Surround Sound 5.1 setup problem

[blasfemaz1]

Hello Everyone. I recently purchased a 5.1 surround sound set up. It claims to turn stereo into surround 5.1. It has the two (red & white) rca stereo inputs on the back. It came with an adapter that will convert my soundcard's stereo output jack into the two red and white rca cables.

I have a very interesting problem and I cannot figure out what is causing it. I have a computer with movies and mp3s connected to my tv. I put an account with limited access so the kids wont be able to delete any of the files, and this is the default account we use to watch the videos and listen to music. Whenever I need to add more videos or edit anything, I log on with the admin account and there is no problem.
Everything has been working fine until I bought the surround sound setup. When I hooked it up, I went in the admin account so I could configure the speaker set up as 5.1 surround sound. I did this by going to control panel/sounds and audio devices/volume tab/advanced/drop down list. I made my selection, clicked ok and the opened a movie to test it. The sound was great, every speaker was functional and it felt like surround sound. After that I logged out as admin, and went back to the limited user account.

When I tried playing the same movie with the limited user account, It will play all of the background sounds and music, but it will not play any of the voices of people talking. This seems very strange. If I log on back as admin and play the same movie, everything works fine. I can hear all the sounds and voices as admin, but not as limited user. What is happening here?

I even checked as limited user if the 5.1 surround sound setting was still selected, and it was. So I am not sure what is happening.
Stranger is, I went back as admin and gave the limited account full admin rights and the problem still persists.

Anyone have any idea?

Thanks

 

[purdym]

After thinking about this, I think the limited user account is correct and the admin account is wrong.

How many cables do you have from the PC the receiver? Are you using 1x "mini jack to RCA cable"? Are you using just one cable? with two channels of audio? If so, configure the PC for 2 channels of audio.

Under the limited account: I'm thinking the PC is now outputting 5 discrete channels. And the voices are usually on the centre channel.

What happens if you change the PC back to "stereo" sound?

 

[blasfemaz1]

After thinking about this, I think the limited user account is correct and the admin account is wrong.

How many cables do you have from the PC the receiver? Are you using 1x "mini jack to RCA cable"? Are you using just one cable? with two channels of audio? If so, configure the PC for 2 channels of audio.

Under the limited account: I'm thinking the PC is now outputting 5 discrete channels. And the voices are usually on the centre channel.

What happens if you change the PC back to "stereo" sound?

The computer I am using has the "standard" integrated audio card. So it only has 3 mini jacks. Mic In, Line Out, and Line In. I am using a minjack from the line out on my pc sound card, to RCA two channels (red and White) on the Surround Sound console. If I have the sound settings set to "stereo desktop speakers", it works. If I have it said to the "5.1 surround sound speakers", then it only works on the admin account, and does not work right on the the other account even if it has admin rights.

So this is really weird. I mean why would it work only on the built-in admin account, and not on another account that is admin too?

 

[blasfemaz1]

This is the exact surround sound I have http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4810671
I realize it is a "cheapo" one, but I figured I would buy that to hold on till I get my income tax and then I'll do a good investment.
What I was wondering though, is it meant to turn the stereo output from my computer into surround sound without me having to change the setting on the computer to "5.1 surround sound speakers". I mean I don't understand why windows would even allow you to change this setting if it was useless. Can it really separate 5 different channels from the 2 stereo channels even if the setting on windows is set to "stereo speakers"?

 

[Ripskin]

If you are running one 35mm to stereo RCA adapter then your not going to be able to set windows to output 5.1. To output 5.1 through the 35mm jacks. Some sound cards will allow this option in the advanced options by mixing the channels into one. However most of those cables on the other end will be split again from the same 35mm cable.

From what it sounds like the computer is sending the front audio into the receiver through the green front output jack on the sound card, and its trying to send the voice out through the center channel which does not exist or is not hooked up so you are not getting any sound sent that way to the receiver.

If you put it back into stereo output mode then set the receiver up it should have a mode to try and mix the channels into the 5.1 sound. It will combine the front audio and tweak the equalizer on that channel so that voice comes from the center more than other, and it will tweak the rears as well to see how they sound.

Thats what it sounds like from what you have described.