Issue with Genius SW-5.1 1500 5.1 speaker system

Hi!

I have a Genius Sound Maker Value 5.1 with a Genius SW-5.1 1500 5.1 surround speaker system attached to it. I downloaded the audio drivers from the C-media web page (the manufacturer of the that drivers) and both the Windows seven's control panel and in the set panel of the driver's software every of the 5 speakers and the bass sound clearly, but when I try to play any music with Windows Media Player 11, it just plays with two of the five speakers as if it were a 2.0 system. Realplayer also does the same thing. If any person of the Windows 7 developers team or any expert on this matter can help me, I would be so glad!

Does your speaker system support matrix sound? Matrix is a virtualized 5.1 environment. It's also called "Speaker fill" in the Realtek control panel.

The reason I'm asking is, if you aren't listening to true 5.1 audio, then "matrix" or "speaker fill" mode virtualizes it, which leads to pretty horrible sounding sound from the rear speakers. With MP3s especailly, there is little 5.1 support in the music scene.

Angelblond: My first suggestion would be to see if your speakers and soundcard support Speaker fill/Matrix mode, and, if so, see if it is enabled. That may be why you are only getting stereo sound. I would think that it does, and that you have it enabled, as when I run the realtek control panel sound test, if I don't turn off matrix mode, then I only hear sounds from the FL, FR and Sub.