problems outputting 5.1 from laptop

footman · 28 Feb 2009 at 13:49

My HP laptop has audio and video output over HDMI. When I connect it to my Onkyo 606 I can test all the speakers in control panel and everything functions.
When I play music from the laptop or play a game on my Panasonic 42" plasma sound only comes out from the 2 front speakers and the subwoofer.

Be grateful for any ideas.

DigitalReaper · 28 Feb 2009 at 16:56

Do the game and music player support more than 2 channels? Try listening to music and testing all the speakers to see that they're still functioning at the same time.

footman · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:23

DigitalReaper said:
Do the game and music player support more than 2 channels? Try listening to music and testing all the speakers to see that they're still functioning at the same time.

ITunes is my default music player but I only have sound from the 2 fronts and sub. Is that what you mean?

DigitalReaper · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:40

If you play a stereo file and all you get is stereo on your speakers it's most likely that the player isn't even trying to output to your rear/center speakers.

Try using winamp, it outputs 5.1 for me even when playing back stereo files.

footman · 28 Feb 2009 at 19:38

excellent, I'll try it tomorrow, cheers.

cram · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:49

Also look at your amp it may well have some sort of pseudo surround mode that will attempt to distribute music across 5.1 speakers. Just keep in mind that the amp (or PC if you use the other suggestion) are making the decision about what frequencies go to which speakers. This will have nothing to do with how the music was originally mixed and may give some odd results at time.

On the Onkyo amp look at Listening Modes. In particular Dolby Pro-logic IIx

footman · 1 Mar 2009 at 00:27

cram said:
Also look at your amp it may well have some sort of pseudo surround mode that will attempt to distribute music across 5.1 speakers. Just keep in mind that the amp (or PC if you use the other suggestion) are making the decision about what frequencies go to which speakers. This will have nothing to do with how the music was originally mixed and may give some odd results at time.

On the Onkyo amp look at Listening Modes. In particular Dolby Pro-logic IIx

thanks