Does my computer know to mix sub frequencies in with the correct channels?

[FranzFerdinand]

Hi! I'm extremely new to the whole sound system thing but I really like it. Here's my question...

I have a set of Altec Lansing speakers (2.0) connected as rear speakers and then I have a separate Altec Lansing 2.1 system with two speakers just like the ones in the rear but with a sub also (plugs into one of the speakers), which I plugged into my front speaker jack. If I plug the sub into the center jack it gives me very little bass, because I think it needs the AC power from the 2.1 speaker it's supposed to be attached to to amplify it, so I need to keep them connected. So right now I have it set up like that with the center/LFE jack empty. Like this on my soundcard panel: img705.imageshack.us/img705/8074/audiooptions.jpg

So when I configure my sound in Windows 7 I'm telling it that I have a 5.1 system which is missing the optional center speaker but has everything else, including the subwoofer because it does, but it's connected to the other speakers in the 2.1 system. So I'm wondering if by telling it that I have the sub I'm causing it to send the bass to an implied sub connected to the center jack which doesn't really exist, limiting the bass going to the front and rear and in turn the sub connected to the front. Would it be better to tell Windows that I don't have a sub but I have full range speakers so that it will mix all of the bass from the center/LFE channel into the other two? Or is it already doing that now? I mean can it tell that my subwoofer is connected to the front speakers?

I hope that makes sense. It's hard to explain since I don't really know the right names for stuff. If you have any advice about what to do I would really, really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[markw]

What's the model number of your Altec "2.1" speakers?

The reason I ask this is that most likely it doesn't have a true subwoofer even though they like marketing it as such. Most 2.1 speakers are, in fact, just stereo speakers with a common bass box. It's not a subwoofer in the discrete, HT sense of the word that operates off of a separate, discrete channel.

You might be better off siply connecting that 2.1 system as a front r/l stereo pair and telling your 'puter you have no subwoofer. The Altec system will take it from there and sens whatever bass it can to the "subwoofer".

P.S. This is not a dig on Altec 'puter speakers. I use 'em and love 'em but realize what they are.

 

[FranzFerdinand]

What's the model number of your Altec "2.1" speakers?

They're BXR1221AM. I'm going to try connecting them as a stereo pair like you suggested. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for your help!