Hi,

I have a laptop with a 3.5mm spdif out. I would like to hook it up to
a 5.1 speaker system.

I got a 3.5mm miniplug to Toslink adapter cable hook up from the laptop
to the speaker system. Sadly, I got only stereo sound

I've downloaded and installed the latest Realtek driver, and it says it's
currently using ALC883.

From the Realtek HD Sound Effect Manager, under the Audio I/O, I can
only select Headphone or 2CH Speaker. I don't have the option to choose
other speaker setup. How do I get more options available to me?

Under the Digital setting, I've also selected Output Source as digital.

In my Windows XP's Sounds and Audio Devices properties,
Device volume>>Advanced>>Options, I don't get to select Advanced Controls.
It's greyed/dimmed out

Speakers settings under Windows, is set as 5.1, but neverthess, I'm only
getting 2CH stereo. I'm assuming it's getting the speaker config from Realtek's
Manager?

Anyone has any idea on how to setup a 5.1 surround on my laptop?

Thanks.

A few questions/tips:
1) Does your speaker system have a Dolby AC3 or DTS decoder?
2) If you send a stereo signal to the the speaker system, it will play only on two speakers. If you want to get surround (5.1) sound from your stereo source, you must activate the Dolby Pro Logic II (Music) decoder on your speaker system, if it is available.
3) Try playing a DVD with a Dolby or DTS track on your laptop and check if you get 5.1 sound on your speaker system (an indicator usually lights up to show that the correct decoder is active).

My speaker set is Logitech Z680. It's primarily being use by my PC using Audigy 2 ZS sound card.
As far as I know, Z680 does have build in Dolby Digital, DTS and Prologic decoder.

Setting the Dolby Prologic Music or Movie on the speaker controller, however don't give me any
5.1, only stereo front left and right. Only in Stereo X2 mode will utilize the rear left and right
speakers. But this is only still stereo right

When playing DVD on Windows Media Player 11 and PowerDVD, I only get stereo sound. But
playing DVD using Windows Media Player thru AC3Filter (setup as 5.1), the rear speakers is
giving only click noise. The speaker controller is showing receiving Digital.

Even though Realtek Sound Manager showing 2CH Speaker, I can still get 5.1 thru SPDIF?

This seems to suggest there is some setting on the Logitech Z680 that is preventing it from playing on all 6 speakers. Did it come with a test CD or DVD?

This definitely suggests there is some setting that is not right in the Logitech Z680 controller. Check the manual, you may have disabled 5.1 mode somehow.


Yes, that is called pass-through mode, and the SPDIF interface should be carrying the encoded AC3 sound with 5.1 information. It should show Dolby Pro Logic on the Z680 controller.
Try also a movie with a DTS track, it should show DTS on the Z680.