Help setting up speakers...

Muckster

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Dec 13, 2013
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I'm using the Realtek ALC892 sound that's onboard my GA-B85-HD3 (rev.2) mobo with an older set of Logitech speakers (z-5300e). The logitech speakers support 5.1, but I set things up in 3.1 with the rear two speaker disconnected. This setup worked fine as 3.1 under my old PC with a sound blaster card under W7, but now I've got new hardware and am running W8.1. I have the newest drivers which I got from Gigabyte's website. I have correctly connected the 3.5mm cables using one input for FL/FR and one input for Center/Sub.

I get sound from all the speakers and subwoofer, but the center speaker isn't really recognized. It just plays along with the left or right channels but I can't find any way to designate a 3.1 setup or otherwise get the center speaker to differentiate itself from the L/R channels. It seems to be running in a 2.1 format.

Under W8.1 sound properties/speaker properties/Levels tab, I can see that in addition to the Front Left and Front Right, the Center and sub are recognized, but I don't see a way to directly test each speaker or to assign it to a 3.1 configuration. There's also a "side" speaker recognized, but I'm not sure what that is.

How can I get my system to run in 3.1?
 

Muckster

Distinguished
Dec 13, 2013
6
1
18,510
update: okay I found the configure settings and was able to do more testing. My logitech speakers have a switch for 2, 4.1, and 5.1 settings. I had to move it to 5.1 to get it working right, then disable the rear and side speakers in sound settings. Last setting was to enable to disable "surround" sound. I disabled it, but it doesn't seem to matter either way.

Long story short, my LF, RF, Center and Sub are all recognized now and respond correctly to individual testing.

The only issue is that the system seems to recognize the Side Left and Side Right speakers as still alive and it directly their sound to front left and front right speakers. I would rather have better confirmation that the software understands that there are no side speakers in a TRUE 3.1 configuration. My concern is that with gaming or other audio that sound will be screwed up by a game or software thinking I have side speakers when I really don't. Then again, any sound assignments going to rear Left or side Left would probably default to front left anyway.

Okay, hope you all have enjoyed this conversation I've had with myself. Hope it helps someone.