topic Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO? in PCs & Accessories

RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

phoenix198 — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:33:37 GMT

How do enable 5.1 audio on a Vaio RA104?

I think I have connected the speaker cables correctly - they are colour coded light green yellow and black. I have also set the speaker setup under Advanced Audio Properties to "5.1 surround sound speakers".

However, I am only getting sound from the front two speakers and the individual Subwoofer, Center, Rear and Front volume controls are 'greyed out' and not useable in the Windows sound volume control panel.

Is there an updated RealTek HDA driver with a built-in sound mixer utility?

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

feederfan — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 23:07:44 GMT

I have a 5.1 on my desktop with my Audigy 2 card, and in windows use you only get 2.1, Its when you play a DVD that you get 5.1. I dont think you can get 5.1 in games without having a Soundblaster Audigy card because you need EAX, and that only comes on Soundblaster cards.

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

phoenix198 — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 23:24:10 GMT

Found it! And also found an updated RealTek HDA driver (version 1.13) at the RealTek website (http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlhd-2.aspx?lineid=2004052&famid=2004052&series=2004061&Software=True&title=HD%20Audio%20CODECs)

This installs a Sound Effect Manager utility in the Windows Control Panel (Classic View) from which you can configure the High Defintion Audio for however many speakers you have, set the front panel outputs/inputs, apply sound environments (pseudo EAX) , etc.

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

kee-lo_ — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 21:09:15 GMT

Thanks for the info.

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

feederfan — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:53:03 GMT

Be aware that that will only upmix window's stereo output to 5.1 though. Will work for games and dvds better though!

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

kee-lo_ — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 15:40:24 GMT

Upmix (gives a grimice) ewwwwe

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

phoenix198 — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 23:28:53 GMT

" ... only upmix windows stereo to 5.1 ... "

I'm getting a little confused here. I thought that the Reatek HDA chipset built in to the RA104's southbridge delivered 7.1 output. I appreciate that it won't deliver EAX effects but does it not have 8 sound channels?

I'm not too worried as its delivering perfectly adequate 5.1 sound for my ears in Half-Life 2 - and fantastic visuals after an upgrade to an X800XT 256MB graphics card!

:smileygrin:

Re: RA104 - HOW TO ENABLE 5.1 AUDIO?

kee-lo_ — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 18:09:27 GMT

It does 7.1, my friend has it working on his, and I don't have the room for 8 speakers.