Why the Rear Channels Stay Silent in a 5.1 Test on Windows
The front pair plays, the subwoofer maybe hums, and the center and both rear speakers sit there like furniture. You…
just bought a new 27 inch monitor, plugged in with hdmi. picture is great but no sound from my desk speakers or the monitor. do i need some driver or something
HDMI monitors often become the default output and then play nothing. Set your speakers as the default device in Sound settings, or plug them into the monitor's headphone jack.
Windows adds the monitor as a new playback device the moment HDMI connects, and many monitors have no built-in speakers at all. If Windows picks the monitor as default, you hear silence.
Your desk speakers are probably on the 3.5 mm output of the PC, which just needs to be chosen again.
Checked by Rishabh Sharma on . How we verify answers
Surround Sound Auditor at Sound Test
Callum Sterling is the Surround Sound Auditor on the Sound Tester Audio Team. Focused on checking 5.1/7.1 spatial positioning accuracy, Dolby Atmos channel mappings, and sound leakage. Runs gaming headset audio troubleshooting threads on X (Twitter). On Sound Tester he answers surround sound, soundbar and HDMI ARC discussions, and checks channel placement with the Surround Sound Test.
Each answer is written by the specialist closest to the topic and checked by a second team member. How we verify answers
Answers are free general guidance from the Sound Tester Audio Team and community. They are not medical advice. For hearing loss, ringing or ear pain, see a doctor or audiologist. Opening a device can void its warranty, so check the maker's support first for hardware faults.
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