Enabling 3D Surround Sound for Headphones on Windows 10 The first method to enable 3D Surround Sound on Windows 10 is extremely simple. You have to right-click on Speaker icon found at the bottom right of your Windows 10 home screen. The right-click context menu will show a new option that reads Spatial sound (none). Select that option, and your current audio device's properties window will open at the new Spatial sound tab.
There are many forum threads around the web about Windows 10 breaking Surround Sound / 5.1 DTS / 5.1 Dolby, etc. However there appear to be a few different possibilities, and while some noted to fix it using unlocked Realtek drivers, I have tested this myself with the following results.BACKGROUNDSee screenshots below of all of my settings screens:Windows 10, PC connected HDMI to my Samsung TV, and digital optical out through a Realtek soundcard to my Pioneer receiver (DD and DTS capable).PC is aI have tried Realtek's R2.79 drivers Win10 x64. I have also tried the WIN10 x64 drivers from Shuttle's site (linked above). Both don't actually show the DTS/DD output option. The unlocked R2.79 drivers DO show that option, but more info on that below.This worked in WIN7 without any headache, and using the built in drivers WIN7 applied to the soundcard.
Didn't even need the realtek drivers.Just use HDMI to your TV, and back to the receiver you idiotWouldn't that be nice! HDMI goes through the Samsung TV in full 5.1 glory, but the Samsung TV will not output it back out to the receiver in the same format it got it! It sends it back to the receiver as 2 channel.Just use HDMI switching on your receiver instead you idiotThe receiver does NOT like the samsung TV as a single output. I get resolution issues, flicker, refresh rate problems, the list goes on. It is a far bigger headache to try and get the video to work right when putting all inputs in the receiver, and I decided it was time to let the TV handle all video itself.And again, this DID work on WIN7.TESTMy tests are always using a test DTS 5.1 file which plays sound in each speaker one at a time when DTS 5.1 is active and working properly. I have an MKV version which is also on PLEX (which plays through a browser).PROBLEMThe below is true for either official Realtek driver file, and the built in windows 10 drivers (before realtek was even installed).
Windows Movie and TV player, and Windows Media Player output NOTHING. Likely due to a codec issue though.
VLC, with S/PDIF pass through disabled, output is 2 channel only. It is not DTS 5.1 or DD 5.1. The test file plays sounds only in the front L/R speakers one at a time as it cycles through all 5 speakers. When it gets to LTE channel, nothing plays at all, silence. VLC, using S/PDIF pass through option, works flawlessly and outputs DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 sound through the optical output on my PC, to my receiver. Each speaker has it's own channel and the test file works flawlessly.
Plex, in Chrome, IE, or FF, is never outputting DTS or DD 5.1. I can confirm that it is playing 'original' file and there is zero transcoding taking place. I've tried tons of plex settings, nothing seems to work. This is just like VLC with S/PDIF pass through DISABLED. I get 2 channels only and LTE doesn't work at all in the test file. Websites in Chrome, IE, FF are just like the above, no change.
I cannot get DD or DTS to be output.The below is true for the unlocked realtek R2.79 driver. I can go into the Realtek settings screen and now from the dropdown select DTS or DD. All of the sudden my receiver is showing DTS or DD on the front panel, SUCCESS!?!?
NO. In fact, it is outputting DTS/DD. But it's not treating the files right. Just like in all the tests above, I cannot hear the LTE channel in the test file in any test, and the rear/center speakers are made only accross the L/R front speakers. What's worse, the S/PDIF passthrough in VLC now does the same thing, it no longer functions properly!!!
So even though it says DTS, and it very well may be outputting that, it is downmixing everything it gets into 2 channels only!So this is the problem, and I have found no solution to date. I am all ears. My goal is to get at least one browser capable of outputting 5.1 in DD or DTS in its true form. From Xfinity TV webapp, Plex, HBO Go, and Netflix at a minimum.
I've just spend whole Sunday solving this crap! But after all those hours I have a working 5.1 audio on Windows 10 (1809) through optical S/PDIF on my ASRock X470 (Realtek ALC1220). And it's not just DTS pass through!There are many VERY VERY LONG threads discussing this, the most useful.The solution:.
How To Enable Surround Sound Windows 10 64 Bit
you need to download that that will 'fix' the missingfeatures. download proper driver, that is still compatible with the patcher - in my case I've used version 2.82, the file name is '0009-64bitWin7Win8Win81Win10R282.exe' (this is a two years old driver!!!
The Windows 10 Creators Update comes packed with all kinds of little surprises. This tip covers a new feature that audiophiles will want to know about, as well as those who want to try and get a little bit extra out of their headphones and speakers. Ian Paul/IDGThe Creators Update sonic for headphones setting.The Creators Update includes a feature called. It's a spatial sound format that is supposed to make audio more immersive and give even the most bland pair of headphones a more 3D Audio feel. It appears developers have to enable this feature via some new APIs from Microsoft. To be honest, in my tests with a cheap pair of smartphone earbuds and then a pair of desktop speakers I didn't hear a difference.
Both were routed through the headphone jack; perhaps a nicer pair of headphones would've made a noticeable difference.Some users on report a better experience, while others are in the same boat as me. As the new spatial audio APIs get more use we should be able to judge the difference more accurately in the future. Ian Paul/IDGThe spatial sound setting in Creators Update volume controls.If you want to turn on the new feature today, however, it's very easy.
First, right-click the speaker audio icon in your taskbar. The right-click context menu will show a new option that reads Spatial sound (none).Select that option, and your current audio device's properties window will open at the new Spatial sound tab.Now just click on the drop down menu and select Windows Sonic for Headphones, which will automatically check the box labeled 'Turn on 7.1 virtual surround sound.' Now click Apply and then OK.You're done!
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