Surround Sound 5.1 Setup (Sound Blaster ZxRi + Logitech Z-5500)

[Azza ☠]

Hi,

I'm currently having a little trouble figuring out this new audio setup for 5.1 Surround on both my Logitech Z-5500 speakers/subwoofer + Headset.

I previously has the Logitech Z-5500 setup to work with a Sound Blaster Titanium HD in Dolby Digital 5.1 (Pro Logic II) or DTS 5.1, that was audiophonic heaven.

However, come into play with a new motherboard "Z170X Gaming G1 Motherboard" and doing a new build. Yes, it's the well overpriced, full featured one, however managed to get it for below whole sale price and components free (thanks to business). Planning to sell it for a profit or replace my own, depending on the heart. It's working sweet with everything, except the audio...

Anyways, it has builtin Sound Blaster ZxRi:
- SBX Pro Studio
- Creative Sound Core 3D chip 120dB+
- Burr Brown AMP
- 2/5.1 channel + S/PDIF Out

I'm finding the SBX Pro Studio Audio suite software confusing as it doesn't seem to isolate 5.1 speakers from the headphones? The headphones should be able to cope with 5.1 I believe, but I would like it at a lower volume too.

Setup:
- Logitech Z-5500 Mixer connected via S/PDIF Out - Digital Optical TosLink cable
- Headset connected via back 3.5mm Jack Ports (microphone + first speaker port)

On 2.1 - Both work fine.

On Headphone:
- Headphones work + Logitech Z-5500 speakers play too at left/right speakers.

On 5.1 Surround + StereoMix (seems to be required for speakers to sound):
- The Logitech Z-5500 works with left speaker, center, right speaker, and subwoofer. The back two speakers comes via the front end instead.
- Headphones work too, but audio sounds mispositioned/cut/underwater.

Anyone already know of that software / hardware that could help or throw some some suggestions I might of overlooked?

[Azza ☠]

Might of already figured it out, typing that helped think it though... brain fart for early morning setup...

New installation of Windows, needed to setup Windows audio first (Control Panel > Audio):

Setup Speakers (Sound Blaster ZxRi) to 5.1 surround audio.
Then set "default" playback to: SPDIF-Out (Sound Blaster ZxRi)

Unplug Headphones/microphone.

Under "SBX Pro Studio Audio suite software" mark the Z-5500 on SPDIF-Out as 5.1 Surround and setup.

Then as for the headphones, I made the mistake of plugging into the speaker output 1, bottom row, far left is actually the headphones port (which was odd because the microphone is top row, far right). As soon as plugging into that, the SBX software popups with detected headphones and microphone. It toggles over to set that up as desired.

Can toggle between them successfully. Time to test out a game!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

The headphones should sound fine if u get off the default "Flat" Equalizer setting and actually apply a good sounding one, like Rock.

Regardless of how the speakers are setups, u can set the Creative software options to things such as "Mute Speakers upon Headphone detect" (when headphones are plugged into either Rear or Front I/O) as well as "Enable Headphone Settings" (this later option will switch your Speaker Mode to "Headphones" automatically when using those; simply unplugging should revert back to what you had setup for your "Speakers")

If you wish to have both Speakers and Headphones having audio through them at the same times; then u want the two above options disabled. Then u just turn off your Speakers if u don't want to hear that. But you will need to enforce Virtual Surround / Stereo Mix so audio channels are heard properly under 2.1/Headphone use, since your defaults would be set for 5.1

For best use of all-around Surround Sound to Stereo Mixtures; apply CMSS-3D and set those underlining options to ON.

[Azza ☠]

Cheers for the tips - I have both connected now with a toggle switch to change between. Works great and sounds awesome!

I don't think Z-5500 speakers are full range? I disabled that.

[r0x]

@Azza :: I have this same board and cant seem to get anything but 2 channel stereo out of my spdif to my receiver. how did you accomplish this exactly?

[Shadowman]

is there a way to listen to 2 diffrent things? i have my speakers connected in the back and my headset in the front i want to listen the games ,music etc from the rear and voice chat like skype etc from the front headset.
i could do that in a very cheap board with realtek onboard soundcard but not with this?!

[jerbear]

eureka i figure it out!! I have the same onboard audio with my aorus gaming 8 and all i had to do was connect hdmi to my onboard video and under listen in recording tab select intel dispaly audio. MAKE SURE LISTEN TAB IS SELECTED. then u have to configure the intel display audio for 5.1 0r 7.1 whatever yo want it to be or what your onboard hdmi can handle. then select soundblaster analog to be your default audio. then under your sb control panel select 5.1 and all the sbx feature you want. no digital optical required. hdmi receiver required or a device that converts hdmi to digital optical! Hope this helps!!!! You have to duplicate your screen as well. The cpu performance takes a big hit which is a bummer though.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Win8/10 generally do not support any SoundBlaster running at Pro Logic II or DTS
But that really doesn't matter; just the standard 5.1 would be fine.
Just ensure it is all set for Playback at 24-bit, 48Khz or better.

[jerbear]

your wrong. sound blaster z, 99 bucks on amazon has dts and prologic. ive seen the feature in person.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

It can work, depends on the card. Usually have to actually use Optical TOSLink for such options though.