Getting the Subwoofer to Work in the Vortex III

Tiger Feet

Silver Level Poster
Does anybody know how to get the subwoofer working in the Realtek HD Audio Manager within a Vortex III?

I have tried 5.1 and 7.1 speaker configurations. Everything is checked and all the other speakers have sound coming out of them except the subwoofer. I had tried pressing Fn+5 to turn on the sub but this does not work.

When I first got the computer, all of the audio speakers worked including the subwoofer. A friend of mine had a tinker about via remote access and uninstalled the THX TruStudio Pro program. I have since reinstalled it but ever since then, I cannot get the subwoofer to work.

Any ideas would be truly appreciated.

Thank you
 

EJocys

New member
I have similar issue. All virtual speakers play demo sound except from virtual subwoofer when I use stereo headphones:

a) My stereo headphones are connected to “Front Speaker Out”.
b) Speaker configuration is set to “5.1 Speaker”.
c) All Speakers on “Optional Speaker” group box are disabled which means that they are virtual speakers and all of them must play on stereo headphones:

Realtek_Test_Virtual.PNG


Screenshot of Microsoft Windows version of same setup:

Realtek_SpeakerSetup.PNG


When you left-mouse click on subwoofer icon same problem occurs: virtual subwoofer is not producing any sound while play animation is showing.

I’ve tried exactly the same configuration with external USB “SoundBlaster Xi-Fi Surround 5.1” and all 5 speakers + 1 subwoofer play demo sound perfectly trough stereo headphones: 5 ding sounds and bass sound for subwoofer.

It looks like an issue with Realtek Sound Card (hardware or drivers). I've tried different Realtek drivers, including latest version 2.71, with no success.

Note: Centre and Subwoofer sound test works through real speakers if I plug them into "Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out" socket:

Realtek_Test.PNG
 
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SmokeDarKnight

Author Level
Think this question has been raised a lot and a sticky was created for the vortex 2, it should still apply

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/foru...-Vortex-II-Audio-Guide&highlight=Vortex+Audio

think there was an Optimus one too that would also help but cant find it.

The Sub is not powerful it does work it just supports the other speaker so that you do not get distortion and you get crystal clear sound.

For music the speakers arent great for any wupwupwups on ntsntsnts saddly.

[video=youtube;h_s9Jb5AWXU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_s9Jb5AWXU[/video]
 

EJocys

New member
I have found source of the problem and workaround which worked for me. It is a bug in "Realtek Sound Manager" software.

First, in order for Virtual Subwoofer to work
a) "Creative THX TruStudio Pro" must be installed and activated.
b) "Speaker" option must be enabled.

Creative_THX_TruStudio_Pro.PNG


How to replicate bug:
a) Open "Realtek Sound Manager"
b) Change Speaker configuration from 7.1 to 5.1 and back to 7.1:

Result: Virtual Subwoofer sound will be gone forever.

What happend:
Realtek screwed Registry value from GOOD:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001\Settings\Drv6873_DevType_0892_SS15585105]
"ChannelConfig"=hex:03,00,00,00
to BAD
"ChannelConfig"=hex:3f,06,00,00

Workaround:

a) Restore GOOD (or working) registry value or delete Realtek's Settings key
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\00XX\Settings
b) Reboot PC (default Settings key will be restored)

How to find Key:

1. Open regedit by typing regedit at the run command (press Windows Key + R and then type regedit) and then locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\00XX\Settings

Where, XX should be the key for Realtek High Definition Audio (usually it is 0000 but if it’s not the correct key for Realtek HD Audio then you should look for the correct key. You can tell whether the registry key is for Realtek HD Audio or not by looking at the DriverDesc which is located at the right panel)
 
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