Fortunately, both programs' problems are “fixable,” and the solutions are very similar.
What Is a 5.1 Audio Channel?
The audio we play should ideally include a separate sound channel for each of our speakers.
As a result, music has remained stereo and in two channels.
Despite this, Google Chrome and Spotify’s desktop app can only handle stereo sound for two speakers.
And, as the cherry on top, they offer zero options for changing that behavior.
Thankfully, some “hidden switches” can fix this little annoyance.
Stereo audio, on the other hand, must be upmixed separately.
Most onboard and external audio systems offer stereo upmixing.
Let’s use Creative’s old but popular X-Fi sound card as our example.
After launching the sound card’s software control panel, grab the first icon to access Speakers Configuration.
ensure you’ve chosen the right number of speakers.
hit the fourth icon on the sound control panel’s main display to upmix stereo audio using CMSS-3D.
grab the little speaker icon to check the results.
CMSS-3D offers two stereo upmixing modes.
smack the Surround button in the CMSS-3D panel to choose between them.
Windows' Create Shortcut wizard will appear on your screen.
Click in the text field underType a name for this shortcutand do as instructed.
A plain “Spotify” will do.
Chrome does not register a global handle for launching it by name alone.
Thus, you must enter its full path in Windows' Create Shortcut wizard.
Then, underType a name for this shortcut, give your new custom shortcut a name.
ClickFinishto save the shortcut to your desktop.
Is it even worse and it’s possible for you to’t hear anything at all?
It’s worth trying out Windows' automated troubleshooter.
Such troubleshooters justifiably got a bad rap on older versions of Windows (up to Windows 8).
When found, launch it.
ensure that the pull-down menu underChoose your output deviceis set to your speakers.
If they are, look at theMaster volumea bit below.
tap on theTroubleshootbutton directly underneath theMaster volume.
And when using a laptop, headphones are preferable for mobility.
Thus, Chrome and Spotify’s stereo-output prioritization is appropriate.
Because of this, the tweaks we saw may stop working in the future.
And if that happens, hopefully we can find another way to get back our multi-channel audio.
Until then, enjoy your surround sound.
