I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but I have had a simillar problem in
the past with XP 32-bit. I'm using the Realtek HD Audio drivers (latest
version) the codec is ALC882 and my speakers are Altec-Lansing 251 series 5.1
surround sound. I have no problems with 5.1 sound like many it works
perfectly fine except in a few instances.

Problem 1: When watching DVD movies if my speaker configuration in the sound
control panel is set to "5.1 Surround" the movie audio is fine with the
exception of vocals. Basicly while everything is loud and crisp the voices
are almost totally muted or a very soft whisper. When changing the setting in
the sound control panel to "Stereo" all the speakers still have sound and the
vocals are the appropriate level. This is the problem I also had in the past
with a sound blaster card and XP 32-bit.

Problem 2: One of my applications (Before You Know It Deluxe) is able to
play audio with no issues while the control panel is set on "Stereo".
However, again when set to "5.1 Surround" the sound aspect of the program is
inaudible. Also this program does not even use stereo all the sound in fact
is mono.

Other then the above 2 scenario's everything else is fine while set to "5.1
Surround" my mp3's, avi's, mpg's, and every other program. While it's not
horribly difficult to switch between the two configurations I'm really
curious as to why I'm having this problem and if there's a fix I just haven't
found yet.

Right-click the Sound icon in the notification area, and choose Playback
Devices. Double-click Speakers, and on the Speakers Properties window,
choose the Enhancements tab. Is there a check next to Voice Cancellation?
If so, or if there is a check next to any other sound effect, try checking
"Disable all sound effects" (Apply, OK).

"Derek Nunes" <Derek (E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:849C83ED-EB6A-4CAC-AFEB-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but I have had a simillar problem
> in
> the past with XP 32-bit. I'm using the Realtek HD Audio drivers (latest
> version) the codec is ALC882 and my speakers are Altec-Lansing 251 series
> 5.1
> surround sound. I have no problems with 5.1 sound like many it works
> perfectly fine except in a few instances.
>
> Problem 1: When watching DVD movies if my speaker configuration in the
> sound
> control panel is set to "5.1 Surround" the movie audio is fine with the
> exception of vocals. Basicly while everything is loud and crisp the voices
> are almost totally muted or a very soft whisper. When changing the setting
> in
> the sound control panel to "Stereo" all the speakers still have sound and
> the
> vocals are the appropriate level. This is the problem I also had in the
> past
> with a sound blaster card and XP 32-bit.
>
> Problem 2: One of my applications (Before You Know It Deluxe) is able to
> play audio with no issues while the control panel is set on "Stereo".
> However, again when set to "5.1 Surround" the sound aspect of the program
> is
> inaudible. Also this program does not even use stereo all the sound in
> fact
> is mono.
>
> Other then the above 2 scenario's everything else is fine while set to
> "5.1
> Surround" my mp3's, avi's, mpg's, and every other program. While it's not
> horribly difficult to switch between the two configurations I'm really
> curious as to why I'm having this problem and if there's a fix I just
> haven't
> found yet.

No I've never had any of the Enhancements on in Windows or Realtek . The only
option I have actually tried is the Realtek option to reverse center/sub
because I've heard of similar problems arising from that. All the levels are
correct on the different channels as well, default sample rate and bit depth,
and exclusive mode and priority for exclusive applications are also on. All
the connections are snug on the sub (each speaker plugs into the sub and then
the sub into the computer) and the sub switch is set to 6 channel and not 2/4
channel. Also all the volume controls on the speaker themselves are set at an
appropriate level.

"dean-dean" wrote:

> Right-click the Sound icon in the notification area, and choose Playback
> Devices. Double-click Speakers, and on the Speakers Properties window,
> choose the Enhancements tab. Is there a check next to Voice Cancellation?
> If so, or if there is a check next to any other sound effect, try checking
> "Disable all sound effects" (Apply, OK).
>
> "Derek Nunes" <Derek (E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:849C83ED-EB6A-4CAC-AFEB-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but I have had a simillar problem
> > in
> > the past with XP 32-bit. I'm using the Realtek HD Audio drivers (latest
> > version) the codec is ALC882 and my speakers are Altec-Lansing 251 series
> > 5.1
> > surround sound. I have no problems with 5.1 sound like many it works
> > perfectly fine except in a few instances.
> >
> > Problem 1: When watching DVD movies if my speaker configuration in the
> > sound
> > control panel is set to "5.1 Surround" the movie audio is fine with the
> > exception of vocals. Basicly while everything is loud and crisp the voices
> > are almost totally muted or a very soft whisper. When changing the setting
> > in
> > the sound control panel to "Stereo" all the speakers still have sound and
> > the
> > vocals are the appropriate level. This is the problem I also had in the
> > past
> > with a sound blaster card and XP 32-bit.
> >
> > Problem 2: One of my applications (Before You Know It Deluxe) is able to
> > play audio with no issues while the control panel is set on "Stereo".
> > However, again when set to "5.1 Surround" the sound aspect of the program
> > is
> > inaudible. Also this program does not even use stereo all the sound in
> > fact
> > is mono.
> >
> > Other then the above 2 scenario's everything else is fine while set to
> > "5.1
> > Surround" my mp3's, avi's, mpg's, and every other program. While it's not
> > horribly difficult to switch between the two configurations I'm really
> > curious as to why I'm having this problem and if there's a fix I just
> > haven't
> > found yet.
>

"Derek Nunes" wrote:

> I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but I have had a simillar problem in
> the past with XP 32-bit. I'm using the Realtek HD Audio drivers (latest
> version) the codec is ALC882 and my speakers are Altec-Lansing 251 series 5.1
> surround sound. I have no problems with 5.1 sound like many it works
> perfectly fine except in a few instances.
>
> Problem 1: When watching DVD movies if my speaker configuration in the sound
> control panel is set to "5.1 Surround" the movie audio is fine with the
> exception of vocals. Basicly while everything is loud and crisp the voices
> are almost totally muted or a very soft whisper. When changing the setting in
> the sound control panel to "Stereo" all the speakers still have sound and the
> vocals are the appropriate level. This is the problem I also had in the past
> with a sound blaster card and XP 32-bit.
>
> Problem 2: One of my applications (Before You Know It Deluxe) is able to
> play audio with no issues while the control panel is set on "Stereo".
> However, again when set to "5.1 Surround" the sound aspect of the program is
> inaudible. Also this program does not even use stereo all the sound in fact
> is mono.
>
> Other then the above 2 scenario's everything else is fine while set to "5.1
> Surround" my mp3's, avi's, mpg's, and every other program. While it's not
> horribly difficult to switch between the two configurations I'm really
> curious as to why I'm having this problem and if there's a fix I just haven't
> found yet.

After some more investigation I noticed that the center/sub do not work at
all while using any version of the "Realtek HD Audio" drivers, however with
the windows "HD Audio" driver both work fine. The Realtek Control Panel seems
to show that the center/sub is not plugged in. It seems the problem sound
wise is being that mono sounds and vocals from DVD's are being handled almost
only by the center speaker while windows is set to 5.1 Surround. I'd just use
the windows driver, but then I'm not able to pass through audio from my
line-in to speakers... so I guess my only option for now is to email Realtek.

"Derek Nunes" wrote:

> I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but I have had a simillar problem in
> the past with XP 32-bit. I'm using the Realtek HD Audio drivers (latest
> version) the codec is ALC882 and my speakers are Altec-Lansing 251 series 5.1
> surround sound. I have no problems with 5.1 sound like many it works
> perfectly fine except in a few instances.
>
> Problem 1: When watching DVD movies if my speaker configuration in the sound
> control panel is set to "5.1 Surround" the movie audio is fine with the
> exception of vocals. Basicly while everything is loud and crisp the voices
> are almost totally muted or a very soft whisper. When changing the setting in
> the sound control panel to "Stereo" all the speakers still have sound and the
> vocals are the appropriate level. This is the problem I also had in the past
> with a sound blaster card and XP 32-bit.
>
> Problem 2: One of my applications (Before You Know It Deluxe) is able to
> play audio with no issues while the control panel is set on "Stereo".
> However, again when set to "5.1 Surround" the sound aspect of the program is
> inaudible. Also this program does not even use stereo all the sound in fact
> is mono.
>
> Other then the above 2 scenario's everything else is fine while set to "5.1
> Surround" my mp3's, avi's, mpg's, and every other program. While it's not
> horribly difficult to switch between the two configurations I'm really
> curious as to why I'm having this problem and if there's a fix I just haven't
> found yet.

Here is what I did to correct the problem and it works.

Right click the windows sound icon, click "Playback Devices". Double click
"Speakers" then select the "Enhancements" tab. Put a check box in "Speaker
Fill" and "Bass Management". After I did that, my sub woofer and my center
channel started working. Good luck.

"Derek Nunes" wrote:

> I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but I have had a simillar problem in
> the past with XP 32-bit. I'm using the Realtek HD Audio drivers (latest
> version) the codec is ALC882 and my speakers are Altec-Lansing 251 series 5.1
> surround sound. I have no problems with 5.1 sound like many it works
> perfectly fine except in a few instances.
>
> Problem 1: When watching DVD movies if my speaker configuration in the sound
> control panel is set to "5.1 Surround" the movie audio is fine with the
> exception of vocals. Basicly while everything is loud and crisp the voices
> are almost totally muted or a very soft whisper. When changing the setting in
> the sound control panel to "Stereo" all the speakers still have sound and the
> vocals are the appropriate level. This is the problem I also had in the past
> with a sound blaster card and XP 32-bit.
>
> Problem 2: One of my applications (Before You Know It Deluxe) is able to
> play audio with no issues while the control panel is set on "Stereo".
> However, again when set to "5.1 Surround" the sound aspect of the program is
> inaudible. Also this program does not even use stereo all the sound in fact
> is mono.
>
> Other then the above 2 scenario's everything else is fine while set to "5.1
> Surround" my mp3's, avi's, mpg's, and every other program. While it's not
> horribly difficult to switch between the two configurations I'm really
> curious as to why I'm having this problem and if there's a fix I just haven't
> found yet.