Cable Box Digital 5.1 converted to Digital Stereo

Thanks Dtc, for your info and help. I'll give it all a try this weekend.

FYI, I had to go out of the TV rather than the analog out of the cable box.....I had a nasty ground loop hum that only appeared in that config.

Well guys, I tried the optical out from my Cable and the Denon Receiver and then through a converter to a RCA Coaxial and still I'm getting the static(Bitstream).
I guess I could try the TV optical out, but then I would have to have my 85" 4K Samsung on when I just want to play the music channels.
Oh well, I guess its just not worth the trouble.

If you're with Xfinity, the new One boxes do pcm.

There is a product that will convert the bitstream to pcm, but I have no experience nor think it would work well.

However, lookup an article by Frank Van Alstine who I believe used such a product.

Did you try the analog outs from the cable box?

Having the TV on is not so bad. It tells you what is playing.