Use all 5.1 speakers with a 2.1 audio source

Question

I just bought a 5.1 surround sound speaker set for my computer in my bedroom. The rear speakers are next to me in bed while the front speakers are at the other end of the bed at my feet. While I enjoy the surround sound during movies that support 5.1 sound, I would like to have my rear speakers working when listening to podcasts, or other 2.1 channel sound. How can I do this? When I enable "Speaker Fill" in the Realtek Hd Audio manager the sound only comes out of the front and center speakers with a few background noises that come out the rear ones. But since my ears are closer to the rear speakers, I'd rather have the sound come out of them.

Let me know of any ideas!

Hmm seems like the only option is to set the rear speakers to "Front Speakers" and change it to stereo in the Realtek HD audio. But still that take alot of steps and it doesnt not use the center speaker Thanks

Solution 1

This might not be exactly what you're after, but there is a Winamp plugin for Windows Vista/7 that provides various options for upmixing stereo signals to 5.1 (and higher), you might just be able to make out the configuration options from this blurry screenshot:

Solution 2

In my case, I was having the same problem, my music and most videos were on 2.1 and I only heard 2 of the 5 speakers. Videogames and some videos had 5.1 so no problem.

If you're running Win7 and you have no other than the default sound driver, there is an option "Speaker Fill" that solves all problems!

First, right click on the sound icon in the task bar (right lower corner), choose "Playback Devices".

If you have only one sound output, it'll be the only one on the list. If you have more than one then, while playing some music, you'll notice one of the device's volume bar moving, that's the one you should select.

Select your audio input and click on "Properties". Then go to "Enhacements" tab. There should be a checkbox with the "Speaker Fill" in the middle. Select it and press apply.

Worked for me perfectly, 5.1 sound on 2.1 music =D

Solution 3

It's completely non-software, but what about getting an audio source switch from a place like Radio Shack and have the front and rear speakers go through it between the computer and you, so that when you're doing a non-5.1 sound activity, you can manually just switch the speakers to put the "front" near you?

Solution 4

Usually with a 5.1 speaker system on the Realtek HD,
you should get an upmix of your stereo and 2.1 audio.
Check this AVSForum discussion on Disable stereo upmix on Realtek HD Audio?

The Reaktek control app has options to select the Audio I/O for various number of channels. Maybe you need to change this to 5.1?

If you are using Windows Vista, i came across this weird discussion on
Vista and Realtek HD audio cannot provide surround sound

Solution 5

If you use the realtek, download the realtek Driver http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

From the Audio Manager/Control Select the speaker tab. On the right hand side, there are six icons of connector Right click on pink connect icon. Select connection configuration. Select Rear Speaker Right click on black connect icon. Select connection configuration. Select Front Speaker Front Rear Sound will be switched

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Comments

[Karan]

possible duplicate of Stereo sound through whole 5.1 speaker set - is it possible with WinXP or 7?

[Jonathan]

Don't forget to right click on the output ports on hd audio manager and click "Connector Retasking" and make sure each is checked

[thegreyspot]

I have "speaker Configuration" set to 5.1 Speaker. I do not see any options for "upmix", can you point me in the right direction? thanks!

[thegreyspot]

Kewl plugin, it did exactly what I wanted!! I'm going to wait and see if some one has a more universal solution, if not you will definitely get the bounty. THanks!

[prajakta]

Glad it helped, it does seem like there should be a broader solution, I'll keep looking

[Magnetic_dud]

this will make the 5.1 audio source, become a 2.1 audio source. bad suggestion

[Andrew Scagnelli]

This is merely a splitter for a standard stereo source.

[kinokijuf]

@bobobobo It’s not the function of driver, but the app. Performing such functions in the driver would make playing 5.1 sound impossible.

[Paul]

Thinking out of the box is not a bad idea.

[Sampo Sarrala - codidact.org]

Actually this could be used to upmix 2-channel source to 4-channel. Most probably amplifier will add those center/low-freq channels internally, still depends on amplifier. However, there should be more than just a link...

[nixda]

There's a newer foobar plugin called Channel mixer which does the same

[Gerbus]

This worked for me. Uninstall the realtek driver and use the windows default.

[Daniel]

FYI that plugin link is broken. Got an alternate link?

[CTS_AE]

This does get some audio playing on my rear speakers but it's too "tinny/compressed" it doesn't seem to be doing a 1:1 mirror of the left front channel to the left rear channel that I'm looking for. I imagine it's applying some "effect" to the audio or giving it an echo.

[Jenna Terral]

My device had a property "environment" at the same place and I had to change it's setting to "Room"

[Cold_Class]

link doesn't work

[virtualdj]

This was the only solution that worked for me in Windows 10 with almost all the apps (Firefox, Windows Media Player, ecc.); but sometimes VLC refuses to open a stereo output for MP3, while it does for videos.

[virtualdj]

It works, but needs to keep the Voicemeeter app loaded; EqualizerAPO is better.

[Ricardo Saracino]

EqualizerAPO was the Solution for me maxedtech.com/… Copy: MIX=0.5*L+0.5*R C=MIX SUB=MIX SL=L SR=R