Can't get Logitech Z680 5.1 speakers to work

I will readily admit sound/speakers are one of my particularly weak areas, so I don't know if this is simply compatibility, or needing adapters, or where the problem lies.

I have a set of Logitech Z680 5.1 surround speakers. These have been working fine on my PC, and before that my previous PC.

As my PC has just died, I decided to hook the speakers up to my Alienware M15x, and configure using the IDT audio.

The problem is, no matter where I place the audio jacks in the laptop, and regardless of the mode I attempt to use on the speakers themselves, when I run the sound test then all test sounds come out of the rear right speaker, albeit at varying degrees of volume depending which output is being tested.

Can anybody give me some advice for how to get my speakers working correctly with the laptop?

 

I guess you're using the 2 headphone and the microphone jack to connect to your sound system? Like this:


Make sure you have chosen the correct input in your system (and effect, I guess it should show up as DTS or so on the little display of the system) and also check that IDT really is using the 3 jacks as 5.1 output.

 

Yes speaker jacks are attached exactly as in the link you provided.

IDT settings are as shown in my attachment to this post.

The speakers themselves offer input:
* Direct
* Optical
* Coax

And FX:
* 6 Ch Direct
* Stereo
* Stereo x2
* Dolby PL2 Music
* Dolby PL2 Movie

I currently have it set to 'direct' and '6 ch direct.' I did play with the other FX (exactly cos I don't know what those last two FX are for), but still got the exact same result of all sounds coming through only the one speaker.

 

That's all correct, 6 ch direct and direct.

I guess your M15x doesn't control the output correctly, it seems to send all signals through the same contact. Could also be your sound system, but that's very unlikely.
Do you have the latest IDT control panel installed? If yes, try reinstalling it, otherwise update it. Also make a powerdrain, solved some issues with the soundboard for me from time to time.

 

Well I've upgraded the actual driver, although only a minor update.

Upgraded from 6.10.0.6241 released 16/09/2009 to 6.10.0.6241 A01 released 01/12/2009. I will know if this has helped a little later when I can restart, and will also perform the powerdrain at the same time.

Questions though:
1.) This is the latest version on the Dell website, but is it the latest version? Any advice for a newer version obtainable from a trusted source would be appreciated. Just FYI this is for Windows 7 64bit.
2.) Would the driver include an updated control panel? I have searched for downloads but don't want to download from an untrusted site, and as I don't know what actual board is in the laptop I can't go direct from the board manufacturers website.

I'll provide a further update in a few hours after I've had a chance to restart to see if anything has helped.

 

So I have now tried as suggested and still have the same results.

Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Additionally I have another HDD with a complete fresh install for this laptop (never been booted from in the past). If I try with that and still get the same results, would it be a fair assumption that it may be a hardware issue? I ask cos currently this laptop is still under warranty.

 

Those are the most up to date ones that I could find through a quick Google search.

 

Ok. Put in this HDD, sounds like a great idea! Dell would (probably) let you do a fresh install anyway before repairing something.