5.1 Surround with 4 speakers?

[Aaralli]

I have two separate sets of speakers, and one of them has a subwoofer connected. My computer motherboard has audio out for 5.1 surround, so I tried plugging in my Harmon/Kardon Sounsticks to the front speaker out, and then the other set of speakers to the side speaker out. Then I configured in control panel to both 5.1 surround and quadraphonic to test it out. Neither worked, and only the front speakers were playing. Then I plugged the second set of speakers into the rear speaker port and it worked, but obviously it was only playing rear sound. I want to try to use them as speakers on the SIDE so that if I'm gaming or something, I can hear things from the side from those speakers... motherboard is MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC, if that helps.

[FloRolf]

5.1 uses Front, Center and Rear channels. 7.1 adds Sides. Maybe try setting to 7.1 and only configure the sides/fronts

[KarathKasun]

4 speakers + a sub is 4.1 surround.

 

You put the speakers equally in front and behind and it will mix the two to give you side sounds.

[Aaralli]

4 hours ago, FloRolf said:

5.1 uses Front, Center and Rear channels. 7.1 adds Sides. Maybe try setting to 7.1 and only configure the sides/fronts

So I did what you said, and now the extra speakers work. Thanks for that, but something odd happened. I expected the front speakers to sound exactly the same as they did before, but they sound really weird now. Like the new speakers are stealing some of the sound from the front and only playing in the side speakers. I thought it would sound exactly the same from the front speakers and... wasn't sure what the side ones would sound like.

[KarathKasun]

13 hours ago, Aaralli said:

So I did what you said, and now the extra speakers work. Thanks for that, but something odd happened. I expected the front speakers to sound exactly the same as they did before, but they sound really weird now. Like the new speakers are stealing some of the sound from the front and only playing in the side speakers. I thought it would sound exactly the same from the front speakers and... wasn't sure what the side ones would sound like.

Your front speakers dont play sounds that show up on the rear channels.

 

If you want normal stereo things to play on all speakers, yon need to enable "speaker fill" in the audio enhancements tab of your sound devices adjustment panel.

[Aaralli]

4 hours ago, KarathKasun said:

Your front speakers dont play sounds that show up on the rear channels.

 

If you want normal stereo things to play on all speakers, yon need to enable "speaker fill" in the audio enhancements tab of your sound devices adjustment panel.

Okay, thanks. I'll try this out and then tell you if anything else happens.

EDIT: Um, for some reason, that window doesn't have the enhancements tab... I know I've seen it on other computers before though. Is there some sort of update or driver that I'm missing that would cause that menu to not be there?