What's new

Surround Sound Not Working (1 Viewer)

JazzMonster

Auditioning
Joined
Sep 30, 2022
Messages
5
Real Name
Jera
Okay guys, strap in coz this is a long one.

I "recently" (3 months ago) got an Aurora Ryzen R14 which is 7.1 compatible which is cool coz I have a 5.1 setup although never able to use it as before this PC I only had a laptop.

I set it up and it semed to be working great, even just on YouTube the sound was amazing

Chrome received an update, not sure if this in itself is the very core of the problem but we will revisit this.

I got a few more peripheral products such as a Razor Keyboard and a HyperX mic.I downloaded some 3rd part software like AudioBanana. Not sure if either of these things are the issue but they shouldn't be and we will revisit this in a roundabout way.

Some time in the last 2 months or so the surround sound stopped working.

To be clear it has only stopped working on services like Chrome such as YouTube and Netflix. It works fine and all channels produce sound as expected like in the RealTek Auio Console, in the "Sound" section of Control Panel Settings AND in the 7.1 test in the Fusion tab of the AlienWare Comman Centre, so I am skeptical that any of the peripheral devices or software are the issue.

I then got a nice new pair of Studio Monitoring speakers, and have them set us as FR+FL with the FR+FL of the 5.1 set up as SL+SR with the RL+RR staying as the rear pair. And STILL all the 3 different "chanel tests" provided by the operating system work perfectly fine.I am also convinced this is not the issue as they work as expected in a game I play, where the Studio speakers work as Front channels and the Front Channels of the 5.1 work as Side channels HOWEVER even before I changed this around, and persistently, the Rear channels do not work at all so I believe THAT is an in-game issue as only 2.1 works for some users and despite the GAME claiming to be 5.1 enabled (another layer of weird seeing as though SIDE chanels work but REAR does not) countless players CLAIM it is not...

I have done DAYS of research and many people seem to blame Chrome browse (or potentially an update at some point) for Surround Sound not working, however EVEN THIS I struggle to believe as https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html works absolutely as expected for a total of now 4 different "chanel tests" working as expected.Microsoft Edge browser seems not to work, even though it is an alternative that disgruntled Chrome users seem to suggest.Regardless of Fraunhofer working as expected, I hate tried the "Chrome Target Path changes" in the Shortcuts tab of a Chrome shortcut on my desktop, suggested by some users including adding " --try-supported-channel-layouts", " --force-wave-audio", " --disable-audio-output-resampler" and even " --disable-features=AudioServiceOutOfProcess" and every permutation of combinations as suggested... To no avail.

I have tried to use the APOequilizer and HeSuVi programs from SourceForge as a "workaround". Strangely this actually temporary stopped the Side Channel (Set up as the Front speakers from the 5.1 set-up from working, however after an uninstal and reboot, this is resolved.

I have downloaded a trial version of Dolby Atmos. Nothing.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled RealTek audio drivers. Nothing.

I have uninstalled the audio drivers for the peripherals. Nothing.

I am considering purchasing something like this https://www.mwave.com.au/product/st...49gJztLqd2RgQBmdZ1kRwZ3cRmYyIIEBoC2GMQAvD_BwE but am loathe to spend 76 bucks to fix a problem that by all rights and all operating system+Fraunhofer tests, should seem to not need to exist.

I am completely and utterly confused and have absolutely no idea what to even do or try or attempt at this point, and I'm wondering if theres some super obvious thing I've overlooked or some setting I'm not aware of or some known conflict of software that I'm not privvy too or something I can dowload that I SOMEHOW haven't come across already in trying to fix this so I'm crowd-sourcing the porblem in hopes one of you fine folk out there will have a fix for me as im quite infuriated at this point :'(

I've tried contacting AlienWare support but they only fix they could offer was supplying a new MotherBoard. I rejected this as the ONLY thing I AM confident is NOT the problem is the speakers and the operating system.
The systems SENDS 7.1 FINE as per all 4 tests and the speakers RECEIVE it as per those same tests....

I'm going to post this in several locations as I'm not sure this will be the best/most relevant one.
 

Lord Dalek

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Messages
7,090
Real Name
Joel Henderson
Why don't you try Firefox instead if Chrome is the problem?
 

JazzMonster

Auditioning
Joined
Sep 30, 2022
Messages
5
Real Name
Jera
Why don't you try Firefox instead if Chrome is the problem?
So yeah, nah doesnt work, and also its not chrome because "https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html" works fine, which would lead me to belive it's either an oversight, or CHOICE of companies like YouTube or Netflix to not encode for surround sound when its not a compatibility fault on the part of the browser and they clearly have the capability to do so...
 

Dave Upton

Audiophile
Moderator
Reviewer
Joined
May 16, 2012
Messages
4,409
Location
Houston, TX
Real Name
Dave Upton
So yeah, nah doesnt work, and also its not chrome because "https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html" works fine, which would lead me to belive it's either an oversight, or CHOICE of companies like YouTube or Netflix to not encode for surround sound when its not a compatibility fault on the part of the browser and they clearly have the capability to do so...
This is Netflix not supporting browser based surround. You'll need to download their native UWP Windows app. Source: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/14163

1664724106210.png
 

Dave Upton

Audiophile
Moderator
Reviewer
Joined
May 16, 2012
Messages
4,409
Location
Houston, TX
Real Name
Dave Upton
I have done this and both netflix and amazon prime app Front Channel now sound like the speakers are underwater and its super low quality sound
The reality is that using a PC as a source for streaming is difficult and fraught with challenges.

What are you using as your surround processor?
 

JazzMonster

Auditioning
Joined
Sep 30, 2022
Messages
5
Real Name
Jera
The reality is that using a PC as a source for streaming is difficult and fraught with challenges.

What are you using as your surround processor?
like the video card?? Ill send specs:

PC: Aurora Ryzen R14 running Windows 11 Home Version 21H2
Videocard: Realtek using Driver Version 10.0.22000.1
Settings: 7.1 configured as stated?? All windows tests provided by RealTek or Control Panel send correct audio signal to the correct speakers
Avr: none
Speakers: AudioEngine A5+ studio monitoring speakers set up as Front chanels (for music produciotn) and Logitech x530 5.1 surround sound set up as Centre, Side and Rear channels
Player/s used: Chrome doesnt work expect for Fraunhofer surround test site,
Firefox doesnt work although apparently it should
Youtube app doesnt work althouggh apparently it should, and
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Apps ACTUALLY work except the sound produced through the Front chanels (regardles of speakers used) is muffled and "sounds like its underwater" and of terrible quality is the only way I could describe it.
A game I play, DOES actually work but just not the REAR channels of all things? Side chennels I might expect to drop out if it only supports 5.1 which is what it declares that it supports, but they work fine.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,710
Messages
5,121,136
Members
144,146
Latest member
SaladinNagasawa
Recent bookmarks
0
Top