5.1 center speaker question!

Sandok · Jul 17, 2005, 07:39 PM

Okay, so I got a nice 5.1 system but you know what, in MP3 playback, the center speaker ain't ever on (I just tried Episode 4 Lost Hope DVD Edition and the center speaker makes noise :P) and I was wondering, does the MP3 have to be encoded to use all the sound sources or what?

I got an Audigy 2 if ever.

Zelig · Jul 17, 2005, 07:49 PM

Yeah, mp3s are just stereo, so you've already got some sort of upmixing happening if you have sound coming from the rear speakers. Try enabling cmss for your card to upmix it to the center channel if you want.

Sandok · Jul 17, 2005, 07:53 PM

got cmss 2 working and the sound quality is GREAT, nothing against it (2 back and 2 front are making it happen with my woofa!) but it's a pity the front one doesn't join the party... oh well

Zelig · Jul 17, 2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandok

got cmss 2 working and the sound quality is GREAT, nothing against it (2 back and 2 front are making it happen with my woofa!) but it's a pity the front one doesn't join the party... oh well

Hmm, I just tried with my setup, and both CMSS and CMSS2 do play music through the center channel, but it's *very* quiet.

CMSS2 also seems to nearly double bass output, I had to turn the sub down to compensate for that...

Dark Lord · Jul 17, 2005, 08:55 PM

ya, it would be nice if the center did something, but 2x Stereo sounds great.

Sandok · Jul 17, 2005, 09:14 PM

bah mine's just silent..

Not even little tinee bits of sound

in mp3 playback of course! and some games too... Some use it and others don't. Oh well

Zardon · Jul 17, 2005, 09:44 PM

works fine with the gigaworks speakers, also loads of room for balancing adjustments with the setup. what speakers are you using?

Sandok · Jul 17, 2005, 09:55 PM

Dunno thses are the speakers I got with my Dell System. All I know is that they are Altec Lansing. I have a booklet somewhere and will search for it tomorrow. And if ever, you can only get these speakers with Dell (before not anymore) so ya, they are sorta speciale

Jitter · Jul 20, 2005, 11:55 PM

Not sure how your system is set up, but I have a cheap surround system (100W) from walmart where the receiver powers all speakers + the woofer. It only has one connect to the soundcard so I put in in the front l/r output. Run the speaker test and see if front l/r and rear are working properly. Try changing jacks on your card maybe. With my setup and creative drivers, the center and subwofer dont respond to the speaker test, but work fine in games and movies. With KX drivers i use the 4.1 set up w/ surround on (no subwoofer output) and all my speakers and woofer work correctly w/ the speaker test.

Jul 17, 2005, 07:39 PM	#1
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	5.1 center speaker question! Okay, so I got a nice 5.1 system but you know what, in MP3 playback, the center speaker ain't ever on (I just tried Episode 4 Lost Hope DVD Edition and the center speaker makes noise :P) and I was wondering, does the MP3 have to be encoded to use all the sound sources or what? I got an Audigy 2 if ever.

Jul 17, 2005, 07:49 PM	#2
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	Yeah, mp3s are just stereo, so you've already got some sort of upmixing happening if you have sound coming from the rear speakers. Try enabling cmss for your card to upmix it to the center channel if you want. __________________ --

Jul 17, 2005, 08:55 PM	#5
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 125 System Specs	ya, it would be nice if the center did something, but 2x Stereo sounds great. __________________

Jul 20, 2005, 11:55 PM	#9
Jitter HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 534 Rep Power: 0	Not sure how your system is set up, but I have a cheap surround system (100W) from walmart where the receiver powers all speakers + the woofer. It only has one connect to the soundcard so I put in in the front l/r output. Run the speaker test and see if front l/r and rear are working properly. Try changing jacks on your card maybe. With my setup and creative drivers, the center and subwofer dont respond to the speaker test, but work fine in games and movies. With KX drivers i use the 4.1 set up w/ surround on (no subwoofer output) and all my speakers and woofer work correctly w/ the speaker test. __________________ Sony Vaio PCV-RX670 P4 1.8ghz XP Pro SP2 1 GB PC2100 RAM ATI All in Wonder 9700 pro Audigy 2 ZS Aquamark ~29,500 3dMark03 ~ 5,000

Jul 17, 2005, 07:53 PM	Thread Starter #3
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	got cmss 2 working and the sound quality is GREAT, nothing against it (2 back and 2 front are making it happen with my woofa!) but it's a pity the front one doesn't join the party... oh well

Jul 17, 2005, 09:14 PM	Thread Starter #6
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	bah mine's just silent.. Not even little tinee bits of sound in mp3 playback of course! and some games too... Some use it and others don't. Oh well

Jul 17, 2005, 09:44 PM	#7
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	works fine with the gigaworks speakers, also loads of room for balancing adjustments with the setup. what speakers are you using?

Jul 17, 2005, 09:55 PM	Thread Starter #8
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	Dunno thses are the speakers I got with my Dell System. All I know is that they are Altec Lansing. I have a booklet somewhere and will search for it tomorrow. And if ever, you can only get these speakers with Dell (before not anymore) so ya, they are sorta speciale