Cannot Get Sound From All Speakers

I am having trouble getting sound to come from all 5 speakers connected to my receiver. The sound is coming out of only the LEFT and RIGHT speakers. I tried the following:

(1) Laptop to Receiver via microphone jack with RCA cables (analog?)
(2) USB flash drive directly to receiver

In both instances, sound is only coming out of the front left & right speakers. Is it something I did wrong? Should I be using some other cables?

Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1-Channel 3D Ready A/V Receiver
I am only streaming audio (mp3, flac, etc.). no video. via winamp.

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I did some reading online and saw some suggestions related to it being "two-channel" instead of "Surround." I don't really understand too much and have been reading through the manual and cannot figure out how to switch the receiver to multi-channel. I hope this makes some sense.

Please help. Thank you.

The connection you have to your laptop is analog, I believe. So you're probably only going to get two channels. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but the only way you'll get 5.1 from a laptop is if you have HDMI out and the laptop supports it.
On page 24 of the manual it says 'It is possible to listen to two-channel audio using the USB interface on the front of this receiver."

I was afraid of this. All my efforts to make this setup simple has gone out the windows. Should have just purchased the Sonos players. Same money with less hassle. Que sera sera. Learning experience.

I will buy a HDMI cable tomorrow and see. I just thought the HDMI cable is only to reduce audio/video cable clutter. Quite ignorant. Oopsie. ^ ^

If I were to utilize the Bluetooth connection, then would it also be two-channel audio?

2 channel is 2 channel unless the receiver has some sort of matrix set up to fill all speakers. Kind of equal to making HD quality from a non-HD source.

Not sure what that USB flash drive is doing with this setup.

You always have the option to get a 5.1 USB sound adapter. With proper configuration and correct audio source it should work with your 5.1 receiver. (text search: 5.1 usb audio)

From all these replies, I am confused.

(1) MP3s and FLACs are 2-channel audio only? So regardless if I set all the speakers up, only two speakers will work? So I should not try it with an HDMI cable? What audio source would be considered multi-channelled?

(2) If MP3s are my only options then I would need to bundle ALL speaker wires into the LEFT and RIGHT plug in order to hear sound everywhere? Is this how stores broadcast music over more than 2 speakers through their store?

Please take note that I am only playing music and no video. Many thanks.

Quote from teetee1 : Not sure what that USB flash drive is doing with this setup.

The receiver has the option to plug in a flash drive for quick music playing. Since the receiver do not support random play or scheduling with a flash drive, I scrapped that idea and used a laptop/netbook instead.

FLAC can be multi-channel, but I don't think the receiver is going to play multi-channel FLAC via the USB. You need to use the HDMI out from your laptop and set up your sound settings within your computer accordingly.

Quote from DocuMaker : You need to use the HDMI out from your laptop and set up your sound settings within your computer accordingly.

May I ask what these "settings" should be?

The laptop has an HDMI output port. But when I went to the Control Panel, I only see the typical 2-channel setup without the 5.1 option. Does this mean I need to purchase another soundcard or the 5.1 usb audio adapter mentioned above? If I understand things correctly, the HDMI cable functions only to transport data. So if the source sends 2-channel information, then even if I use an HDMI cable then I would still get sound from only two speakers?

Should all fail and I am stuck with 2 channels, is it safe for me to hook ALL 5 speakers to the same left & right speaker ports by twisting all exposed wires together?

I just want music to be heard from one end of the room to the other end and am having trouble understanding the mechanics of it all. I assume it to be simple until now...

You are going to be limited by your source material as much as you are by your connection to your receiver. CD's and digital music downloads are generally only available in stereo. Unless you're playing dvd-a or sacd, and it doesn't sound like you are.

Just and put your receiver in matrix mode or the equivalent setting that will involve more of the speakers.