USB Audio output and surrond sound and Sound cards

Does anyone know how USB Surround sound systems work?
I have been told that because they are USB that they automatically shut off your sound card. Is this in fact true? Or is there a work around electronically, thru software,, getting into the systems PROM and forcing it to let both USB and sound card be used? Seems very proprietary for someone to write a software like that with out giving you a choice. I just bought such a system, can still return it, I realy love the sound, the quality, the looks etc but I am really PO'd about the fact this cuts out my sound card and that I can't use both at the same time. Sure seems like there should be a way to do both.

Steve

 

Please disregard this question. I found an answer, evidently USB audio speaker systems for whatever reason does disable a sound card and the Mobo sound device, how ever you can still hear the mobo sound thru the usb, but not the sound card. Work around I found is to disconnect the USB plug and plug a 1/8th jack into your system/devices aux port or ancillary port and come out of whatever type system you wish ie the 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1, go to your sound device manager and click on configure and you can tell your sound card device to emulate 2.1, 5.1,7.1... however if you put say stereo speakers in the 2,1 spot and configure for 7.1 sound you will not hear anything till you put them into the 7.1 spot. But I also found/figured out that if you put a jack into all three spots at the same time and configure for 7.1 all three positions will out put 7.1 emulated sound. This isn't the way I really wanted to go, but I really liked the USB speaker system I bought and didn't want to return it. And I am also a stubborn SOB who when told something can't be done have to find away around that ... LOL :-D

To sort of boil down what I just said I unplugged the USB connect of the speaker system then went from the 7.1 jack on sound card to the input of the ancillary jack on the speaker system, change my sound card configuration to emulate 7.1 sound and bingo I had sound.
I have also used the 2.1 and 5.1 jacks on sound card to go to stereo inputs on my high end hi fidelity stereo system and to 2 other powered stereo speakers. So I can get 7.1 surround sound thru everything. Yes the surround sound is emulated and not being sent thru any crossover net so all speakers sound the same but you know what...if I want to change that I have that flexability. And to me it sounds excellent.

Steve

 

Please disregard this question. I found an answer, evidently USB audio speaker systems for whatever reason does disable a sound card and the Mobo sound device, how ever you can still hear the mobo sound thru the usb, but not the sound card. Work around I found is to disconnect the USB plug and plug a 1/8th jack into your system/devices aux port or ancillary port and come out of whatever type system you wish ie the 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1, go to your sound device manager and click on configure and you can tell your sound card device to emulate 2.1, 5.1,7.1... however if you put say stereo speakers in the 2,1 spot and configure for 7.1 sound you will not hear anything till you put them into the 7.1 spot. But I also found/figured out that if you put a jack into all three spots at the same time and configure for 7.1 all three positions will out put 7.1 emulated sound. This isn't the way I really wanted to go, but I really liked the USB speaker system I bought and didn't want to return it. And I am also a stubborn SOB who when told something can't be done have to find away around that ... LOL :-D

To sort of boil down what I just said I unplugged the USB connect of the speaker system then went from the 7.1 jack on sound card to the input of the ancillary jack on the speaker system, change my sound card configuration to emulate 7.1 sound and bingo I had sound.
I have also used the 2.1 and 5.1 jacks on sound card to go to stereo inputs on my high end hi fidelity stereo system and to 2 other powered stereo speakers. So I can get 7.1 surround sound thru everything. Yes the surround sound is emulated and not being sent thru any crossover net so all speakers sound the same but you know what...if I want to change that I have that flexability. And to me it sounds excellent.

Steve