Solved Had 2.1 detection via Optical out and lost it.

[Seven Usa]

(Solved) Had 2.1 detection via Optical out and lost it.

I have an ASUS P6X58D-E MB with Realtek HD Audio connected to a Yamaha receiver in a pass through config via Digital Optical out.

I was getting the PCM signal showing LF, RF & Sub icons on the receiver's LCD screen (2.1), and playing the front and sub speakers when the receiver was set to "Straight".

I recently tried connecting a shielded RCA video cable (which I read should work) to the Coaxial Digital out after reading some say coaxial produces a bit better sound.

I then switched the default device to Digital out vs Optical. I got no sound output this way. In hooking back up the optical cable and re-configuring the default device, I lost the Sub icon and 2.1 sound, it just shows and plays as stereo now.

I've read there is a workaround for this using the speaker configuration option in the Realtek HD panel, but the latest drivers want to install ASUS' version of the Realtek HD Audio Manager, which I can't find ANY speaker config settings in.

This is what my Realtek HD panel looks like now:

This is the Realtek HD Audio Manager GUI I used to see when updating drivers:

This is the thread I took the 2nd pic from, which has a claimed workaround for no 2.1 option in Realtek HD Audio Manager, but I see no way to use it with my ASUS control panel. The ASUS panel also seems buggy. When putting the cursor over the optical and coaxial output icons, they both show onscreen hints saying they're optical.

I don't even know if this workaround will work for my problem since the examples as far as I can tell are all with analog speaker connections vs digital out. I want to at least see if I can install REALTEK's own version of the HD Audio Manager vs ASUS' though. Can anyone tell me if that is possible without rolling far back on drivers?

Solved no 2.1 option in realtek HD - Vista Forums

 

[Seven Usa]

I'm happy to report this was a mere settings adjustment on my receiver vs a Realtek HD Audio Manager or W7 software problem.

Turns out I had my front speakers set to Large, whereby the subwoofer channel was disabled. Setting the fronts to Small allows the sub channel to play.

I tried Large because the fronts are rated at 48Hz, and my friend's Pioneer receiver set the same exact speakers to Large after it auto calibrated, and his sub plays fine.

Just different receiver design I guess.