Alienware X51 major sound Issue

Question

Hello everyone,

I just got an alienware X51 and it's giving me a lot of trouble so far. First, no matter how i connect the 5.1 surround sound system that i ordered with the X51, all 5 speakers are not work, so it kind of defeats the purpose of having 5.1. Second, unless i'm playing a game i'm not getting any sound. For example, I have sound (not 5.1 but still sound) when i'm playing Gw2, but if i get nothing when i'm on youtube or FL studio, or guitar pro. I've tried so many things i've lost count. If i can't find a solution for this i'm going to have to return the computer, seeing as it's pretty much useless to me without sound.

Thank you

DELL-Rajath N · Answer

Hi johnybeanz,

It can be annoying when the syetm does not provide a 5.1 channel output to the speakers connected to it. I suggest you to reconnect all the connecters of the 5.1 channel Speaker setup to the same colored ports on the back panel.

You will need to configure the speaker settings using the Realtek HD Audio Manager by following the steps provided below:

1. Launch the Realtek HD Audio Manager by double clicking on the icon in the system tray.
2. Click on the "Speaker/Headphone" tab.
3. Click on "Speaker setup" on the left and select "5.1 Speaker" from the drop down menu under "Configuration".
4. Run the Auto Test by clicking on the Speaker icon next to the drop down menu to test the output.

Please note that to receive sound via the 5.1 Speaker, the audio stream should contain 5.1 content. The system will output stereo sound if the audio stream does not contain 5.1 information.

Let me know the speaker model in case if the issue persists, so that I can help you further with the connections.

Tesla1856 · Answer

This one ?:

www.engadget.com/.../logitech-z506-review

You must verify plugs and colors. You must config as Rajath said above. Did the Output Test sound each speaker individually?

Test with REAL DVD in optical drive. Any newer movie on DVD should have 5.1 DolbyDigital/DTS digital surround sound track (but you might have to select it from DVD root menu).

johnybeanz · Answer

Thank you for the reply.

I have tried everything you suggested and i'm positive the content i was trying to listen to was 5.1.

I have logitech z506 that i bought at the same time that i ordered my computer.

johnybeanz · Answer

yeah its the same one as in the picture. I checked all the connections. They all match both on the sound card and on the sub. It was a blueray with 5.1. No matter what I do or configure or test, unless I'm running guildwars or Diablo 3 I don't have any sound. I hear the sound when I click test for the audio configuration, but even then I only have sound out of the front centre, rear left, sub and a little bit out of the rear right. I'm 100% sure everything is connected properly because in gw2 the sound cones out of all the speakers and the sub.

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. It was a blueray with 5.1.

2. I hear the sound when I click test for the audio configuration, but even then I only have sound out of the front centre, rear left, sub and a little bit out of the rear right.

1. I said DVD (please ?)

2. If this doesn't work at Windows core level, you can stop trouble-shooting here. Are you sure you have it configged for 5.1 in this area? If you are running the Realtek drivers, there might be a similar item to select in it's special control panel.

You should be getting (normal 2 channel or stereo) sound from Left and Right Speakers ... whether config for 5.1 or 2.0. Sounds like the Front L/R plig might be in the wrong socket. It's normally green.

johnybeanz · Answer

oh my mistake. I just tried with a DVD and same thing (the DVD does have 5.1) no sound out of front right and left, but sound out of center. sub works, back left works and back right is extremely quiet.

It's connected properly. the colors match and everything. I know what i SHOULD be getting. sound. but i'm not, unless like i said i'm running a game (even then it's front centre, sub back left and a really quiet back right.).

I know the speakers work fine because i tested them on my tv and i get sound out of all of them. This has been going on pretty much since i got the computer and i don't know what to do. Like i said, the whole thing doesn't really have any use to me if there is no sound. (i do audio engineering, mixing, composing and that kind of stuff so you can imagine how that's not working)

Tesla1856 · Answer

You don't have a USB sound card or USB headphones connected, do you? You don't have analog headphones connected to the front 1/8' Headphone jack, do you?

johnybeanz · Answer

no,I have the speakers connected, that's it. And they're connected properly, unless the colors aren't supposed to match?

Tesla1856 · Answer

Is this Windows-7 or is it Windows-8 ?

Try this ...

Completely disconnect the Logitech set and put it aside.

Connect a standard pair or 1/8" plug analog headphones to the green (stereo) jack in the back. Set speaker config to 2-channel stereo.

- Run Config Test

- Play a stereo WAV, MP3, and Audio CD

Report results.

johnybeanz · Answer

it's windows 8. 2 channel works fine with every type of file extension i have.

Tesla1856 · Answer

it's windows 8. 2 channel works fine with every type of file extension i have.

OK, but that uses Front Left/Right speakers as Left/Right. So, the green jack works in 2.0 channel, but after switching to 5.1 mode, the green jack stops working (even if it's a stereo file)? Pretty strange stuff ... never seen anything like that before ... not recently on Vista, Win-7 or 8 anyway.

Trying un-installing the current audio driver suite. Then,

1. Try clean install of latest Realtek x51 drivers.

2. If they don't work, uninstall them, and try clean install of Windows HD-Audio stock drivers. They should support Realtek device no problem.

Hope you are testing with DVD, CD, MP3, etc. like you say. If you are instead testing with games you are going to be forever disappointed. This little on-board "audio circuit" doesn't have hardware surround support like Sound Blaster EAX 2.x, etc.

What does Alienware phone support say?

vuppalasuresh · Answer

configure your sound drivers to 5.1 sourrounding.then your all speakers would work

kelvinyam · Answer

Just curious, how did you troubleshoot the speakers with your TV and confirmed your speakers are working flawlessly?

TK1138 · Answer

Not sure if this problems been fixed but i had same problem with getting my 5.1 logitechs to work u cant plug them into the computer by color the left/right front wont work u have to plug center/sub into its plug and rear surround into its but the l/r has to go in the front speaker out plug.

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Alienware X51 major sound Issue

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