Advice needed on getting consistent 5.1 playback

I notice that when I play youtube videos or video games and DVDs), the surround sound on my 5.1 is used to good effect. When I play music using Media Monkey or videos using VLC Player or Windows Media Player, the center speaker and woofer are the only speakers that are meaningfully engaged. Even when I lower the center volume (center speaker), there's just the tiniest amount of sound from the 4 satellite speakers.

This is a drag, and it means that this type of audio sounds pretty bad on my system.

I have the Logitech 5.1 speaker system that everyone raves about (no longer in production). I am using the ASUS Realtek HD Audio Manager onboard sound using an S/PDIF-Out. I have looked in the Realtek HD Audio Manager and do not see any options to engage 5.1 sounds. There is a DTS Connect tab with the statement "DTS NeoC only works under quadraphonic, 5.1 or 71. speakers mode." I do have 5.1, yet the options in the DTS Connect are greyed out/inaccessible.

I don't see any options to enable 5.1 in Windows 8.1 mixer options.

Basically, I'd like to have 5.1 used whenever possible, and AT LEAST have the satellite speakers play audio when the audio stream is 2.1, so that it's not just the center speaker and woofer.

Can anyone assist with this? Thanks.

The logitechs are probably set to pro logic mode. Switch to a different mode.

Are you referring to the "Effect" button on the remote, that toggles between PLII Movie, PLII Music, Stereo, and Stereo x2?

The stereo and stereo x2 effects do engage more of the satellite speakers but there's no 5.1 spread for games, movies etc.

I am hoping to avoid an either/or of 5.1 or no 5.1 for the stereo and stereo x2 effects.

Been a while since I've messed with DTS connect and such, but I'll take a crack at it. What model of Logitech by the way?

Assuming your Logitech can decode a DTS signal (if it can't, skip to below) and that you insist on using SPDIF, then the only way to get a 5.1 discrete surround sound signal rolling to your speaker set is using the DTS connect encoding options in Realtek. As you've seen, you need to get 5.1 setup in Windows for your sound device. I'm still using Win 7, so I can't give too much advice on the issue, but perhaps this link would be of value.

If not, you could consider hooking up via discrete analog cables instead of SPDIF and seeing if you can get 5.1 configured correctly that way.

hey thanks

Not sure re: the model b/c I don't see that info on the front controller panel, the speakers, or the remote. Maybe on the back of the subwoofer?

Yes, it can decode DTS. Is there a drawback to using SPDIF? I wouldn't use it if it is not the optimal way of connecting the speakers to my computer.

Yeah, DTS options are not available in the Realtek.

I looked at your link and my Windows settings didn't match that screenshot but I will keep checking online.

Sure thing. The drawback to 5.1 over SPDIF is that it will apply some additional compression to 'squish' those 6 channels into the one SPDIF cable when DTS connect is used. Without this compression, only stereo would be possible. Admittedly, with DTS connect I doubt that compression would be in any way 'hearable'.

At the same time, I don't think you'd lose anything by simply hooking up via analog cables. And the analog route might just simplify the setup issues you're having and get your 5.1 up and running properly with less effort. Your sub has 3 analog inputs on the back, right? Usually a 3.5mm jack each for front Left/right, center/sub, and rear left/right. Color coded like this on the back of the sub and also the onboard/soundcard.

Thanks a lot John