Numerous audio devices - why?

[vostok]

See attached screenshot. I just got a new, bespoke PC and I'm confused as to why so many audio devices are listed.

The majority, as you can see, are coming up as "not plugged in". There seem to be two that are active - the system's default output and something called Realtek Audio HD.

Questions:

1) Why so many?
2) What's the difference between the two active ones, and which should I use?

Thanks in advance.

 

[dorsetknob]

Amd Audio devices are to do with your graphics card(s)

 

[vostok]

OK, but they're all "not plugged in", so I effectively just ignore them in the list?

 

[neatfeatguy]

Looks like you have audio drivers installed for your AMD card. If you don't use it, you should be able to just uninstall that aspect of AMD drivers. I don't use the Audio through my Nvidia card, so I just don't install that driver.

OK, but they're all "not plugged in", so I effectively just ignore them in the list?

Or, just ignore them as you suggest.

 

[dorsetknob]

some one more knowledgeable (and i stand ready to be corrected) than me
they enable you to map sound through your HDMI port to a HDMI Device ie Monitor/HDMI enabled TV

 

[vostok]

Thanks, guys, this is making a bit more sense now.

Any thoughts on why I have two active audio devices, and which I should be using? I've tried setting each as the default item, but, with the HD one, this sometimes means I get no sound, so I stick with the system one.

Continued thanks.

 

[RCoon]

Any thoughts on why I have two active audio devices

Bottom one is your digital SPDIF output on your motherboard, TOSLINK optical audio. Setting that as default offers no sound because it isn't plugged in, it just says active because it's always on until you right click>disable it. SPDIF looks like this:

Your Realtek one that is default is your standard green 3.5mm jack output. Realtek 2nd output is your front panel audio output assuming you plugged in all the cables your PC Case came with into the motherboard.

 

[vostok]

Yeah I'm plugging in headphones to the front jack and speakers to the back one (not trying to listen to both at the same time, obviously).

Thanks.