Issues with 5.1 Surround Sound with Windows 10

... When I play a stereo recording there is only the output to the front speakers, the others are mute. This applies to different programs. Current games work with 5.1 or 7.1 and work.

That is what stereo is though ... it's only 2 channels, so you'd only get audio out the front speakers.

If games work with 5.1 or 7.1, then everything is working as designed.

If the source material doesn't have the extra channel info, you would need some kind of mixer to take the two channels and figure out what's supposed to go in the rear by adding information not in the original format.

What would you expect from a 2.0 input to play in the rear?

One of my HUGE frustrations with Amazon is that their app only outputs 2.0 on PC. This has been a bug raised for over ten years with them. Their app on a blasted cell phone will output more on HDMI than a full blown Home Theater PC does, and the latter is far more capable. Very frustrating.

Hello everybody, I can only agree with the previous speaker. I have the same problem. Use the current version of Windows 10 Pro (Build 18363.778).

Used Microsft drivers (which are very quiet)

Current manufacturer driver used.

Also older manufacturer driver used.

Problem:

I can access all 6 speakers through the sound test and it works. When I play a stereo recording there is only the output to the front speakers, the others are mute. This applies to different programs. Current games work with 5.1 or 7.1 and work.

Hello everybody, I can only agree with the previous speaker. I have the same problem. Use the current version of Windows 10 Pro (Build 18363.778).

Used Microsft drivers (which are very quiet)

Current manufacturer driver used.

Also older manufacturer driver used.

Problem:

I can access all 6 speakers through the sound test and it works. When I play a stereo recording there is only the output to the front speakers, the others are mute. This applies to different programs. Current games work with 5.1 or 7.1 and work.

You might try setting it in 7.1 mode and see if this give better results.  If this doesn't work then you might contact Microsoft but from my experience they are no help. They should there is a problem but it seems they are ignoring it.

I'm having similar issues, except my tests are exhibiting weird responses.

All my wiring is correct.

When I test the front left speaker in 5.1 mode, both the front left and rear left respond. Same for the front right test, both the front right and rear right speakers respond. The center, the sub and the rear left and rear right tests are completely unresponsive.

Almost like Windows is stuck on 2.0 in the test screen.

I cannot figure out the setting that is causing this.