device with realtek

[potimus1d]

o just setup a new build and know this question has been asked before but with no answers but, the problem im having is, When i install Realtek hd audio, my headphones disappear. They still work but appear as speakers and take priority (i have logitech 5.1 speakers plugged into rear i/o and my headphones plugged into front case panel). I really wanted to utilize the nice sound blaster cinema 3 this mobo came with (asrock z270 k6 gaming). But need realtek for soundblaster but its just not an option. even if i were to just go with the just plug in headphones when you need and unplug em when you dont and let realtek think there speakers, the headphones sound so crap and echoy in games. ive tried unistalling all audio drivers, ive tried installing the Realtek version on the asrock website, ive tried using the newest version... still same headphones disappear and they work just appear as speakers so i cant change default audio-out anywhere, i even unplugged my speakers in the rear i/o and put my headphones in there alone, they still show up as speakers in Realtek and windows default sounds. any suggestions? also they are 3.5mm jack old razor headphones. i have yet to try a USB headset and see if thatd work. but before that would like to see if anyone had any solution/suggestion because these still are not that bad of a headset..(well maybe they are lol who knows)


specs
win 10 64
asrock z270 k6
i7 7700k watercooled
m.2 samsung 960 evo
gtx 1080 msi
nzxt 440 steel series.
32gb g.skill ram

 

[potimus1d]

sorry didn't understand what a merged question actually meant. I dont have much time to RMA and not sure if i wanna try a USB headset not knowing it will 100% correct my issue or if i should RMA. or just use windows default codec :,(

 

[potimus1d]

well i may have found a clue.

http://imgur.com/a/FsfVD


seems as if front panel audio is sharing audio with rear panel.. anyway to change this

 

[Paperdoc]

Your problem may be with more than the Realtek audio system and drivers. It may involve the way your front panel audio connections are made. See your mobo manual on p.23.

There are two common versions of audio front panel connections systems. One is often called "HD Audio" or Azelea HD Audio, and your mobo has an audio header designed for this by default. The other is called "AC 97 Audio", or maybe even "AC97 HD Audio", and it uses different connections. So to start, check carefully what your case manual says about the front panel audio connectors it contains. IF it is the AC97 type, go to your manual on p. 23 and follow carefully the instructions in the grey box, item #2. IF it is the Azalea HD Audio system, follow the instructions in Item #1, which basically means connect wires from the front panel to this mobo header using the labels in the diagram. This will get your connections right.

Now, in BIOS Setup, see your mobo manual on p. 76. Onboard HD Audio should be Enabled (I fully expect it is already). Then try both settings of the next item, "Front Panel". It is not clear what this item changes. But MAYBE setting it to "Enabled" tells the mobo to assume the connections have been made for the Azalea HD Audio system, whereas Disabled tells it to assume AC97 Audio. When you change this setting, make sure to SAVE and EXIT out of BIOS Setup so that your change is actually saved. If you find that one of these settings makes things work properly, keep that setting.

Lastly, in the Realtek configuration screens provided by its driver, check to see whether there is a place to tell it which audio system your front panel is using. Also look in there for any control you can check that tells the system to shut off your rear speakers when you plug something into the front headphone jack; if you find that control, set it as you wish. Also look carefully in the Realtek configuration screens (maybe on an Audio I/O tab) for a place where you can specify what speaker system you have. On my system when I'm using the headphones I often set that to "Headphone", and then change it back to "6 Speakers" when I'm using the 5.1 Surround Sound speaker system.

The reason I make these suggestions is that at least one of the two systems uses a means to detect whether or not something is plugged into the front jacks, and may change what the system sends out to the rear jacks in response. I expect you do not want it to do that.

 

[potimus1d]

Your problem may be with more than the Realtek audio system and drivers. It may involve the way your front panel audio connections are made. See your mobo manual on p.23.

There are two common versions of audio front panel connections systems. One is often called "HD Audio" or Azelea HD Audio, and your mobo has an audio header designed for this by default. The other is called "AC 97 Audio", or maybe even "AC97 HD Audio", and it uses different connections. So to start, check carefully what your case manual says about the front panel audio connectors it contains. IF it is the AC97 type, go to your manual on p. 23 and follow carefully the instructions in the grey box, item #2. IF it is the Azalea HD Audio system, follow the instructions in Item #1, which basically means connect wires from the front panel to this mobo header using the labels in the diagram. This will get your connections right.

Now, in BIOS Setup, see your mobo manual on p. 76. Onboard HD Audio should be Enabled (I fully expect it is already). Then try both settings of the next item, "Front Panel". It is not clear what this item changes. But MAYBE setting it to "Enabled" tells the mobo to assume the connections have been made for the Azalea HD Audio system, whereas Disabled tells it to assume AC97 Audio. When you change this setting, make sure to SAVE and EXIT out of BIOS Setup so that your change is actually saved. If you find that one of these settings makes things work properly, keep that setting.

Lastly, in the Realtek configuration screens provided by its driver, check to see whether there is a place to tell it which audio system your front panel is using. Also look in there for any control you can check that tells the system to shut off your rear speakers when you plug something into the front headphone jack; if you find that control, set it as you wish. Also look carefully in the Realtek configuration screens (maybe on an Audio I/O tab) for a place where you can specify what speaker system you have. On my system when I'm using the headphones I often set that to "Headphone", and then change it back to "6 Speakers" when I'm using the 5.1 Surround Sound speaker system.

The reason I make these suggestions is that at least one of the two systems uses a means to detect whether or not something is plugged into the front jacks, and may change what the system sends out to the rear jacks in response. I expect you do not want it to do that.

So i been messing with this forever now it seems and to make a longstory short, i tryed every bios combination there was. couldn't find much about sound inputs other then they are "hd audio" from nzxt h440 manuel. nothing seems to work. changing in bios from auto to enabled did nothing and disable, disables all my sound. when turning HD to AC 97 i get a really wierd erggghhhh/ringing noise like something isnt right, changed back from that pretty quick lol. i tried different versions of realtek, different forums everything... so i did a quick test and i was kinda worried about it, cuz this processor shouldnt be running on win7, but i tried it anyway in win7 quickly and realtek worked like a charm and headphones and speakers showed up.... but i rushed back to 10 and with it returned this problem. unless theres something im missing. or overlooked... i dont know what to say.... other then i hate win10. or that i just need to . not be cheap and try a USB headset. actully im gonna do that soon and update you on it. but one thing i did kinda overlook or havent tryed yet is updating or flashing bios to newest version. even tho it does have two bios on this mobo im still a little scared of messing that up. 😛

 

[Paperdoc]

OK, one more thing to try, based on the fact that Win 7 works but not Win 10. MAYBE you need an updated driver for your mobo audio device. Check with Realtek or, maybe better, with the mobo maker to see if there is a new driver for your mobo's audio system suited to Win 10. Try this before going to update the mobo BIOS, 'cause it's simpler.