---
title: "Configuring Your Computer for 5.1-Channel and 7.1-Channel Playback"
description: "To get the best surround playback experience with Pure Audio Streaming, you'll need to configure your computer's audio output to match your speaker setup ### Windows Set Up 1. Connect your Windows PC to your AV receiver or other HDMI-compatible…"
url: "https://help.pureaudiostreaming.com/docs/configuring-your-computer-for-5-1-channel-and-7-1-channel-playback/"
updated: "2026-07-06"
category: "Playback & Audio"
tags:
  - devices
  - macOS
  - playback
  - surround
  - windows
---

# Configuring Your Computer for 5.1-Channel and 7.1-Channel Playback

To get the best surround playback experience with Pure Audio Streaming, you'll need to configure your computer's audio output to match your speaker setup

### Windows Set Up

1. Connect your Windows PC to your AV receiver or other HDMI-compatible audio device using an HDMI cable.
2. Open the *Control Panel*, then go to *Sound*.
3. In the *Sound* settings, right-click on your device and select *'Set as Default Device'*.
4. With the device selected, click *Configure* in the lower-left corner.
5. Choose the speaker layout that matches your system (5.1 Surround or 7.1 Surround), then click Next and complete the speaker configuration.
6. Return to the *Sound* window, select your playback device, and click *Properties*.
7. Open the *Advanced* tab. Under *Default Format*, select:
   - The highest available bit depth
   - A sample rate that matches the content you're playing (for example, 24-bit, 48,000 Hz for 48 kHz content)
8. Click OK to save your settings.
9. Open Pure Audio Streaming, select a surround audio stream and enjoy!

### Mac Set Up

1. Connect a Mac to an HDMI supported device such as an AV receiver. If your Mac has no HDMI port, an HDMI adapter is needed.
   - The following adapters allow 7.1 channel (max.) surround playback on iPhone and iPad (via Safari):
     - Lightning – Digital AV Adapter
     - USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (for USB-C iPad)
2. Open *Applications* > *Utilities* > *Audio MIDI Setup*.
3. Make sure that your device is shown on the left side. Right-click on the device and select '*Use This Device for Sound Output*'.
4. 4. Under '*Format*' in the '*Output*' tab, select the settings that best match the output device and the content format.
   - Channel Number : Select the number of speakers connected to your output device.
   - Bit Depth : Select the largest possible bit depth.
   - Sample Rate : Select the identical sample rate to the content.
     - Note: HDMI ports on Apple Silicon (M1) Macs only support 48kHz output (April 2023).
5. Click '*Configure Speakers…*' on the bottom right. From '*Configuration*' pull-down menu, select a speaker configuration that best matches your system, such as stereo or 5.1 surround.
   - If your system is based on ITU 7.1ch, select 7.1 Rear Surround instead of 7.1 Surround.
6. Make sure that the channel number shown in the bottom half of the window is in the ascending order from 1~8. If the channel number is not selected or not ordered correctly, set the right channel order from the pull-down menu.
7. Click '*Apply*' and complete the setup.
8.  On the player page, select a surround audio stream to enjoy the content.