Alienware 17 R5 - Rear Channel Audio Issues 5.1 and Quadraphonic

I've been trying to track down this issue for awhile and have tried as many things as possible I could think of, including a complete removal of all Audio drivers and configurations (including the Dolby software) and a reinstall, to no avail.

I have the Alienware 17 R5 with the Realtek HD Audio. I have an old Logitech 5.1 speaker setup that I'm trying to get working in Quadraphonic (since I can't find the center channel speaker).

When I use the Alienware Audio program, Speaker / Headphone section, Speaker setup... I can change to Quadraphonic and 5.1 Speaker, hit the Test Speaker icon and I'll get sound out of all 4 speakers.

When I try to set to Quadraphonic in the Windows Audio Speaker Configuration and run the Test, I only get sound out of the front two speakers.

I have the Front Speakers connected to the Speakers / Headphones jack selected as Front Speaker Out.
I have the Rear Speakers connected to the Mic In / Speaker Out jack selected as Side Speaker Out.

Since most games and audio applications use the Windows Audio configuration (which won't work with the Rear Audio Channel), I'm only getting Stereo Sound (and getting annoyed).

Any thoughts, suggestions?

Thank you!
Shane

 

I have this same issue and have wondered as well how to fix it.

 

Use "AlienAudio" App and configure the rear speaker as SIDE speaker not REAR !!!

Yes I know weird !!!

 

That is what the jack is configured for... Side Speaker Out. There is no option to configure any of the jacks for Rear Speaker. And the Alienware Audio App plays its test tone on all 4 speakers... only the Windows Audio app does not play the rear channel.

 

Exactly. Again hopefully other users will have some ideas.

 

Hi All,

I have a similar problem. NO headphones appear when they are plugged into either headphone jack on Alienware 17 running windows 8.

The driver that appears is the Realtek HD Audio driver but the Manager seems to be the Alienware Audio app that comes with the Alienware most recent driver download.

How come the system doesn't see the headphones when plugged in? This is a top of the line laptop and it can't use a headphone with its most recent driver, its unbelievable that I even have to write this.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the most recent driver (Realtek HD Audio) which install the Alienware Audio app to manage the audio configuration.

I'm hoping there's a simple solution for this. Looking forward to any solutions offered with thanks.

P.