We call this USB box a Sound Card for historic reasons. Set up properly we can output 5.1 surround sound from a Windows Computer. SPDIF connectors are optical. We will use the analog audio out which are 3.5mm stereo connectors.
This USB dongle is typical. You may have similar circuits packaged on a docking station. It came with a panda CD with old drivers. We will ignore the CD.
Linux ALSAA Linux computer sees the box like this. Each of the input and output connectors is matched with an audio circuit controlled by software.
Plug the sound card into a Windows computer and check the Device Manager. This one took a moment to find drivers.
If you see Other devices with yellow or red markings you may need to check a manufacturer's site for drivers.
Control PanelMenu Windows->Control Panel->Sounds right click for menu. Locate the USB Sound Device and Set as Default Communication Device for permanent setup that persists after restarts. Or we can disable the device, entirely.
Select Configure Speakers and select 5.1 Surround. Click on the Green Test button or a specific speaker. You will hear a sound out of each connected speaker.
Surround sound systems have a strange numbering system. Stereo is the old fashioned right left audio. 3.1 Surround adds a central speaker and a large speaker called a sub woofer that is good at making low notes. Adding the sub woofer makes our room shake.
The USB box we are using adds left and right rear speakers for 5.1 surround sound. The connector CEN/BASS OUT is a stereo jack with the centre speaker paired with the bass/sub-woofer.
Media ContentDownload the MPEG4 video file from the Surround Sound test files. Other test files for 7.1 surround sound tests.
Menu Audio->Audio Device->Sound Device. Open our.mp4 test video. Select our surround sound output.
It will cycle through the output circuits and you will hear sound through each connected speaker.
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