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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

118 answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-15T20:42:27+00:00

    I faced the same issue here.  I think the problem is MS new default sound scheme for 5.1 includes side speakers as the last 2 channels for a 5.1 setup, rather then rear speakers which is the correct setup for 5.1.  When you select 7.1, then the rear speakers are available.  If they would simply reverse the side channels for the rear channels for 5.1 scheme, then this wouldn't be a problem for anyone.  Having said that, the fact this has been an issue for this long, I highly doubt it will get fixed, and it's simply something you'll have to live with as most bugs with Windows 10 are.

    This is actually not true, the standard setup for 5.1 is to have a pair of side surround speakers, 7.1 adds the rear surrounds.

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-03T02:31:43+00:00

    You answered a question he didn't ask. Please try again

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-03-16T15:59:05+00:00

    Thank you.  If I still had my speakers I'd give this a try.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-03-16T09:09:03+00:00

    I faced the same issue here.  I think the problem is MS new default sound scheme for 5.1 includes side speakers as the last 2 channels for a 5.1 setup, rather then rear speakers which is the correct setup for 5.1.  When you select 7.1, then the rear speakers are available.  If they would simply reverse the side channels for the rear channels for 5.1 scheme, then this wouldn't be a problem for anyone.  Having said that, the fact this has been an issue for this long, I highly doubt it will get fixed, and it's simply something you'll have to live with as most bugs with Windows 10 are.

    Was this answer helpful?

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2020-03-06T14:25:06+00:00

    5.1 sound

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments