Mr Don

It sounds like the problem may be with the PC. Are you using WMP 11? Make sure you select the correct speaker configuration. Check your audio settings in your PC control panel (they usually default to stereo) and change them to 5.1 or 7.1. What kind of PC are you using? I just looked at the AVR-745 - nice!

Creative Labs makes a Sound Blaster "Audigy2NX" (5.1 and 7.1, 24bit/96k sampling at 102 SNR) USB which will does a great job (I've run over 30 foot usb cables to it (the unit sets on the amplifier). I use mine to connect directhy into my amps (the PC software allows you to do all the setups, including; balancing, eq and low pass cut off. Here is the link; http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=205&product=9103 You can get one for about $50.00. Another unit is called the "Extigy". I have had driver problems with the Extigy and Windows XP. Hope this helps, Don Don