Surround sound problem with music only

[asmith16]

Hello! I have recently set up a pioneer XV-HTD150 5.1 surround system up to my PC via SP/DIF cable. I'm running an integrated Realtek 850 audio card on a gigabyte G87A SLI ROYAL motherboard. Here's the thing, When I test all the speakers with Dolby sound or DTS, all the speakers respond fine. When I play a dvd, all the channels play just fine. However, when I play music, It only comes out front right, front left, and sub channels. I've been reading up on the subject and apparently all the sound files are only stereo encoded.... I'm just wondering if there is a way I can forward the output my front channels are getting to the rear and sub... I don't care for "true" surround on all channels... its fine with just Left and Right. I just want ALL the speakers to play the music. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Oh and btw,, I have Vista installed......

[Togglehead]

Wait...are you playing the CD from your CD-Rom drive in your computer, or a standalone CD player? Im thinking you might have to set up two sound profiles....as with stereo audio, it typically ignores the rear channels.

However...this might be a setting in your receiver too...

[asmith16]

No, sound on all channels works only when I play a CD through the receiver... Music only works on on FL, FR, SUB channels from the computer except when I play dvd's.

[Togglehead]

What program are you using to play your CD's on your machine?

[asmith16]

well I'm not playing cd's through my pc, just mp3's off my hard-drive. But I've tried itunes, Windows Media Player, and Winamp with multiple plug-ins with no luck. I'm beginning to believe its the reciever...

[Togglehead]

not necessarily true. If you say you can play a CD in the receivers CD player and get sound through all the speakers im willing to believe that the onboard sound setup of your PC is the culprit...or...do you have the "Surround Version" of winamp?

...although ill admit...im LOST in vista...