Realtek high definiton audio and Logitech Z-5500

[Weak]

Hi guys!
I just bought a 5.1 sound system (Logitech Z-5500) and I have realtek sound card.
The problems are:

1. In 6 channel mode the center and the rear speakers are not working.
2. In PLII Music, Movie mode the rear speakers are slightly distorted.

The questions are:

1. This is a driver issue?
2. How can I fix this?

I've tried almost everything but still nothing..

 

[stormy13]

Weak, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Are you using the analogue or digital connection? With those speakers and using onboard sound, you would probably be better off using the digital connection, as the speakers are liable to have a better DAC in them than the onboard audio.

This is a driver issue?

Quite possibly is you tried and/or managed to install the Realtek drivers based on what you have listed in your specs. You show it as the AC'97 when your motherboard has the Realtek HD,

http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=m4cR4iaPdABNLtQa

of which you can find links for the latest version here,

http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/3756-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version.html

P.S. If you really want to get the most out of those speakers, you should look into getting a decent sound card and use the analogue connections on it.

 

[Weak]

I'm using analogue connection, and yes I have the latest driver.
So if I want to fix my problem I have to buy optical or coaxial cable or buy a new sound card?

In my opinion 6 ch mode should work with analogue connection.

 

[stormy13]

You using the speaker fill option in the Realtek controls, or using the matrix mode (or any other stereo upmixing) in the speakers control pod?

Also are you testing with a stereo or a 5.1 source?

So if I want to fix my problem I have to buy optical or coaxial cable or buy a new sound card?

Didn't say it would fix your problem, said if you want to get the best sound from those speakers to get a sound card. No idea if it will work as you're expecting using the digital connection.

As far as a sound card goes, it will have a far better DAC in it than what is in the speakers and is used by the onboard audio. If you want to use a digital connection then a sound card is a waste of money unless it has a feature(s) that the onboard doesn't have, as when using a digital connection then it is the DAC in the speakers that is doing the digital to analogue conversion.

 

[Weak]

I don't have the speaker fill option neither matrix mode..
Here are some prints:
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6577/soundman.jpg
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7516/speakerprop.jpg
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/7058/generaly.jpg

 

[stormy13]

Don't have anything with Realtek audio on it here, so going to have to wait on someone that does for the proper settings. That said one thing I did notice from your screen shots,



you don't have the "sides" (which as far as I know is the same as rears in a 5.1 setting) selected. May be why your rears aren't working. Also make sure that it is set to 5.1 in the Windows playback settings.

Also the matrix mode is one of the settings in the control pod for the speakers, not from within Windows.

 

[Weak]

Hmm.. I found something interesting, look:
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8517/choose.jpg
If i run test in 5.1 there i have only SL, SR instead of RL RR and those aren't working, but
if i run test in 7.1 there RL, RR are working. But in 7.1 mode the rear speaker still aren't working with winamp etc..

 

[stormy13]

But in 7.1 mode the rear speaker still aren't working with winamp etc.

Unless the source is encoded in 5.1, all you will get is stereo without some ind of upmix/encoding. From the manual for those speakers,



to get surround sound out of a stereo source (seeing as for whatever reason the speaker fill option is missing) you need to set it to Pro Logic II (music or movie, whichever sounds better to you) on the speakers control pod.

 

[Weak]

I see.. so 6 ch mode sucks.
PLII Music is ok but the rear speakers sometimes make some wierd noises.. I guess it's better if i buy an optical cable.
Thanks for the help.

 

[00waldo]

I also have the Z-5500 and have used it with win xp and realtek drivers. In XP the 6ch mode works correctly and all speakers play. Even when it's a stereo source. I have just upgraded to win7 pro and with the realtek driver I'm using atm I have same problem as Weak when i play music or watch movies. No sound from center and rear speakers. And it's with every mediaplayer I've tried. Winamp, VLC, IE, Firefox. All play stereo. But in realteks audio setup there's no problem with getting the test sound from center and rear.