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How do I get 5.1 sound from my Maximus VI Impact Mobo?

Poita
Level 7
Forgive me brethren for I have sinned. It has been ten years since my last PC build. I feel like a guy who has come out of prison after a long stretch to find the world outside has changed a lot. 😉

The last time I built a PC I bought a sound card. It had something like three different outputs for sound so I could use a standard Creative/Logitech 5.1 speaker system. One of the reasons I just bought the Maximus VI Impact was that a friend said it had amazing sound. I just assumed that meant I would be able to use 5.1 speakers rather than the 2.1 but when I looked at the audio in/out option there is just a port for a mic jack, then a single 'input' and a single 'output'.
There is a 'SPDIF out' but I don't know what that implies.

So my simple question is. Can I output 5.1 sound from the existing motherboard or do I have to buy a soundcard to do that?
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19 REPLIES 19

How can I route 5.1 into the rear jacks when using Linux? I run Windows 7 in VirtualBox and I was able to do it by installing the Windows audio drivers that come in the mobo's CD. The problem is that they do not have any effect on the Linux host, which cannot see other than HDMI 5.1 or analog stereo.

Thanks,
Pebete

Chino
Level 15
The Maximus VI Impact only has three 3.5mm minijacks (Line In, Line Out and Mic). But Asus has implemented what they call jack-retasking. For example, for a 5.1 channel setup, you'd connect the rear speaker to the Line In, the front speaker to the Line Out and your Bass/Center to the Mic. Then you'd launch the Realtek HD Audio Manager and configure the jack-retasking to make your speakers work.

Poita
Level 7
@Chino.
Ah thanks. Now I understand. So I can get a regular Creative/Logitec 5.1 speaker set for around £60 and have 5.1 surround.
What happs when you need to use the mic iput for chat?

Poita
Level 7
Cool. thanks dude. Right, that's me oot to buy a speaker system.

Poita
Level 7
Well, I'm getting sound but not 5.1. The 'rear speakers' is shaded out and it won't output sound to them.

Chino wrote:
The Maximus VI Impact only has three 3.5mm minijacks (Line In, Line Out and Mic). But Asus has implemented what they call jack-retasking. For example, for a 5.1 channel setup, you'd connect the rear speaker to the Line In, the front speaker to the Line Out and your Bass/Center to the Mic. Then you'd launch the Realtek HD Audio Manager and configure the jack-retasking to make your speakers work.


This is how I have it setup too (& how it is diagrammed on page 2-23 in the manual)

Poita wrote:
Well, I'm getting sound but not 5.1. The 'rear speakers' is shaded out and it won't output sound to them.


Same problem here.

It appears that when clicking on the rear/side speakers through the Speaker Configuration both the Front & the Rear speakers produce the Tone Sound. Once I raised the Rear speaker volumes I could hear them and thus 5.1 Sound.

Maybe in the next Realtek Audio Driver/Software update they will fix this issue and the popping/crackling sound ( very annoying :eek: )

You can test your 5.1 Sound on your Impact VI by playing: http://www.lynnepublishing.com/surround/www_lynnemusic_com_surround_test.wma

Alvaro Suarez wrote:
It appears that when clicking on the rear/side speakers through the Speaker Configuration both the Front & the Rear speakers produce the Tone Sound. Once I raised the Rear speaker volumes I could hear them and thus 5.1 Sound.

Maybe in the next Realtek Audio Driver/Software update they will fix this issue and the popping/crackling sound ( very annoying :eek: )

You can test your 5.1 Sound on your Impact VI by playing: http://www.lynnepublishing.com/surround/www_lynnemusic_com_surround_test.wma


The rear pair is for a 7.1 setup, so if you have only 5.1 speakers it is shaded out. The side pair effectively becomes your rear speaker.

I don't seem to get a crackling issue with my setup. Crackling can be caused by a grounding/shielding issue. Check your connections and that you I\O shield is in place properly.

Poita
Level 7
I used the text file and I am getting 5.1 but you are right and the volume is very low on the back ones. I guess I just have to adjust the back speaker volume until I feel it's balanced.