Help with Audigy 2 ZS and Logitech Z-5500 ...

envinyatar · Jul 9, 2006, 06:41 AM

Hi there,

I'm working on setting up a theatre system on my Dell Inspiron XPS Gen 2 laptop and I purchased the Audigy 2 ZS Notebook and Logitech z-5500 speakers. I've done search on these forums already and noone seems to have this problem.

However, I'm running into a problem that is driving me nuts. First of all, I disabled the Sigmatel C-Audio in device manager, then plugged in the Audigy card and installed drivers/software. Then when i rebooted and ran the diagnostics only the front left and right speakers are outputing sound(It thinks its rear and center speakers). I've set the settings to 5.1 (double checked control panel) and no matter what the 5500 control center displays the sound as DB PL2 Movie (or Music)... I'm only getting 2 channels. I've tested this with the optical to mini and 6 channel direct analog and I get the same crap.

When i play movies and set the setting to DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1, the only Effects on my 5500 is DB PL2 Movie ( or Music ) and from the speaker manual this is not right It's suppose to say DTS or Dolby Digital on the screen.

My dad seems to think its the Sigmatel on board audio that is sending the audio to the PCMIA so its always 2 channel only.

PLEASE Anyone else that has this card and speaker PLEASE help... I'm seriously pulling my hair out on this. I dont know if its the hardware thats faulty or I'm doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance.

INSTG8R · Jul 9, 2006, 06:55 AM

Have you looked thru the BIOS to see if it can be disabled there(generally under the Integrated Periphals menu tho been awhile since I've looked thru a Lappy Bios)be sure the drivers for the orginal sound card have been uninstalled. I would never reccomend disabling a device in Dev Manager if it can be properly disabled in the BIOS, there it is essentially removed where in Dev Manager its still seen by Windows and can lead to conflicts

envinyatar · Jul 9, 2006, 08:11 AM

Yeah, I've quadruple checked the BIOS and i cant disable i there. I've uninstalled the drivers and disabled the device but everytime window reboots it installs the drivers again.

INSTG8R · Jul 9, 2006, 08:41 AM

Yeah than I think that may be the issue then. you could try in the Control panel to under Sound and Audio devices under the Audio Tab, Select the Audigy as the Default Device then tick the Use only Default Device. Thats all I can think of right now

sovietdoc · Jul 15, 2006, 09:15 AM

Your problem is that most likely the card isn't passing the digital signal. Did you configure it right in the creative audio console? Go there and click on the Decoder tab. Switch it to SPDIF passthrough. Make sure in the console app you go click on S/PDIF IO tab, set output signal to SPDIF In Dolby Digital Decode and sample rate to 96khz. Then, make sure in the program that ure using for watching DVD's, in the options you switch your sound setup from 6 speakers to SPDIF. Then I dunno how you can hook up a coaxial or optical connection there from your card to Z5500 control center, to pass the digital signal, but as soon as you do that, it should work. That is if you wan't to decode digital audio with speakers (which I think is a better way).

Now, if you just want the card to decode, then in creative audio console go to Decode tab and switch it to "Use Built-in Decoder". You may also configure the decoder settings to what you like. In your dvd watching app make sure your sound setup is set to 6 channel. Set the Z5500's to "6ch direct" mode on the control center. This will also work but you won't be able to see whether the signal is digital on the control center LCD. But you can always enable creative on-screen display which will tell you which signal is being processed at the moment. This also works.

sovietdoc · Jul 15, 2006, 09:22 AM

Also try hitting the "test" button on your Z5500 remote to check whether all speakers are functioning properly. I never had notebook audigy so I can't tell you, but check whether u got the right splitter and that you are using it the right way. Watch out for those dumb mistakes.

INSTG8R · Jul 15, 2006, 09:45 AM

Good point sovietdoc, I didnt think of the digital connection for the speakers

Jul 9, 2006, 06:41 AM	#1
envinyatar DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Help with Audigy 2 ZS and Logitech Z-5500 ... Hi there, I'm working on setting up a theatre system on my Dell Inspiron XPS Gen 2 laptop and I purchased the Audigy 2 ZS Notebook and Logitech z-5500 speakers. I've done search on these forums already and noone seems to have this problem. However, I'm running into a problem that is driving me nuts. First of all, I disabled the Sigmatel C-Audio in device manager, then plugged in the Audigy card and installed drivers/software. Then when i rebooted and ran the diagnostics only the front left and right speakers are outputing sound(It thinks its rear and center speakers). I've set the settings to 5.1 (double checked control panel) and no matter what the 5500 control center displays the sound as DB PL2 Movie (or Music)... I'm only getting 2 channels. I've tested this with the optical to mini and 6 channel direct analog and I get the same crap. When i play movies and set the setting to DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1, the only Effects on my 5500 is DB PL2 Movie ( or Music ) and from the speaker manual this is not right It's suppose to say DTS or Dolby Digital on the screen. My dad seems to think its the Sigmatel on board audio that is sending the audio to the PCMIA so its always 2 channel only. PLEASE Anyone else that has this card and speaker PLEASE help... I'm seriously pulling my hair out on this. I dont know if its the hardware thats faulty or I'm doing something wrong. Thanks in advance.

Jul 9, 2006, 06:55 AM	#2
INSTG8R DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canadian lost in Norway Posts: 527 Rep Power: 0	Have you looked thru the BIOS to see if it can be disabled there(generally under the Integrated Periphals menu tho been awhile since I've looked thru a Lappy Bios)be sure the drivers for the orginal sound card have been uninstalled. I would never reccomend disabling a device in Dev Manager if it can be properly disabled in the BIOS, there it is essentially removed where in Dev Manager its still seen by Windows and can lead to conflicts __________________ Sys. Specs. Intel E6600@3.2\|Abit IP35 Pro\|2x1024 Crucial Ballistix PC8500 \|Sapphire HD4870 512\|Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500G SATAII 16MB w/PRT\|SB X-Fi Fatality\|TT Tough Power 1200W\|TT Kandalf L.C.S.\|Samsung 204B 20" 5ms LCD\|Logitech G25\|Logitech G5\|Logitech G15\|Saitek X-52+Pro Rudder Pedals\|TrackIR w/Trackclip Pro 3DMark06

Jul 9, 2006, 08:41 AM	#4
INSTG8R DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canadian lost in Norway Posts: 527 Rep Power: 0	Yeah than I think that may be the issue then. you could try in the Control panel to under Sound and Audio devices under the Audio Tab, Select the Audigy as the Default Device then tick the Use only Default Device. Thats all I can think of right now __________________ Sys. Specs. Intel E6600@3.2\|Abit IP35 Pro\|2x1024 Crucial Ballistix PC8500 \|Sapphire HD4870 512\|Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500G SATAII 16MB w/PRT\|SB X-Fi Fatality\|TT Tough Power 1200W\|TT Kandalf L.C.S.\|Samsung 204B 20" 5ms LCD\|Logitech G25\|Logitech G5\|Logitech G15\|Saitek X-52+Pro Rudder Pedals\|TrackIR w/Trackclip Pro 3DMark06

Jul 15, 2006, 09:15 AM	#5
sovietdoc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 121 Rep Power: 0	Your problem is that most likely the card isn't passing the digital signal. Did you configure it right in the creative audio console? Go there and click on the Decoder tab. Switch it to SPDIF passthrough. Make sure in the console app you go click on S/PDIF IO tab, set output signal to SPDIF In Dolby Digital Decode and sample rate to 96khz. Then, make sure in the program that ure using for watching DVD's, in the options you switch your sound setup from 6 speakers to SPDIF. Then I dunno how you can hook up a coaxial or optical connection there from your card to Z5500 control center, to pass the digital signal, but as soon as you do that, it should work. That is if you wan't to decode digital audio with speakers (which I think is a better way). Now, if you just want the card to decode, then in creative audio console go to Decode tab and switch it to "Use Built-in Decoder". You may also configure the decoder settings to what you like. In your dvd watching app make sure your sound setup is set to 6 channel. Set the Z5500's to "6ch direct" mode on the control center. This will also work but you won't be able to see whether the signal is digital on the control center LCD. But you can always enable creative on-screen display which will tell you which signal is being processed at the moment. This also works. __________________

Jul 15, 2006, 09:22 AM	#6
sovietdoc DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 121 Rep Power: 0	Also try hitting the "test" button on your Z5500 remote to check whether all speakers are functioning properly. I never had notebook audigy so I can't tell you, but check whether u got the right splitter and that you are using it the right way. Watch out for those dumb mistakes. __________________

Jul 9, 2006, 08:11 AM	Thread Starter #3
envinyatar DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I've quadruple checked the BIOS and i cant disable i there. I've uninstalled the drivers and disabled the device but everytime window reboots it installs the drivers again.

Jul 15, 2006, 09:45 AM	#7
INSTG8R DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canadian lost in Norway Posts: 527 Rep Power: 0	Good point sovietdoc, I didnt think of the digital connection for the speakers __________________ Sys. Specs. Intel E6600@3.2\|Abit IP35 Pro\|2x1024 Crucial Ballistix PC8500 \|Sapphire HD4870 512\|Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500G SATAII 16MB w/PRT\|SB X-Fi Fatality\|TT Tough Power 1200W\|TT Kandalf L.C.S.\|Samsung 204B 20" 5ms LCD\|Logitech G25\|Logitech G5\|Logitech G15\|Saitek X-52+Pro Rudder Pedals\|TrackIR w/Trackclip Pro 3DMark06