Speakers

[Inukami]

I am using Windows 7 Professional and the integrated sound card on an EVGA 132-YW-E178-A1 motherboard (has 8 channel  Azalia (HDA) chipset audio chipset) and I am unable to get any sound when I have my Z5500 in Direct 6 Ch. Direct mode.

I have updated my realtek audio drivers to R268 but that has not corrected the issue.  When I try to run the test both in Windows sound and Realtek HD Audio Manager no sound at all comes through at all under the 6 Ch. Direct setting.  If I change the setting on the Z5500 to Stereo or Stereo x2, I will get just stereo sound, as expected for the setting.  I do have the switch flipped on the back to have it in 6ch mode on the back.

What am I missing because I would really like to have a working 5.1 setup instead of dual stereo.

[Bruallord]

It's probably the audio wires connecting from your computer to your speaker inputs.   The original wires for the 5500 eventually stop working for some reason.  had the same issue with my 5300's.   You can test this by switching your Front output wire to the Center/sub and Rear speaker connections on your computer, since you're only getting 2 channels, which I assume are the Front ones.

NOTE - It might be a good idea to make sure your speakers are turned off before unplugging them into the new jacks when testing the outputs.

You could also make sure your speaker setup in Windows 7 is set to 5.1 setting if you haven't already:

Control Panel -> Sound -> Click on Configure with your Speakers selected.