Issues with 5.1 Surround Sound with Windows 10

Anonymous
2019-06-25T18:59:15+00:00

I can not get 5.1 Surround Sound to play for my computer with any audio player; i.e. DVD/CD optical drive, Pandora, etc. but when I run an audio test using the device manager it tests perfectly.  I have heard that there might be a compatibility issue with 5.1/7.1 Surround Sound and Windows 10.

Please let me know if anybody has had this problem and what the solution is.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-27T19:35:31+00:00

    I have the same problem will not play 5.1 only stero despite the HD drivers

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-16T07:07:03+00:00

    no...Not with head phones so sonic for head phones isn't the answer but thanks

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-16T03:51:44+00:00

    You're referring to "Windows Sonic for Headphones"? 

    Press the Windows Key + S and type sound, click on Sound Control Panel, right click on your playback device and select properties, select the Spatial Sound tab, select Windows Sonic for Headphones and check Turn on 7.1 virtual surround sound. If that doesn't work or the option is not there, then it would be safe to assume the feature is broken or has been pulled.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-04-16T03:10:28+00:00

    This is not actually addressing the issue I am having. All speakers work when tested in 5.1 and 7.1   I get 5.1 sound when I watch a movie. But when I play music or watch a video online I get only the front 2 speakers. I realize it may be playing what the internet is giving but long ago I could select fill in to emulate 5.1 when music was only stereo. That went away and I have not seen it since.  Why not?

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-04-16T01:27:51+00:00

    Very odd that all motherboards and home receivers, since the invention of 5.1, have mislabeled channel 5 and 6 as rear output. 7.1 splits the surround and rear channel information into 4 outputs instead of 2 for traditional 5.1, thus adding channel 7 and 8 as the side speakers for the extra outputs.  The default sound scheme for Windows 10 for 5.1 is sending the surround output 5 and 6 to channel 7 and 8.  Which would explain why 5.1 only works when 7.1 is selected.  There's nothing convoluted about this and proper speaker position isn't going to fix the incorrect output channels.

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