Share via

Play sound simultaneously through both Internal Speaker and External Device

Anonymous
2014-06-23T16:38:34+00:00

I am using Windows 7 on my laptop. I would like sound to play through the laptop's internal speakers as well as external AUX device (such as earphones or extra speakers) to get a sort of surround sound effect.

I know this is physically possible because it has happened before accidentally, but I don't know how to replicate the setting. How can I configure sound to do this? Do I need extra software to reliably do this? or do I just need to configure the settings correctly?

Thank you for your time.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2014-06-25T18:40:05+00:00

    Thank you. I actually found a way to do this though in a different way. However, the AUX method I am unable to replicate although I know I have done it accidentally before. I tried plugging it in improperly, but as soon as the contacts touched the plug, the computer already routed audio signals over AUX instead of Speaker...

    Anyway, I have the Realtek Speaker/audio driver system thing. It has the Stereo Mix (in the recording devices section). What I ended up doing was to Use the Mixer, which makes a copy of all the sounds my computer is making, and send it through a different output. In my case, I sent it to my display through HDMI. (AUX doesn't count as a "different output", so plugging in a AUX will deactivate the built-in Speakers). Then at the back of my display, I connected my AUX external speaker.'

    The above sounds complex, here is clarified version of what is happenning:

    -Sound is playing through built-in speakers

    -Stereo Mix from Realtek copies the audio signal and forwards it by HDMI to my display

    -Display forwards the audio signal to the AUX external speakers.

    This is the only way I found to reliably do it, however, there is a slight lag by about a fraction (half maybe?) of a second. So the external speakers are a bit delayed compared to the built-in speakers.

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

2 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-09-08T09:13:59+00:00

    It sort of fixed my problem. This is still going on in Windows 10. Anyone ever go to make a permanent fix!

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-06-23T18:26:39+00:00

    In many laptops it is actually not possible because the change from internal speaker to headphone is activated by a physical switch in the socket which Windows cannot control. Sometimes you can get both to work by not inserting the 3.5mm plug properly to activate the switch.

    Otherwise you have to set the sound card to have front and rear speakers in the 1st place. Then the socket needs to be re-assigned. Normally the Audio out and the internal speakers are both the front channel although in many cases it is not possible to change the latter. If the sound supports it you may be able to send the rear output to the audio out. 5:1 normally claims the mic port for centre/sub output.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments