5.1 Surround help

[CustardInc]

So I'm completely new to surround sound, I just got my first system today - the Logitech X-540 kit. I just plugged it all into my MSI Z87m Gaming motherboard, went into Realtek HD Audio Manager and switched on 5.1 mode but I wasn't getting any sound from the rear speakers, I tried 7.1 mode and I got sound. With 5.1 mode it has side speakers, not rear speakers, I'm not entirely sure which ports I should be plugging into, I thought the colour coding was self explanatory but the software disagrees with me.

[shaithis]

"Surround" speakers are the side speakers. 6.7/7.1 added rears. This was a bit of a misconception that has gone on for years with people thinking the surround speakers were rears.

If you have a 5.1 system, you should have:
Centre
Front Left
Front Right
Surround (side) Left
Surround (side) Right
Sub-woofer

[Kirano]

"Surround" speakers are the side speakers. 6.7/7.1 added rears. This was a bit of a misconception that has gone on for years with people thinking the surround speakers were rears.

If you have a 5.1 system, you should have:
Centre
Front Left
Front Right
Surround (side) Left
Surround (side) Right
Sub-woofer

Really?!? Okay, this confuses me immensely. I've had a 5.1 Surround sound set from logitech (not the X-540 above but I think the one that was a step down from that back in the day) and the two 'extra' speakers that came with that were also labelled as being rear left and rear right.

I also use the Realtek HD Audio Manager and they come up in that as being rear speakers when I switch on 5.1 mode. From what I can tell of what is lit up on the right hand side of your screen shoot CustardInc, I'm plugged into the same sockets that you are - namely the black one, the orange one and the green one...

Indeed, the official manual for the X-540 lists them as being rear speakers
http://www.logitech.com/assets/35723...tion-guide.pdf

Edit: For the sake of completeness, I should mention that I get sound from my 'rear' speakers... My two cents would be that there's something dodgy going on with the Realtek driver...

[Zak33]

"Surround" speakers are the side speakers. 6.7/7.1 added rears. This was a bit of a misconception that has gone on for years with people thinking the surround speakers were rears.

If you have a 5.1 system, you should have:
Centre
Front Left
Front Right
Surround (side) Left
Surround (side) Right
Sub-woofer

they still go behind you.. but to the sides, and for most people it sounds best not far back ... I have mine firing at each other about a foot behind me

[Zak33]

so in short, plug them into the ports that work (side ) and stick the speakers behind you and aiming at each other

will sound awesome....