5.1 speakers don't work properly with asrock z87 pro3

[profJim]

Re: 5.1 speakers don't work properly with asrock z87 pro3

There are many kinds of 3.5mm audio cables and they are available in short to very long lengths.
There are some cables that have a different plug on one end of the cable.
A web search using: 3.5mm audio cable will provide links to many sources.

You can find them at local hi-fi or department stores, but I'd rather pay more if necessary for a high quality cable from a reputable web vendor.

[parsec]

Re: 5.1 speakers don't work properly with asrock z87 pro3

Note in the picture above, each individual cable is a two channel cable since it has three separate connections, two for signal and one for a shared ground. You must get that type of cable, similar looking cables with just two connections is a single channel cable.

There are all kinds of cheap cables like that everywhere, even Walmart has them. They break easily with usage. It may be difficult to find a higher quality cable which is normally thicker and has a better looking plug that should be metal.

A cheap cable will do to test if it is the cable and not the jack on the board.

[profJim]

Re: 5.1 speakers don't work properly with asrock z87 pro3

^^+1^^
Check out Premium 3.5mm Audio Male to Male Cables - Monoprice.com
and Basic 3.5mm Audio Male to Male Cables - Monoprice.com

You can find other sources with a web search using: (3.5mm) stereo male to (3.5mm) stereo male audio cable

Gold plated contacts if available should be best.
Cables with full metal jacketed cable end enclosures are probably the highest quality cables.
Cables with lower AWG wire sizes are thicker, higher AWG wire sizes are thinner. Thicker wires are better when cables have the same length!!

If the price looks too good to be true, it's probably for low quality cables that will fail sooner rather than later.