Windows 10 - Realtek HD Audio using 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound is not working

Question

Hi,

How do I get Windows 10 with Realtek HD Audio using 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound to work?

With any sounds from VLC (MP3, Movies), Browser (YouTube) etc sounds do not appear on all channels.

Windows 10 Pro: Version 1909

Driver: Realtek HD Audio: 6.0.1.8036 (I've tried going back to v2.81, v.2.80 - as the Realtek HD Audio Manager is not available in v2.82)

Using older driver versions I've tried the Enhancements of Speaker Fill/Environment Generic - again this is not working - and are only available via the Realtek HD Audio Manager

I've tried the default Microsoft Driver - again no luck.

Speakers configured to 7.1 with side speakers removed. 

Using 5.1 speaker configuration, forces side speakers only, no rear speakers and you can only use rear speakers on 7.1.

(I've tried both configurations)

Configuration Testing works successfully, but then through VLC (MP3, Movies), Browser (YouTube) etc - sounds are still not appearing on all channels.

I've also tried via Sonic Studio - but again no luck

---- adding some more information where I have got this working on Windows 7 successfully - Realtek HD Audio using 5.1.

Sound Properties using the following settings, Environment: Room and no Speaker Fill.

   ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/6bc519e3-6315-4fe6-91a5-636d8de9729e?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/a96d2dc4-7da8-4f4d-b956-aa5cbd94fd4e?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/a96d2dc4-7da8-4f4d-b956-aa5cbd94fd4e?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/93a3765a-531c-4a86-bc7f-d9152ffc098b?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/93a3765a-531c-4a86-bc7f-d9152ffc098b?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/adce2103-8631-494e-99f1-aee916c16a3e?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">        

Realtek HD Audio Manager settings in Windows 10

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi. A

My name is Gabriel S. I hope to help you today.

have you tried semi-automatically - by Sammit? for it:

From the start menu, go to Settings, Devices, Device Manager.

In the window that will open, find and expand "Sound, video and game controllers"

Right click on "Realtek High Definition Audio."

Select "Update driver software ..."

Select "Search automatically for updated driver software."

After selecting this a working driver was downloaded and installed.

Greetings…

Answer 2

Hi,

How do I get Windows 10 with Realtek HD Audio using 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound to work?

With any sounds from VLC (MP3, Movies), Browser (YouTube) etc sounds do not appear on all channels.

Windows 10 Pro: Version 1909

Driver: Realtek HD Audio: 6.0.1.8036 (I've tried going back to v2.81, v.2.80 - as the Realtek HD Audio Manager is not available in v2.82)

Using older driver versions I've tried the Enhancements of Speaker Fill/Environment Generic - again this is not working - and are only available via the Realtek HD Audio Manager

I've tried the default Microsoft Driver - again no luck.

Speakers configured to 7.1 with side speakers removed. 

Using 5.1 speaker configuration, forces side speakers only, no rear speakers and you can only use rear speakers on 7.1.

(I've tried both configurations)

Configuration Testing works successfully, but then through VLC (MP3, Movies), Browser (YouTube) etc - sounds are still not appearing on all channels.

I've also tried via Sonic Studio - but again no luck

---- adding some more information where I have got this working on Windows 7 successfully - Realtek HD Audio using 5.1.

Sound Properties using the following settings, Environment: Room and no Speaker Fill.

      

Realtek HD Audio Manager settings, working with 5.1 in Windows 7:

 

---- attempting the same in Windows 10 unsuccessfully - means I need to downgrade to Realtek HD Audio Driver to v2.81 - in order to get the Realtek HD Audio Manager (as it's no longer available in v2.82). Setting to 5.1 brings through side speakers, so need to set to 7.1. Environment: Room does not have the same effect it does in Windows 7. So issues remains in Windows 10.

Sound Properties settings in Windows 10

        

Realtek HD Audio Manager settings in Windows 10

Thanks

Answer 3

Hi,

How do I get Windows 10 with Realtek HD Audio using 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound to work?

With any sounds from VLC (MP3, Movies), Browser (YouTube) etc sounds do not appear on all channels.

Windows 10 Pro: Version 1909

Driver: Realtek HD Audio: 6.0.1.8036 (I've tried going back to v2.81, v.2.80 - as the Realtek HD Audio Manager is not available in v2.82)

Using older driver versions I've tried the Enhancements of Speaker Fill/Environment Generic - again this is not working - and are only available via the Realtek HD Audio Manager

I've tried the default Microsoft Driver - again no luck.

Speakers configured to 7.1 with side speakers removed. 

Using 5.1 speaker configuration, forces side speakers only, no rear speakers and you can only use rear speakers on 7.1.

(I've tried both configurations)

Configuration Testing works successfully, but then through VLC (MP3, Movies), Browser (YouTube) etc - sounds are still not appearing on all channels.

I've also tried via Sonic Studio - but again no luck

---- adding some more information where I have got this working on Windows 7 successfully - Realtek HD Audio using 5.1.

Sound Properties using the following settings, Environment: Room and no Speaker Fill.

      

Realtek HD Audio Manager settings, working with 5.1 in Windows 7:

 

---- attempting the same in Windows 10 unsuccessfully - means I need to downgrade to Realtek HD Audio Driver to v2.81 - in order to get the Realtek HD Audio Manager (as it's no longer available in v2.82). Setting to 5.1 brings through side speakers, so need to set to 7.1. Environment: Room does not have the same effect it does in Windows 7. So issues remains in Windows 10.

Sound Properties settings in Windows 10

        

Realtek HD Audio Manager settings in Windows 10

Thanks

Answer 4

Hi - yes, I tried this and I uninstalled and reinstalled the driver as well.

I also tried the latest driver with the motherboard manufacturer ASUS and their patch.

.. but no luck.

Answer 5

You don't.

Asus killed the speaker fill in their drivers.

The proper name for the 5.1 dolby is side surround speakers. The old name of "rear speakers" existing in old realtek driver is wrong.