Help using computer as stereo receiver.

[Forever1337]

Ok so let me give you a little rundown of what I'm doing, how and why. Also keep in mind this has nothing to do with windows 10, I had the same issues with Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. So I have a Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card which has digital (optical) in and out. So being that I not only use my area for computer gaming but console gaming too and there is no actual stereo in this area I wanted to use the 5.1 speaker system I have for my computer with my console as well. So I ran a optical cable from the TV to the optical in port on the computer and went into the recording settings within the sound options and set the optical in to listen. This has allowed me to use the 5.1 system however the computer is only listening to the optical in port in 2.1 not 5.1 so I don't get real surround sound. Is there some way I can get the computer to actually take the 5.1 signal from the optical cable and properly put it out via the regular 5.1 headphone jacks to my computer speaker system? Please help!

 

[Lutfij]

There are few variations of the X-Fi sound card which leads me to ask which version/SKU do you have? Depending on the model the optical in and out are just pass throughs and will/can not process the audio coming from your device to give off true 5.1 surround. On the other hand, have you made sure the sound output from your console is set to 5.1? What's stopping you from having the sound output to the PC instead of having the sound go to TV and passed through to PC?

Best thing is to explain how you've connected your devices. Another suggestion would be to invest in a receiver/amp setup and have your speakers set to it. That way you can have the receiver take audio from both your PC and your console. Are we dealing with hardware stated in your signature space? Pardon me but signature spaces can change quite frequently thus it's advised to state your full systems specs in a post.