It's a set of 5.1 speakers with the option to do 2-channel (basically the same as the 5-year-old Creative Audio speaker set I'm replacing). My computer only has a headphone-out, so I have to do the 2-channel. When I adjust the balance to mute one channel, sound still comes out of all but one speaker. - COMPLICATED MR. NOODLE

Just did some more testing. It seems, when using 2-channel, only the front speakers are left/right; the rear speakers are on both channels. - COMPLICATED MR. NOODLE