rear speakers instead of side in 5.1 ??

**Cdsmasher** · July 12th, 2012, 03:04 PM

Hello everyone! I've got a problem configuring my 5.1 speakers. From what i know 5.1 systems consist of side speakers (SR,SL) instead of rear speakers (RR,RL). However, oddly realtek HD audio manager sees these side speakers as rear. I've also chosen the jag correctly as side output as u can see in the first picture. Even the manual shows that they are supposed to be to side (SL,SR). Can someone please help?
5.1 configuration with rear instead of side - sides are grayed out:
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7.1 configuration with sides included:
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**Taxmancometh** · July 12th, 2012, 08:48 PM

I have 5.1 and as far as I knew 5.1 consists of front left and right, center and rear left and right plus the sub woofer. Sides are 7.1.

You won't be getting side audio out of 5.1 speakers. Sorry.

**Cdsmasher** · July 13th, 2012, 04:56 AM

ok thx for the reply...but then again wherever i searched it says 5.1 consists of side speakers, and 7.1 have rear speakers added to them. the manual of the speakers itself states that they are side speakers labeled as SR,SL and should be placed left and right of the listener. google for "5.1 rear or side" and "5.1 speakers positioning". You will see results such as Home Theater Speaker Placement . Anyone else with more info? :/

**Steve R Jones** · July 13th, 2012, 05:03 AM

What is the difference between side and rear speakers?

And when you place the speakers to the R & L side of the listener don't they produce a sound?

**Cdsmasher** · July 13th, 2012, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Steve R Jones

What is the difference between side and rear speakers?

And when you place the speakers to the R & L side of the listener don't they produce a sound?

Well, wherever i checked it shows that the SR, and SL speakers should be placed on sides on a 5.1 . I have no idea if this is the case, but I think rear speakers and side speakers output different sounds (as in 7.1). In all the setup guides the configurations in realtek HD audio manager have the speakers placed on sides and the rear option is grayed out. In my situation its the opposite; sides are grayed out and it shows that those two speakers are rear speakers RR and RL. I couldnt find anything like this on the net they are always set as sides. When i chose the port as rear yes there is sound, but im just slightly concerned that this is an incorrect setup. I just want to be sure that everything is right.

**Taxmancometh** · July 13th, 2012, 05:52 AM

Read it here! There are no sides to a 5.1 setup! 5.1 surround sound - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**stroyal** · July 13th, 2012, 10:47 AM

Why would you have side speakers, with no rear?

It is my understanding side speakers are at the side, but slightly behind the listener.
And rear with 7.1, go completely in the rear.

With 5.1 rear speakers, they basically go in the same place as 7.1 sides, ( to each side, just slightly behind the listener).