Cant get audio through multiple devices

[UltraBlaze7]

Hello!

I recently build my own pc with an ASUS ROG Strix Z270 E gaming motherboard.
Anyway i have been receiving my sound through my gaming headset which has a audio jack for mic and sound along with usb for power. I have been trying to connect a speaker through the optical audio output on my motherboard but for some reason no device even shows up. Im not sure if this is because i need to update the audio driver or if its some settings in my computer. I am very new to all this audio stuff but all i want is to hear something through that speaker because my headphones are simply not loud enough when im watching something from the other side of the room. I was talking to someone at my work and they said it could be something that the optical cord only does SPDIF or i think pcm and that my computer could be doing Dolby digital which doesn't work with the optical cable. If this is the case i have no idea how i would change it from dolby digital to pcm

If anyone has had this problem or might know the solution i beg that you help me cause i have been really patient and spent alot of time trying to figure this out and i have had no luck.

[SherardG]

Did you install Realtek HD Audio Manager and Sonic Studio 3?

[UltraBlaze7]

Yes they came already installed with the motherboard.

[xeromist]

You have to set your digital output as the default device. Windows 10 allows you to choose one device at a time. Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select playback devices. From there you can select an output and click the default button.

[UltraBlaze7]

Ok i see what you mean but im pretty sure that i cant find the optical input as an option like its not recognizing it or something. And would i find this in the audio control panel?

Edit: Should i update to the newest audio driver for my motherboard from the website?

[xeromist]

Optical *input* or *output*? Playback devices only applies to outputs.

As with most things Windows there are many ways to get to the audio properties, but the simplest is right-clicking the speaker icon as I mentioned. If there is no digital output listed in the playback devices (you may have to scroll) then I would check the Device Manager to see if there are some devices without drivers. This shouldn't happen though as Windows would find a basic driver to get it working even if it's not the latest & greatest.

[UltraBlaze7]

ok ill try it when i get home, if i set it to primary i will still be able to switch between that and my headphones?

[xeromist]

UltraBlaze7 wrote:
ok ill try it when i get home, if i set it to primary i will still be able to switch between that and my headphones?

Yes, but you will have to switch the primary each time. It's kind of a pain, imo, so I have mine go to an external desktop amp and my headphones and speakers both route through that. You CAN set a second device as a primary communications device so if you are really just using your headphones for VOIP then you can leave everything that way.

[UltraBlaze7]

xeromist wrote:
Yes, but you will have to switch the primary each time. It's kind of a pain, imo, so I have mine go to an external desktop amp and my headphones and speakers both route through that. You CAN set a second device as a primary communications device so if you are really just using your headphones for VOIP then you can leave everything that way.

Ok cool thanks! ill give it a go

[UltraBlaze7]

OK so i tried lots of things before i finnaly decided to do a simple audio driver update so after that it worked! Thank you guys for your help!