Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes)

crowTrobot · Mar 19, 2010, 03:00 AM

Tested on both logitech Z-540 and an old Cambridge Soundworks FPS1800, both 4.1 speakers (4 sat, 1 sub and no centre. Only green and black jack for front and rear no orange jack for center/sub)

I tried two computers windows vista and windows 7 both with realtek audio (alc888 and alc 889) and I still can't get the rear speakers to work. I tried quadrophonic, 5.1 and 7.1 settings in realtek manager and in windows sounds control panel.

Am I missing something? When I plug in my logitech x-530 5.1 it plays perfectly fine in 5.1 setup.

Thanks in advance.

arquliz · Mar 19, 2010, 06:58 AM

Try turning on "speaker fill" in the realtek control panel.

crowTrobot · Mar 19, 2010, 09:57 AM

thanks for responding.

I don't have that in my realtek HD audio manager. I got "full-range speakers" though, and I have both of those checked as well (front/left and surround).

crowTrobot · Mar 20, 2010, 02:49 PM

I guess this really is a problem with Vista and Windows 7?

Makes you wonder why Microsoft even bothered putting that quadrophonic option in the sound control panel if even the 5.1 speakers can't output in quadrophonic.

arquliz · Mar 20, 2010, 04:23 PM

have you tried clicking on the speakers to test if they are working at all, when you click them in the control panel they should make a sound. If that works, then that means it works.
(windows media player only plays though the 2 front speakers unless you force it use all speakers with something like speaker fill. But since i can see on the screenshot you haven't got it, i don't know what to do.)

crowTrobot · Mar 24, 2010, 06:48 PM

If they are plugged-in in a 4.1 setup, clicking on the rear speakers produces no sound. But if I have it in a 2.1 setup and tested each speaker individually (swap the two back speakers as front speakers and vice versa) so I know its not the satellites themselves. Also both 4.1 systems and the extra 5.1 systems aren't producing any rear output when in 4.1 setups.

Thanks anyway.
Some other people have said told me that MS changed the way that sound is handled in vista/windows 7 now that 4.1 speakers won't work in quad, although I don't know why my 5.1 won't work in quad either. (Actually my 5.1 won't work in 5.1, I have to set it to 7.1 and disable the side speakers)

Mar 19, 2010, 03:00 AM	#1
crowTrobot HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 699 Rep Power: 83 System Specs	Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes) Tested on both logitech Z-540 and an old Cambridge Soundworks FPS1800, both 4.1 speakers (4 sat, 1 sub and no centre. Only green and black jack for front and rear no orange jack for center/sub) I tried two computers windows vista and windows 7 both with realtek audio (alc888 and alc 889) and I still can't get the rear speakers to work. I tried quadrophonic, 5.1 and 7.1 settings in realtek manager and in windows sounds control panel. Am I missing something? When I plug in my logitech x-530 5.1 it plays perfectly fine in 5.1 setup. Thanks in advance.

Mar 19, 2010, 06:58 AM	#2
arquliz HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 67 Rep Power: 21 System Specs	Re: Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes) Try turning on "speaker fill" in the realtek control panel.

Mar 19, 2010, 09:57 AM	Thread Starter #3
crowTrobot HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 699 Rep Power: 83 System Specs	Re: Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes) thanks for responding. I don't have that in my realtek HD audio manager. I got "full-range speakers" though, and I have both of those checked as well (front/left and surround).

Mar 20, 2010, 02:49 PM	Thread Starter #4
crowTrobot HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 699 Rep Power: 83 System Specs	Re: Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes) I guess this really is a problem with Vista and Windows 7? Makes you wonder why Microsoft even bothered putting that quadrophonic option in the sound control panel if even the 5.1 speakers can't output in quadrophonic.

Mar 20, 2010, 04:23 PM	#5
arquliz HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 67 Rep Power: 21 System Specs	Re: Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes) have you tried clicking on the speakers to test if they are working at all, when you click them in the control panel they should make a sound. If that works, then that means it works. (windows media player only plays though the 2 front speakers unless you force it use all speakers with something like speaker fill. But since i can see on the screenshot you haven't got it, i don't know what to do.)

Mar 24, 2010, 06:48 PM	Thread Starter #6
crowTrobot HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 699 Rep Power: 83 System Specs	Re: Can't get 4.1 speakers to work (no rear output, in 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1 modes) If they are plugged-in in a 4.1 setup, clicking on the rear speakers produces no sound. But if I have it in a 2.1 setup and tested each speaker individually (swap the two back speakers as front speakers and vice versa) so I know its not the satellites themselves. Also both 4.1 systems and the extra 5.1 systems aren't producing any rear output when in 4.1 setups. Thanks anyway. Some other people have said told me that MS changed the way that sound is handled in vista/windows 7 now that 4.1 speakers won't work in quad, although I don't know why my 5.1 won't work in quad either. (Actually my 5.1 won't work in 5.1, I have to set it to 7.1 and disable the side speakers)