Don't know if this is the solution to your problem but hope it may help for future usrs. The back speakers will only work if the tv or dvd that u r watching has surround sound, for back speakers to work surround sound must b encrypted in the format of the dvd, tv etc. Watchng normal tv doesn't have surround sound. This is why u will find that with movies with surround sound the back speakers will work but won't if the movie doesn't have surround sound.