Surround Sound Not Working

[JazzMonster]

Okay guys, strap in coz this is a long one.

I "recently" (3 months ago) got an Aurora Ryzen R14 which is 7.1 compatible which is cool coz I have a 5.1 setup although never able to use it as before this PC I only had a laptop.

I set it up and it semed to be working great, even just on YouTube the sound was amazing

Chrome received an update, not sure if this in itself is the very core of the problem but we will revisit this.

I got a few more peripheral products such as a Razor Keyboard and a HyperX mic.I downloaded some 3rd part software like AudioBanana. Not sure if either of these things are the issue but they shouldn't be and we will revisit this in a roundabout way.

Some time in the last 2 months or so the surround sound stopped working.

To be clear it has only stopped working on services like Chrome such as YouTube and Netflix. It works fine and all channels produce sound as expected like in the RealTek Auio Console, in the "Sound" section of Control Panel Settings AND in the 7.1 test in the Fusion tab of the AlienWare Comman Centre, so I am skeptical that any of the peripheral devices or software are the issue.

I then got a nice new pair of Studio Monitoring speakers, and have them set us as FR+FL with the FR+FL of the 5.1 set up as SL+SR with the RL+RR staying as the rear pair. And STILL all the 3 different "chanel tests" provided by the operating system work perfectly fine.I am also convinced this is not the issue as they work as expected in a game I play, where the Studio speakers work as Front channels and the Front Channels of the 5.1 work as Side channels HOWEVER even before I changed this around, and persistently, the Rear channels do not work at all so I believe THAT is an in-game issue as only 2.1 works for some users and despite the GAME claiming to be 5.1 enabled (another layer of weird seeing as though SIDE chanels work but REAR does not) countless players CLAIM it is not...

I have done DAYS of research and many people seem to blame Chrome browse (or potentially an update at some point) for Surround Sound not working, however EVEN THIS I struggle to believe as https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html works absolutely as expected for a total of now 4 different "chanel tests" working as expected.Microsoft Edge browser seems not to work, even though it is an alternative that disgruntled Chrome users seem to suggest.Regardless of Fraunhofer working as expected, I hate tried the "Chrome Target Path changes" in the Shortcuts tab of a Chrome shortcut on my desktop, suggested by some users including adding " --try-supported-channel-layouts", " --force-wave-audio", " --disable-audio-output-resampler" and even " --disable-features=AudioServiceOutOfProcess" and every permutation of combinations as suggested... To no avail.

I have tried to use the APOequilizer and HeSuVi programs from SourceForge as a "workaround". Strangely this actually temporary stopped the Side Channel (Set up as the Front speakers from the 5.1 set-up from working, however after an uninstal and reboot, this is resolved.

I have downloaded a trial version of Dolby Atmos. Nothing.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled RealTek audio drivers. Nothing.

I have uninstalled the audio drivers for the peripherals. Nothing.

I am considering purchasing something like this https://www.mwave.com.au/product/startech-71-usb-audio-adapter-external-sound-card-ab66953?gclid=CjwKCAjwhNWZBhB_EiwAPzlhNoumxYwMOyw3jno0MQow9A49gJztLqd2RgQBmdZ1kRwZ3cRmYyIIEBoC2GMQAvD_BwE but am loathe to spend 76 bucks to fix a problem that by all rights and all operating system+Fraunhofer tests, should seem to not need to exist.

I am completely and utterly confused and have absolutely no idea what to even do or try or attempt at this point, and I'm wondering if theres some super obvious thing I've overlooked or some setting I'm not aware of or some known conflict of software that I'm not privvy too or something I can dowload that I SOMEHOW haven't come across already in trying to fix this so I'm crowd-sourcing the porblem in hopes one of you fine folk out there will have a fix for me as im quite infuriated at this point :'(

I've tried contacting AlienWare support but they only fix they could offer was supplying a new MotherBoard. I rejected this as the ONLY thing I AM confident is NOT the problem is the speakers and the operating system.
The systems SENDS 7.1 FINE as per all 4 tests and the speakers RECEIVE it as per those same tests....

I'm going to post this in several locations as I'm not sure this will be the best/most relevant one.

 

[Trebdp83]

Maybe I missed the information about the 5.1 system that is connected to the PC and how exactly the two are connected to each other. More information would be helpful.

 

[JazzMonster]

Oh yeah, my bad they're connected with wires.

Jokes aside, there are 7.1 augio jack plugs for the speakers on the backplate (where everything plugs in) of the PC... Front is plugged into front, rear is plugged into rear etc... with no sarcasm intended I really dont know what else to tell you :s

 

[everettT]

Oh yeah, my bad they're connected with wires.

Jokes aside, there are 7.1 augio jack plugs for the speakers on the backplate (where everything plugs in) of the PC... Front is plugged into front, rear is plugged into rear etc... with no sarcasm intended I really dont know what else to tell you :s

What AVR? More the likely you need to ha e a video card thar has HDMI audio/ video out to pass the audio codecs to the AVR, but again more specific information is needed.
Settings in the PC
What player in the PC are you using
Make and model of AVR
Video card in PC
Brand of speakers

 

[JazzMonster]

What AVR? More the likely you need to ha e a video card thar has HDMI audio/ video out to pass the audio codecs to the AVR, but again more specific information is needed.
Settings in the PC
What player in the PC are you using
Make and model of AVR
Video card in PC
Brand of speakers

AVR?

 

[Wardog555]

AVR?

Audio video receiver.

You know that big box that powers speakers and have many hdmi ports...

 

[everettT]

AVR?

Are we to assume that you have no AVR and are using powered speakers? I'd would be a whole lot easier if you could just list all of your equipment, make and model. After that we when can get into connections and settings.

 

[Trebdp83]

If powered speakers and 7.1 analog connections are used with the PC just sending what it is getting with no processing of say 2.0 material, then there will be many occasions when all of the speakers do not produce sound until some actual processing is done.

This can actually be the case even when using an AVR and HDMI connections. A PC might be set for eight channel (7.1)output and an AVR might recognize a multichannel input but sound still may only be heard from the front speakers if there is only a 2.0 signal coming through. Some new streamers can screw things up as well if not set to bitstream/passthrough.

Using a browser to view content very often results in two channel audio content that cannot be processed into other channels by an AVR because the 2.0 signal is locked into a multichannel container. Using a digital connection, one can change the PC output to 2.0 in such cases and the AVR can work with it and apply an upmixer to produce sound from all of the speakers in the system. But, that isn’t the case with separate analog connections to powered speakers.

 

[JazzMonster]

Are we to assume that you have no AVR and are using powered speakers? I'd would be a whole lot easier if you could just list all of your equipment, make and model. After that we when can get into connections and settings.

PC: Aurora Ryzen R14 running Windows 11 Home Version 21H2
Videocard: Realtek using Driver Version 10.0.22000.1
Settings: 7.1 configured as stated?? All windows tests provided by RealTek or Control Panel send correct audio signal to the correct speakers
No AVR
Speakers: AudioEngine A5+ studio monitoring speakers set up as Front chanels (for music produciotn) and Logitech x530 5.1 surround sound set up as Centre, Side and Rear channels
Player/s used: Chrome doesnt work expect for Fraunhofer surround test site,
Firefox doesnt work although apparently it should
Youtube app doesnt work althouggh apparently it should, and
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Apps ACTUALLY work except the sound produced through the Front chanels (regardles of speakers used) is muffled and "sounds like its underwater" and of terrible quality is the only way I could describe it.
A game I play, DOES actually work but just not the REAR channels of all things? Side chennels I might expect to drop out if it only supports 5.1 which is what it declares that it supports, but they work fine.

 

[JazzMonster]

Audio video receiver.

You know that big box that powers speakers and have many hdmi ports...

yeah no, actually. not using one.

 

[JazzMonster]

If powered speakers and 7.1 analog connections are used with the PC just sending what it is getting with no processing of say 2.0 material, then there will be many occasions when all of the speakers do not produce sound until some actual processing is done.

This can actually be the case even when using an AVR and HDMI connections. A PC might be set for eight channel (7.1)output and an AVR might recognize a multichannel input but sound still may only be heard from the front speakers if there is only a 2.0 signal coming through. Some new streamers can screw things up as well if not set to bitstream/passthrough.

Using a browser to view content very often results in two channel audio content that cannot be processed into other channels by an AVR because the 2.0 signal is locked into a multichannel container. Using a digital connection, one can change the PC output to 2.0 in such cases and the AVR can work with it and apply an upmixer to produce sound from all of the speakers in the system. But, that isn’t the case with separate analog connections to powered speakers.

SO I do very much need to use something like https://www.mwave.com.au/product/startech-71-usb-audio-adapter-external-sound-card-ab66953?gclid=CjwKCAjwhNWZBhB_EiwAPzlhNoumxYwMOyw3jno0MQow9A49gJztLqd2RgQBmdZ1kRwZ3cRmYyIIEBoC2GMQAvD_BwE as a passthrough to upmix the stereo (2.0) to surround 5/7.1?

 

[Wardog555]

Yay we getting somewhere. Now first things first. Internet browsers don't support surround sound generally.

You need to be using surround content like movies and gaming etc. Local media players like vlc and ensure it's settings are correct.

Netflix is the only streaming service im aware of that has a windows app and is capable of surround sound and 4k compatible on windows . Or you can also use Microsoft edge.

Hope this helps.

 

[Trebdp83]

SO I do very much need to use something like https://www.mwave.com.au/product/startech-71-usb-audio-adapter-external-sound-card-ab66953?gclid=CjwKCAjwhNWZBhB_EiwAPzlhNoumxYwMOyw3jno0MQow9A49gJztLqd2RgQBmdZ1kRwZ3cRmYyIIEBoC2GMQAvD_BwE as a passthrough to upmix the stereo (2.0) to surround 5/7.1?

That device is redundant as you already have 7.1 analog(3.5mm) audio outputs. That particular device is not compatible for anything above Windows 7 that I can find.

Did you actually download the service apps from the Microsoft store or just using the different web browsers?

 

[JazzMonster]

That device is redundant as you already have 7.1 analog(3.5mm) audio outputs. That particular device is not compatible for anything above Windows 7 that I can find.

Did you actually download the service apps from the Microsoft store or just using the different web browsers?

Thats waht i thought but people talk about "upmixing via a passthrough" and I thought it might do that. Seems like only the Asus Xonar U7 MKII might do what I want.

Downloaded from microsoft store lol, hence calling them apps?