No sound from surround speakers using Realtek Audio Console

I am not getting sound from the surround speakers of my Cambridge Soundworks DTT2200 5.1 system.
I am using the Realtek onboard audio of my B450 Aorus Elite motherboard, and have used the Realtek Audio Console app to configure 5.1 sound. I'm running Windows 11 23H2, OS Build 22631.3155, Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22684.1000.0.

If I go into the Windows Sound Control Panel and configure the Realtek speakers, and test the 5.1 surround setting, I only get output from 4 speakers - front left/right and rear left/right. I get no test tone from the centre speaker or subwoofer. If I go to the "Customise your configuration" screen and select Centre, Subwoofer an Rear Pair as the optional speakers, I can only get a test tone from the front pair of speakers - nothing from the Centre, Subwoofer or Rear Pair.

If I use the Realtek HD Audio Manager I can only get test tones from the front left/right speakers.

I recently upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. All 6 speakers were working fine under Windows 10.

Any idea why Windows is not sending audio to all speakers?

Are you using the latest Realtek driver listed on the manufacturer site for your motherboard.
7/25/22
[6.0.9373.1]

glasskuter said:

Are you using the latest Realtek driver listed on the manufacturer site for your motherboard.
7/25/22
[6.0.9373.1]

Click to expand...

I have this driver installed:
6.0.9605.1
14/11/2023

itm60 said:

I have this driver installed:
6.0.9605.1
14/11/2023

Click to expand...

I have now replaced this with 6.0.9373.1 (28/06/2022)

Still have exactly the same problem
???

EDIT: not exactly the same problem - if I now test the speakers (either from the Windows Sound Control Panel or the Realtek HD Audio Manager) I get test tones from the front stereo speakers when I click on the rear speakers (as well as when I click on the front speakers).

You don't have any other sound app installed?
Does the Cambridge speakers have an app to control
the 5.1 configuration.?

Realtek website

I have the Realtek HD Audio Manager and the Realtek Audio Console, but no other sound apps installed.
There is no app for for Cambridge Soundworks speaker system. They worked fine on Windows 10.

itm60 said:

I have the Realtek HD Audio Manager and the Realtek Audio Console, but no other sound apps installed.
There is no app for for Cambridge Soundworks speaker system. They worked fine on Windows 10.

Click to expand...

Do you have more than one audio output on the back of the PC ?

Flashorn said:

Do you have more than one audio output on the back of the PC ?

Click to expand...

No, but I have also have a USB audio device connected (Behringer UMC404HD) for music production. It is powered off, but has never caused problems with the Realtek 5.1 system before (i.e. on Windows 10).

itm60 said:

No, but I have also have a USB audio device connected (Behringer UMC404HD) for music production. It is powered off, but has never caused problems with the Realtek 5.1 system before (i.e. on Windows 10).

Click to expand...

What do you see when you click on the Volume Mixer in the overflow of the TaskBar
This is mine:


Could we have a screen shot of the Realtek Audio Manager pls.

The output device (Realtek) in volume mixer is the only output source?
Have you tried to play around with all the controls in the Realtek app?
Do the Cambridge come with a remote or box that you can adjust
sound and other effects?

Yes I've played around with the config in the Realtek app, but had no luck.
The Cambridge comes with a simple volume control for a remote - nothing more sophisticated.
These are the other output devices (the Q27B3MA devices are my monitors - they have audio):

Looks like only the two front speakers are being detected. Uncheck Surround speakers under Full-range Speakers (they're not full range)
and see what happens.

Scott said:

Looks like only the two front speakers are being detected. Uncheck Surround speakers under Full-range Speakers (they're not full range)
and see what happens.

Click to expand...

Unchecking Surround speakers makes no difference. I still get no test tones from the other speakers.

itm60 said:

Unchecking Surround speakers makes no difference. I still get no test tones from the other speakers.

Click to expand...

Have you tried the Digital output?
Your Realtek Audio is trade marked as Gigabyte.
Mine is trade marked as MSI.
The speakers are controlled Not by Realtek but by Nahimic which is the app that MSI
provides for the sound on this notebook and their PCs.
Gigabyte must have a app that also has this functionality.
Take a look at the MB's site to see if in the support page(s) you can find an app similar
to what MSI has.

The sound card only has 6 analog outputs - no digital output as far as I can see.
I'll see if I can find an app on the Gigabyte site....
EDIT: the Realtek Digital Audio Manager app was actually from the Gigabyte website

Go to control Panel and choose Sound, which speakers are default?
This is mine: in three parts




It says Headphones but, it is because of the double connection they now use where
you can either insert speaker connector or headphone connector. I have 2.1 speakers.

OK I'm sorry to say that this seems to have been a hardware issue. The input connections on the Cambridge Soundworks amp/subwoofer were loose. A bit of adjustment seems to have corrected the issue. For now, at least.
Many thanks for all the help

itm60 said:

OK I'm sorry to say that this seems to have been a hardware issue. The input connections on the Cambridge Soundworks amp/subwoofer were loose. A bit of adjustment seems to have corrected the issue. For now, at least.
Many thanks for all the help

Click to expand...

Well, I'm glad it's working out for now. I was losing any hope that it might be a software problem.
A little history.
I have Klipsch 2.1 at the moment. My second set.
The first set was bought in 2010 and lasted until a few years ago.
All of a sudden I lost sound and could not figure out why.
The amp is housed in the sub and I noticed that the sub was not getting
hot anymore.
I took it apart (as we all do) and saw that the capacitors were all swollen.
I could of replaced them but, that meant that they would be coming from
China and would take about a month to get here plus the price (at the time)
was just too much to justify the inconvenience so, went out and bought a
new set. They have been serving me well since.
They also have a newer set called the Heritage which , if I'm honest, look
much better but, with less power. I really like these. Check them out.

Thanks for the link. Ever since getting a Dolby surround sound decoder 25 years ago I've been hooked on listening to music using surround speakers. I think it's time for a hardware upgrade, though.