SONAR X1 ASOP driver softsynth question?

 m using my ASIO drivers and I noticed that they come up like "3L, 5L, etc." as audio output options; when I load up a softsynth it sounds as if it is playing back in mono.....also when I adjust the panning for the channel of the softsynth, it does not affect or pan the sound...am I just imaging this?... is there something I need to do to have the softsynths generate a stero playback? My WDM drivers dont work so I have not been able to trouble shot to see if the same thing is occuring when I use them....using Presonus Firepod... am going to look to see if there is an update for the drivers when I get home this evening. Dont remember having this problem with 8.5 and I have not used this computer in almost a year because my home was being repaired do to some storm damage from last year!--thanks in advance!!!(post-post) I updated to the most resent Presonus Firepod driver and disabled the onboard soundcard-my settings are 24bit/44.1khz, but I am still getting pops and clicks when I play any softsynth;sound stills sounds mono to me also.