Windows 7 - Problem with 5.1 audio

My issue is that when I go the Control Panel > Sounds and have my configuration set to 5.1 I can't get to the bass management enhancement where I can set the subwoofer crossover frequency. If I have the sound configured to stereo or quadraphonic the bass management enhancement appears, but as soon as I set it to 5.1 it goes away. When I have it set to stereo or quadraphonic and I go to bass management it tells me that my subwoofer is not present and won't allow me to change the frequency. I was able to change the frequency previously with the same OS, then one day I noticed that my bass had decreased greatly and that is when I saw that bass management magically disappeared for 5.1.

I also have the IDT HD Sound program installed, but I had that installed back when I was able to adjust the crossover frequency - so that has nothing to do with it... Any suggestions as to why it somehow disappeared?

Thanks in advanced.

P.S. I put in all of my PC specs when I registered if you need to look at them.

EDIT: I should mention that when I have it set to 5.1 audio in the control panel I get true 5.1 audio -all of the channels work, but the bass is definitely lacking compared to when I was able to adjust the crossover frequency.

What driver were you using when it worked? what driver are you using now? check in device manager (type device manager in search)

Ken

05ls7gto, welcome to the forums.

Wouldn't happen to have Windows Update set to download and install updates automatically would you? Sounds like that is what happened and one of those updates was for the sound card.

If that is the case double check the list of installed updates and see when it happened. Then go to Device Manager, locate the sound card, right click on it and select Properties, click on the Driver tab and select Rollback. That should get it back to the previous driver that worked as it should.

If that doesn't work or the Rollback option is grayed out, it will take running System Restore using the restore point from just before the driver update was installed to get back to the one that worked.

Hmm didn't think of that guys, I do install Windows Updates once in a while manually - that may just be the problem. I'll check over my latest set of installed updates and look at the sound card drivers.

EDIT: Just looked at my sound card drivers and the current driver date is 5/13/2008, so I don't think that is the cause. I will check my most recently installed updates now.

EDIT 2: The last time I did an update was 6/4/2010 so I don't think that would be the issue either. Take a look at my update history:

That looks like it rules out WU. Have you tried re-installing the driver? If not go with the one from ECS,

ECS Web Site

No idea if it is actually newer than what you have installed, but the release date is over a year newer than what you currently have installed.

Just installed the latest drivers and they are definitely newer than what I had. I just set back my equalizer and settings with the new IDT drivers, but I still can't access Bass Management through Control Panel > Sounds > Enhancements when set to 5.1. When set to Stereo or Quadraphonic Bass Management shows up but then it says Subwoofer: Not Present and I cannot adjust the crossover frequency.

I am really baffled as to why I can no longer use Bass Management when set to 5.1 because I know for a fact I was able to adjust the crossover frequency before and it really improved the performance of my sub.

Thanks for the sound driver update though, it is a much better interface.

EDIT: Problem solved. After fiddling around with the new sound drivers I found an option to adjust the crossover frequency and now the bass is back to how it was. Thanks SO much! +rep

Just curious, you have your z5500's connected via analogue or digital?

I'm using RCA's to connect to my PC and Coaxial to my XBOX 360.

I got currently exactlythe same behavior...I have an HERCULE MUSE POCKET LT and bass management disappears also again today...with the redirection of the signal to subwoofeer...so I miss dramatically bass on my satellites speakers !

I guess there is somehow an autodetection protocole. based on impedance load or connector insertion, either in the sound card (what would sounds logical), either at the driver level itself...anyway it is just like if the subwoofer is not detected...maybe loading the subwoofer line...mmmhh...I will try!

I've just found you have to deslect full range speakers in the windows 5.1 speakers configuration and bass management and redirection works..