Analog 5.1 on a Soundblaster Z

[Kierownik]

Hi there, I bought recently a soundblaster Z 5.1 card.

Today i bought new speaker cable (plugged normally into the sub all work fine and without problem) and jacks to plug up my speaker setup into the sound card,
instead of going through my active subwoofer (it has an in-built amp in it)

I wired it up on jack, i cannot get any audio from it when plugging it into the center/sub or rear l/r channels.

The front past 35% sounds really distorted and 100% isin't much improvement and screeches like hell. (when plugged through the sub into front l/r it all sounds fine and good like it does on the headphone port)

Normally setup, through the subwoofer and thats just a jack to front l/r (it was previously on a Y splitter on the headphone port)(on the audio card ) and cheating with the cables on the sub to make the front and back lefts and rights on one line and center is plugged in separately with the subwoofer being in 5.1 mode everything sounds fine and nice.

(theres 2.1 switch on the sub, its a simple /1/-/2/ mode)
(the setup atm is like 4.1 with the left and right being x2)
(with the back speakers plugged into back on 5.1 they are really quiet when plugged into sub into back slots instead of the cheat with cable)

But i want true 5.1 for games and movies and what not, the sub is fake 5.1 and i get voice from all speakers not just center.

So does anyone have any idea or clue on what to do to plug it up to work?
(i know it has spdif's but apparently the card cannot do 5.1 on spdif and my sub doesnt have spdif, old one did but thats goose'd)

 

[dudio]

Look at both the Windows sound settings and also Creative's SB software, and make sure you have selected 5.1
List your speakers models

 

[JoeMomma]

Congratulations on the Soundblaster Z! I love mine.
Let's get it working.

The output jacks on the SBZ are confusing because they are not color coded.
Use the manual to make sure the right plug is in the right hole. I screwed that up at first.

As dudio said make sure speakers are set to 5.1. I turned on Bass Redirection to make most of the bass go through the sub instead of the speakers. I reduced the Crossover frequency, but that's an EQ preference.

I like to turn on SBX Pro Studio, just for Surround and Smart Volume. Surround is the first time I have heard stereo converted to 5.1 and actually sound normal. Surround is also where you adjust the front / rear separation & how loud the rear speakers are. Smart Volume lowers the sound at night for me. Turn off Crystalizer (auto tune). Dialog Plus is for movies when it's hard to hear the talking.

Crystalvoice sounds terrible and artificial to me. It works on a few songs, but I hate the way it alters the original mix.

Scout Mode works, but not good enough for me to bother with it. It supposed to amplify enemy footsteps.

Leave Cinematic Encoder off for now.

Check the Mixer. Speakers on, SPDIF off

Play with the EQ later.

Advanced Features should be unchecked.

- - Good Luck. - -

 

[dudio]

Beware with your settings Momma that you have told the system that your front and rear speakers are full-sized,
and therefore will change the cutover on the sub from 120Hz to probably 90Hz, and then you've cut it down again.
You may be missing some mid response on your main speakers

 

[JoeMomma]

Beware with your settings Momma that you have told the system that your front and rear speakers are full-sized,
and therefore will change the cutover on the sub from 120Hz to probably 90Hz, and then you've cut it down again.
You may be missing some mid response on your main speakers

I'm not sure I fully understand how my midrange may be limited by adjusting the sub.

I read an audiophile review of my speakers and it had a downloadable EQ file.
That was my starting point, then I played with the sliders a few times until it sounded best.
Looking at my EQ now, I may have compensated for lack of mids by reducing bass and treble a bit.
I cut the sub down to 60Hz because it didn't sound as good when trying to produce audible bass.
My sub is more powerful and clean when I can barely hear it and I can mostly feel it.

The speakers sound really good and getting the Sound Blaster Z made them sound a lot nicer.