front area in 5.1 sound extremly quiet compared with other areas (pls help)

[redsmurf]

when i watch lord of the rings on dvd with windvd 4 i put it into 5.1 dolby digital mode (have snd card + spkrs) and whenever sound needs to come from the front (camera close up of someone speaking) the sound is way to quiet compared with sounds and music coming from rear spears. sometimes it works and just uses front left and right, then other times it only uses the center speaker for sound coming from the front area (it varies on what program i use to play the dvd). (all speakers work and are at default balance.)

--creative dvd drive
--sb live 5.1 DE
--herc XPS 510

any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks

[ifoam]

did you check to make sure that the front speakers were connected to the front jacks and rear in the rear? that can make a world of difference just making sure..

[chickeneater]

check in windvd in audio preferences for a box that has digital sound out. if it is checked, unckeck it. your speakers are mostly analog, if you had digital speakers it would be loud. i experienced sound like that for quite some time...

[chickeneater]

or if there is a surround setting, like it adjust the level of soun from the back or from the front. i did that too.