No 2.1 audio channels

I never found why it was not showing.

Youtube does support 5.1 but I am no sure if it supports 7.1

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en

Is your speaker properly connected? Did you check to see if it works on a different computer?

If you're windows 7 go to program files x86 or program files and find the Realtek folder. From that you should be able to run the Realtek HD audio manager. I don't if this works but you can try searching from the start bar.

I will try to help you as much I can.

Thank for your reply!

1. I checked the link to YouTube help where it shows that it supports 5.1, but does it support 2.1?

I did a search but could find nothing about 2.1 audio in YouTube Help. I've tried changing the setting on the computer's audio output from Stereo to 5.1 Surround. When I test the speakers while still in "Speaker Setup," there is no sound when it says it's testing the sub-woofer.

I ran the 2.1 Speaker System Test that you referenced in #48 of this thread.
When that YouTube video shows it's testing the sub-woofer, there is bass coming from my sub-woofer but also from the stereo speakers. There is never an instance in any tests I've tried where sound is only coming from the sub-woofer and not the stereo speakers. That would be expected, I suppose, because I have selected Stereo in "Speaker Setup" because there is no option for 2.1 audio and my sub-woofer doesn't pass the test for 5.1 Surround.

2. The speakers are properly connected, from all I can tell. I have not yet tried the speakers on another computer but that's my plan. I will update the result when I do.

3. Regarding the Realtek HD Audio Manager, I had tried searching for it from the start bar but found nothing.

4. I tried looking for the Realtek HD Audio Manager in the x86 Programs folder, as you suggested, but it only had things for the Realtek card reader.

There is a folder for Realtek audio in the other Programs folder, but any applications I click there either seem to do nothing or they take me to Dell's audio manager.

I was quite certain that when I started troubleshooting this, I had the same Realtek HD Audio Manager dashboard on my screen as the one in your screen shot at the beginning of this thread. Maybe I'm mistaken.

Whether I can find that dashboard or not (although I wish I could), my biggest question is how to get sub-woofer audio independently from the stereo speaker. Do I need a different driver, perhaps, that will allow "Speaker Setup" to include 2.1 as one of the options?

Thanks for helping me try to figure this out!

1. YouTube supports 5.1 and below. So it does support 2.1.

2. What is the speaker company? Check how much watts is your sub. My was 4 Watts which is very low. I had to put the volume all the way to max to hear the sub.

3. For the realtek exe file, It might be in C:\Users\BehindYouu\AppData and check one of the folders. If it is not there then I cant help you. You need to turn on hidden files to see those folders. To enable that search hidden in the start menu and it should be the first one.

Again, check the watts on your sub. If it is low then you wont notice it. Tell me the model of the speakers and I will see what I can do.

Also what is your Audio codec? Look at post #4.

some support up to 7.1 channels and some dont. Mine supported to 4 channels. (does not include the sub).

1. Well, that makes sense. Wish it worked the same way with my PC. It supports 5.1 but doesn't appear to support 2.1.

2. My speakers are Altec Lansing BX2321 - a set of 2 "front" speakers (stereo), 6 watts per channel and a 16-watt sub-woofer.

There is sound coming out of the sub-woofer when the "Speaker Setup" is set to Stereo. The trouble is that it seems the bass is also coming out of the stereo speakers. That is, it wouldn't sound much different if you turned the sub-woofer off. The only way to know there is sound coming out of it is to get up close to it. Maybe it's supposed to work that way but it seems it worked independently of the stereo speaker when the system was connected to my XP machine.

3. The realtek exe file appears to be nowhere, but thanks for your advice regarding where to look. The driver is "Realtek ALC3861 Audio, 6.0.1.6909, A01" but that doesn't help find the Realtek HD Audio Manager. So it follows that I can't determine what the Audio codec is. Assuming I am uploading these screenshots properly, here is what I can find:

Hey sorry for late response. I suggest you make a new thread as I don't know how to fix it.

In order for 2.1 to be displayed within the drivers you need 2 connections into your motherboard. 1 connection will be for the stereo, left & right signal – this is usually the green jack. The other will be for the subwoofer – usually the orange jack. This will also allow the software (or driver) to split the audio signal sending discrete low frequency information to the subwoofer and a separate signal for the mids/highs to the satellites.



Both the Altec’s and Logitech speakers mention within this thread are not capable of this connection for they only have a stereo connection. In this case a full range signal is sent to the subwoofer where it is crossed over filtering the mids/highs to the satellites. However, by what is described of the Altecs, there is no crossover and the subwoofer is just used to reinforce the lower frequencies of the satellites.

society misfit said:

In order for 2.1 to be displayed within the drivers you need 2 connections into your motherboard. 1 connection will be for the stereo, left & right signal – this is usually the green jack. The other will be for the subwoofer – usually the orange jack. This will also allow the software (or driver) to split the audio signal sending discrete low frequency information to the subwoofer and a separate signal for the mids/highs to the satellites.



Both the Altec’s and Logitech speakers mention within this thread are not capable of this connection for they only have a stereo connection. In this case a full range signal is sent to the subwoofer where it is crossed over filtering the mids/highs to the satellites. However, by what is described of the Altecs, there is no crossover and the subwoofer is just used to reinforce the lower frequencies of the satellites.

Thank you for the very thorough explanation - very much appreciated. :)