Audio Radar Issue: Only Front (Top) Light Bars Activating
If only the top two light bars of your Audio Radar setup are activating, this often indicates that your audio settings are set to stereo sound instead of 7.1 surround sound. Stereo sound only provides basic left and right audio channels, which means Audio Radar can only display directional cues on the top light bars. To fully utilize all light bars for accurate sound positioning, 7.1 surround sound must be enabled in both your system settings and the in-game audio settings.
Follow these Troubleshooting Steps to check your audio configuration and resolve the issue. If the problem persists after applying these solutions, follow our advanced Audio Radar Troubleshooting Guide.
1. Check Cable Connections
- First, ensure that all coiled cables are fully inserted into the correct light bar ports.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting the cables to confirm a secure fit.
2. Verify 7.1 Surround Sound Settings
- Audio Radar requires 7.1 surround sound to activate all light bars. Check your gaming device audio settings:
PC Users
By default, Windows outputs stereo sound, which limits Audio Radar to using only the top light bars for basic left and right directional cues. To unlock full 7.1 surround sound support, you'll need to configure your PC’s audio settings properly.
- Using only Audio Radar for sound? Follow the PC Setup Guide | Basic Audio (Single Output), which walks you through enabling 7.1 surround sound.
- Using Audio Radar alongside a headset or speakers? Windows does not natively support sending audio to multiple devices at once. To properly route game audio to both Audio Radar and your headset/speakers, we recommend Voicemeeter, a free virtual mixing console. Follow the PC Setup Guide | Advanced Audio (Multiple Outputs) to configure this setup.
Xbox Users
By default, Xbox may output stereo sound, which limits Audio Radar to using only the top light bars for basic left and right directional cues instead of full surround sound tracking.
To unlock 7.1 surround sound support, you'll need to adjust your console’s audio settings: Xbox Setup Guide
Additionally, ensure that Mono Output is disabled, as enabling it will override surround sound and cause all light bars to activate together.
PlayStation Users
By default, PlayStation consoles may not output full 7.1 surround sound, which can limit Audio Radar to using only the top light bars for basic left and right directional cues instead of full spatial awareness.
To enable 7.1 surround sound support, check and adjust your PlayStation’s audio settings: PlayStation Setup Guide
3. Check In-Game Audio Settings
Once system audio is configured, Audio Radar's performance is still directly dependent on the audio options provided by each game. Some titles offer 7.1 surround sound, while others are restricted to stereo (2.1) audio, which limits full light bar activation.
- Games with Stereo-Only Audio (No Surround Sound Support)
- Certain games, such as Escape from Tarkov and Counter-Strike 2, only output stereo (2.1) sound, meaning only the top light bars will activate for basic left and right directional cues. Since these games do not offer a 7.1 surround sound option, Audio Radar cannot provide full spatial tracking.
- Games That Default to Stereo but Support 7.1 Surround
- Other games, like Valorant, default to stereo sound but can be configured to 7.1 surround sound in the audio settings. Adjusting these settings allows Audio Radar to utilize all light bars for enhanced spatial awareness.
Surround sound availability is controlled by game developers—for full Audio Radar functionality, a game must support true 7.1 surround sound output. We recommend referencing PCGamingWiki to confirm the type of audio your game supports.
For game-specific settings and recommendations, visit the Game-Specific Audio Settings section.
Still Having Issues?
If your light bars are still not responding correctly, Contact Us for further assistance. Providing detailed information, including screenshots or videos, will help us diagnose the issue more efficiently.
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