XPS 8940, Logitech 5.1 system, no Sound

Did you try going to Control Panel, 'Hardware and Sound', Sound, in the Sound window select 'Speaker / Headphones', then click on 'Configure' (bottom left), and in the 'Speaker Setup' windows change the 'Audio channels' to '5.1 Surround'?

Yes .. did all that before I posted.

UPDATE .. The problem was due to an incompatibility between MaxxAudio Pro and something on the XPS 8940 .. don't know if the issue is the 10th Gen corei9, the Z470 chipset or something on the 3940 motherboard.

I uninstalled the offending application and all seems to be working, at least for now.

NOTE:  MaxxAudioPro was automatically loaded from the MS store .. it is normally part of the standard DELL load for the XPS 3910 and XPS 3930.  I changed my store profile to not use MaxxAudio Pro

Are you sure you have the correct version of the Waves MaxxAudio Pro Application package from the Dell Drivers and Downloads site for the XPS 8940? The Application package guides you to the Microsoft Store to download the Waves MaxxAudio Pro Application. While the full details of the package list the XPS 8940 as one of the compatible systems for the package it does not list the XPS 8910 or XPS 8930.

I am having the same issue with my new Dell XPS 8940, except that the rear speakers pass a sound test in the sound panel, but refuse to produce any sound when listening to music, movies, etc.

Have tried all the suggestions listed here to no avail.

Very disappointed.

Wanted to post this update regarding my issues with surround sound on Dell XPS 8940.

(Speaker test produced sound in all speakers but no music or other sounds eminated from surround speakers.)

I finally resolved this problem by going to the system registry and deleting the Waves Audio folder in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ and then reinstalling latest Realtek driver for 8940 from Dell.

The driver install will reinstall Waves.  I had to delete the Waves Folder a couple of times and reinstall the Realtek driver a couple of times for it to recognize that speakers were connected rather than headphones, but I am happy to report that once again my 5.1 surround sound is working as designed.

Usual cautions about making edits to the registry.  I am glad that I did not pay Dell a support fee of over $100 to resolve this problem.

Mike

I tried the above but no luck. This is an annoying setup by Dell.

A symptom of  problem shows in the sound settings in the systray which lists it as headphones. 

To fix run (or install if it isn't) Waves MaxxAudio Pro. Search for it using windows search on the start menu Then use this utility to tell it that you plugged in surround sound, rather than the default headphones.

I had to fix this when I purchased the system, and then after a DELL system update (rather than a windows update)

Having the same issue - will post a solution if i find one, but meanwhile, I'm getting "some" audio while the subwoofer is completely unrecognized and nonfunctional.

@iAmJustAchild 

If you want Waves MaxxAudio Pro installed on this system, try this:

Open the Waves MaxxAudio control panel. Click the Speaker icon and scroll down to the Advanced option and click to expand it. Put a check in the box "allow popup".  If that box is already checked, uncheck it, close and then reopen the Maxx panel and put a check in that box again

With the Maxx panel closed, disconnect audio output devices from the PC and reboot. When you're back at the desktop and everything is fully loaded, plug the speakers into the correct jack(s) on PC. Wait until the Maxx popup box appears and asks what you connected. Choose the correct option from the list.

If the subwoofer is a separate connection, plug that in after the main speakers are recognized and wait until Maxx pops up again and select the correct option.

Then open the Maxx control panel and click Playback. Make sure the little slider (next to the ? mark) is moved toward the right to turn  "Dimension" on and configure/test on that screen.

"Open the Waves MaxxAudio control panel. Click the Speaker icon and scroll down to the Advanced option and click to expand it."

- - This was already check.

I have no cables attached am using bluetooth ... tried this with the single cable that connects to the Logitech Z337 subwoofer, and it didn't help, unfortunately.

@iAmJustAchild   - Did you uncheck that box, close the Waves control panel, and then reopen it again and put the check in that box? Sometimes it just doesn't see the check unless you uncheck/recheck that box...

And, Start>Search, type in: Bluetooth and press OK. When the results appear, look on the list for options for the  {opposite of "stereo", because it won't let me post the m-word for that type of audio...grrr...  }. Make sure that setting is turned off.

@iAmJustAchild  - Did you open the Waves MaxxAudio control panel again and go to its Dimension screen and make sure the slider is ON, and then see if you can configure things there?

I tried the uncheck and check the box under 'Advanced' in MaxxAudio

the subwoofer is "sort of" working.

The Windows >Sounds>>Speakers>>>Configure

Only shows "m()n()" and "stereo" options and neither shows the subwoofer

The native Windows >Sounds>>Realtek>>>Configure

Only shows the subwoofer if I disable certain speakers

At this time, I think we've made progress but it's not fixed exactly

I had same problem, Logitech surround sound with 3.5mm jack. Deleted the registry folder for Maxx Audio, rebooted and it just started to work. So it does seem like some kind of compatibility issue with Maxx Audio and XPS 8940 system.

I have similar problems and followed this troubleshooting which got me much further.  Now the Maxx audio sees this a 5.1 and the jacks are listed correctly.... However, only L/R channels work (green).  The rear (black) and center/sub (orange) lines puts out nothing. 

Not sure where to go next.