Xbox 360 5.1 in games but only Stereo in Dashboard?!?

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me as to why the XBOX 360 doesn't appear to support 5.1 when using the Dashboard?

I was given a set of Logitech Z-5500's for my birthday, which my XBOX 360 is connected to via the optical lead on the HD VGA cable. The XBOX 360 is set to Dolby Digital 5.1 (optical) in the System Settings, but when playing music or switching between blades, the sound is in stereo (F/L + F/R only). However, switch to a game and it instantly jumps to 5.1.

Is this common with all 360's? If so, why? As it ruins the whole media experience when playing music/videos through 2 channels.

 

Might be because music and audio from the blades moving about are recorded in stereo.

Although if you're sure that the videos you're playing are surround sound but play in stereo then that is weird.

 

Yes, the stuff in the dashboard is in stereo, but that is because it wouldn't make sense otherwise. Are the blades moving behind you? No? OK then.

Plus if you actually had a good receiver+speaker setup (rather than just that logitech crap) you could fake it. Though it still doesn't make any real sense.

 

I should have expanded more - it's in Stereo when playing music (MP3s), videos and when the blades are moving. It seems a bit retarded, as a PC happily plays MP3s using all 5.1 channels, whereas the XBOX limits it to 2 (not even 2.1).

 

Most real modern amps will switch it's audio mode to what type it's receiving automatically as well. You really shouldn't listen to something in 5.1 unless it is recorded in 5.1, it will sound horrible.

 

Hey! Those speakers are probably the highest rated set of 5.1 speakers in their class. Not as good as the audiophile gear people spend $1000+ on, but still, a fantastic set-up especially for gamers.

 

Yep, my receiver says stereo here too but then I'm not worried, music is mixed in stereo so that's what it should play in.
I'm sure I could up-mix it but I prefer to listen to things the way they should be, yes PC's up-mix/fake it I believe by mirroring the front channels to the rear (probably wrong but it seems about right).
You don't get 2.1 when playing mp3s? So you are saying your Xbox doesn't actually use your sub when playing stereo sources? That would be weird.
DVD's should play in their respective audio format (5.1 or DTS) as should games but honestly I wouldn't worry so much. Stereo is only 2 channels anyway

::edit::
Having just done some googling apparently your setup can up-mix to surround from stereo, try changing some settings perhaps?

 

according to the Logitech site you'll need to adjust your speakers from Dolby ProLogic 2 Movie mode to Dolby ProLogic Music mode and this will up-mix your audio. Its down to your speakers to to do the surround mixing as the xbox is doing its output correctly, you just happen to not want it "correct"

 

Thanks BioSniper and whisperwolf (and others), I just find having 2 channels and no sub very odd to listen to music through, so will alter the settings accordingly!