Sound Quality of Direct TV audio

mine does not have analog outputs, specifically: RCA jacks

OK. My DTV receiver/DVR is a "whole home" type recently replaced (due to the previous unit having hard drive issues). It does come with a full compliment of analog outputs (single ended) as well as composite video and HDMI. I am using a conventional two channel audio system for the audio, and did originally run RCAs to my preamp.

I put the 1/3 octave analyzer in the loop so I could EQ some of the news/voice programming (the analyzer is a Phonic i7600 that is also a 1/3 octave EQ).

Interesting what some are suggesting that only the analog is BW limited, and not the HDMI. Unfortunately, I have no way of analyzing the HDMI audio, as I use only the video portion at my Sony LEDTV.

I would wonder why the only the analog is limited because my suspicion is the signal from the sat is limited due to bandwidth considerations. I think this is recent, but cannot be sure when this started.

As a follow up to test the HDMI/digital theory, I fed a toslink optical output from the DTV receiver to my Bryston BDA-1 DA converter on another system. I also have a Phonic i7600 on the power amps of this system.

Guess what. Full range audio. So it must be in the analog outputs on this box.

Thanks very much guys, for helping me solve this mystery.

I use the Toslink digital output, using Wireworld Supernova 7 Glass Toslink cable, from my Wave Broadband TiVo cable box to my Musical Fidelity M1 DAC that connects, using balanced interconnects (XLR), to my Ayre AX-7e integrated amplifier. The music sounds very good.

I'd say its almost always a good idea to use digital outputs form most all commercial AV devices whenever possible in that these devices are for mass markets and most audiophiles would prefer results from their own carefully selected DACs, digital amps, etc.