who still has a promedia 4.1? Can't separate front and rear channels, even though plugged into the correct audio ports. Is this how it always was?

[kdawg]

I have the 2 cables plugged into the right audio ports.

 

When using the Realtek control panel to test the channels, the rear channels will not play independently of the front channels.

Clicking the front left speaker and rear left speaker plays audio in both left speakers.

 

Was this how it always was?

 

The only modification I did was change the main volume potentiometer because it had very bad static and cutout, and nothing I did could fix it, so I bought a 2 gang pot instead of the longer 4 gang pot. Years ago when I replaced the pot, it was hard to find the 4 gang pots.

 

I wonder if that's the reason the front and rear channels won't play separately? 

 

If I turn the surround knob all the way down, the rear speakers do decrease in volume a bit, but only by 50% maybe. There's always sound playing from the rear channel.

 

So right now, my speakers behave like a 2.1++ setup.