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And why does VLC constantly default back to that setting when it's broken and doesn't work? I've found how to allegedly change speaker setting defaults, but that doesn't stick. Each time a new file loads I have to manually change the Stereo mode option back to 'Stereo' because VLC just loves this 'Original' that plays the videos soundtrack but no voices, or voices that sound like they're very, very distant. The 'mono' setting' makes sense, as does the 'Stereo' and 'Headphones' option. But what is 'Original' and why won't VLC default to anything else?

Original mode is Surround. It does not make much sense inside the Stereo mode menu.

But with that said, you should select the stereo track if you want to play stereo, and you should leave the default stereo channel mapping in the audio preferences or OS settings.

Original mode is Surround. It does not make much sense inside the Stereo mode menu.

Thank you. It is now April 2024, six years after the OP. The "Stereo Original" option is still under the "Stereo" menu. Will this ever be fixed?

There has not been major VLC release since the OP.

Menus can't be renamed easily due to localisation.