Unable to get true 5.1 surround?

pmf71 · Oct 25, 2011, 10:34 PM

Hello,

I am new to this forum and fairly new to the kx drivers.

I have a mediacenter PC with an audigy 2 ZS hooked up to a Harman Kardon AVR255 for movie audio. The OS is Win7 x64.

I have 6 of the 8 outputs (all but the rear outputs) connected to the AVR for 5.1 surround sound. I want to expand to 7.1 but that is a later issue as i will have to make 4-pole connectors myself. First i need to resolve an issue i have regarding sound output, which i will elaborate from here on.

I am having trouble getting full 5.1 surround sound from an AC-3/DTS/Stereo Prologic media source. When i setup the KX to deliver 5.1 surround, i do get all 4 corner speakers working, and the center speaker also plays, but the two front speakers AND the center all play the same. FL and FR are stereo when playing music etc. Kind of tricky to explain exactly, but it's as if, when using any media source(whether it be stereo, pro logic, ac-3 or dts), it mixes the center channel with FL and FR, plays that over FL+FR, and then creates a mono signal from FL+FR to send to the center speaker. In other words, whatever media source i use, i hear all sound from the front+center channels coming out of the center speaker in mono, and from the FL+FR speakers in stereo. Of course i want discrete 5.1 channels playing on their respective speakers, not this weird mix which just doesnt sound right anyway, voices sound wide while they should be coming straight from the screen/center spk.

Ultimately, it's my goal to get it set up so that when playing different sources, kx automatically sees the difference between stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround, but as i said first i need to get 5.1 working properly

Can anyone help me on this, either by pointing me to a tutorial, or a good working preset, or maybe something else useful? I am very techminded so i dont mind getting my hands dirty working stuff out, just in this case i at least need to be pointed in the right direction.

By the way, subwoofer output works fine, it handles both sub channel and crossover from FL+FR and mixes and routes that to the sub fine.

If u need more info regarding the current settings, please ask and i will try to give u what u need in the form of screen shots.

Thanks in advance,

P.

silvertones · Oct 26, 2011, 01:59 PM

I can't help with the surround issue however I use 8 outs for my "band" to a mixer. You don't need to make your own cables. All you need is one cable with an 1/8" stereo plug to two RCA plugs and two of these cables. They came in various lengths.
Hosa Technology Mini AV (Camcorder) to 3 RCA Composite C3M-103

pmf71 · Oct 26, 2011, 09:59 PM

Thanks for that info. Indeed those cables are suitable for this purpose.

I am going to try out the DTS connect pack before i attempt any more experimenting with kx driver. It all depend if the DCP can also crossover lows from the front speakers to the sub while passing through AC-3/DTS to the S/PDIF output.

Oct 25, 2011, 10:34 PM	#1
pmf71 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Unable to get true 5.1 surround? Hello, I am new to this forum and fairly new to the kx drivers. I have a mediacenter PC with an audigy 2 ZS hooked up to a Harman Kardon AVR255 for movie audio. The OS is Win7 x64. I have 6 of the 8 outputs (all but the rear outputs) connected to the AVR for 5.1 surround sound. I want to expand to 7.1 but that is a later issue as i will have to make 4-pole connectors myself. First i need to resolve an issue i have regarding sound output, which i will elaborate from here on. I am having trouble getting full 5.1 surround sound from an AC-3/DTS/Stereo Prologic media source. When i setup the KX to deliver 5.1 surround, i do get all 4 corner speakers working, and the center speaker also plays, but the two front speakers AND the center all play the same. FL and FR are stereo when playing music etc. Kind of tricky to explain exactly, but it's as if, when using any media source(whether it be stereo, pro logic, ac-3 or dts), it mixes the center channel with FL and FR, plays that over FL+FR, and then creates a mono signal from FL+FR to send to the center speaker. In other words, whatever media source i use, i hear all sound from the front+center channels coming out of the center speaker in mono, and from the FL+FR speakers in stereo. Of course i want discrete 5.1 channels playing on their respective speakers, not this weird mix which just doesnt sound right anyway, voices sound wide while they should be coming straight from the screen/center spk. Ultimately, it's my goal to get it set up so that when playing different sources, kx automatically sees the difference between stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround, but as i said first i need to get 5.1 working properly Can anyone help me on this, either by pointing me to a tutorial, or a good working preset, or maybe something else useful? I am very techminded so i dont mind getting my hands dirty working stuff out, just in this case i at least need to be pointed in the right direction. By the way, subwoofer output works fine, it handles both sub channel and crossover from FL+FR and mixes and routes that to the sub fine. If u need more info regarding the current settings, please ask and i will try to give u what u need in the form of screen shots. Thanks in advance, P. Last edited by pmf71; Oct 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM.

Oct 26, 2011, 01:59 PM	#2
silvertones HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Rep Power: 39	Re: Unable to get true 5.1 surround? I can't help with the surround issue however I use 8 outs for my "band" to a mixer. You don't need to make your own cables. All you need is one cable with an 1/8" stereo plug to two RCA plugs and two of these cables. They came in various lengths. Hosa Technology Mini AV (Camcorder) to 3 RCA Composite C3M-103

Oct 26, 2011, 09:59 PM	Thread Starter #3
pmf71 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Re: Unable to get true 5.1 surround? Thanks for that info. Indeed those cables are suitable for this purpose. I am going to try out the DTS connect pack before i attempt any more experimenting with kx driver. It all depend if the DCP can also crossover lows from the front speakers to the sub while passing through AC-3/DTS to the S/PDIF output.