Windows 10: USB 6 Channel 5.1 External Audio Sound Card Problems

Hello, I bought this: CMedia WMA USB 6 Channel 5.1 External Audio Sound Card S/PDIF





Have installed using driver CM6206LX-1.04(CR), -Windows 10, seems to work fine after install. However, every time I reboot I lose the icon in the hidden tray that enables me to setup speakers etc, and runs this software:





I have to reinstall to get it back and then change all my audio settings etc again. Then reboot and its gone once more.

Can you help?

Thanks

:)

 

5.1 dolby surround sound problems via USB S/PDIF on Win 10

This is a bit long winded, hopefully you can bear with me!

Context

I've been successfully using
this USB to S/PDIF external sound card on a Windows 7 machine to emit 5.1 dolby audio via VLC.

I haven't needed to manually install any drivers for 5.1 surround sound to work correctly (connected to an old

Sony 5.1 surround system via optical).

Recently, I did an upgrade installation From Win 7 to Win 10 and the Soundbox continued to work correctly, emitting 5.1 channel audio (DTS/blue light) to my Sony surround system.

However, due to some issues with the upgrade, I decided to do a completely fresh install of Windows 10 for speed/freshness. This is where the problem starts.

Problem

On a fresh Windows 10 install, I've found that the USB Soundbox, although recognised by the system, has stopped emitting sound completely with no manual drivers installed.

Installing both the Windows 10 and Windows 8 drivers (c-media divers,
listed here), seems to allow Windows 10 to emit optical S/PDIF sound, however the output is limited to PCM 2-channel audio.

Strangely, the DTS test within the USB soundbox's digital output properties successfully emits true 5.1 sound (DTS/blue light), however playing any type of 5.1 media from the machine (via VLC) only emits PCM 2-channel audio.

Conclusion

It seems as though the auto-installed Windows 7 5.1 drivers work correctly. When the working drivers are carried over to the Windows 10 upgrade, 5.1 audio continues to emit properly.

Auto-installed Windows 10 5.1 drivers don't appear to work correctly while manually installed drivers only emit 2 channel audio.

Having tried every setting under the sun to get this to work, 5.1 audio doesn't work when playing media via VLC.

Potential long-winded fix

A fresh install of Windows 7, double checking that the sound card is emitting 5.1 audio from VLC, then upgrading to Windows 10. (I'd like to avoid this, due to the amount of time this will take!)

Questions

- Are there any other drivers which might solve the problem?

- Should I consider purchasing a new USB to S/PDIF 5.1 audio sound card thats Win 10 compatible?

- Or is a fresh Win 7 install and Win 10 upgrade the only option?

The big question

Has Microsoft stopped supporting S/PDIF dolby audio? Perhaps they want everyone to go HDMI now?

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts/help!

 

5.1 surround sound issue in Windows 10

Hi,

Thank you for your response.

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps.

If you’re connecting an optical cable the settings would be changed so try the following steps

Two options:

1. Use the optical S/PDIF output of your motherboard.

2. Use the HDMI output of your GPU. (This is what I'd recommend if you're using a HDMI display).

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps.

• 
  Go to control panel.
  
• 
  Select sound.
  
• 
  Click on playback devices.
  

For option 1- connect the cable and set the 'Realtek digital output' as default device.

• 
  Then right click on it.
  
• 
  Go to properties.
  
• 
  At the rightmost tab select DTS or Dolby Digital or 5.1.
  

For option 2-connect the HDMI cable through the receiver and set the 'Nvidia HDMI Output' as your default device. Then click 'Configure' and select 5.1 and check if it helps.

If the issue persist then, I suggest you to connect the speakers directly and check in the realtek audio manager if he gets the 5.1 option or not using the SPDIF\output.

Keep us posted on this issue so that we can assist you better.