Try running satellite dish through DAC for music

Sean that is true. Even the analogue outputs aren't bad though but as you say not nearly as good as when running it through a seperate DAC. When buying a new box or HDTV converter box try to find one with the customary toslink as well as a coax out. I know the Mitsubishi boxes have both. That in fact was the reason I bought it. Good luck

Another way to avoid commercials is to listen only to public radio as elitist snobs like myself do.

Since someone mentioned NPR I have to comment on September 11th listening to them report: "...and a jet liner has crashed into the world trade center, it's 67 degrees in Baltimore with clear skies ..." They reported it so monotonically it sounded like an everyday occurance--no big deal--plane hits world trade center. Half the time I'm not really listening to them--I had to kind of shake my head and wonder--"did I really hear that right?"

Ok,long time Sat radio station listner.(6 years) The classical stations (834-836)almost never play anything I like. I have a Theta modified Sony stb

Before the Sony sat box,I was on cable and did the DMX radio;and that came w/coax.(program info was on the remotes' screen).The newer Sientific Atlanta boxes have coax out.

I also have a HD stb with toslinc --there are many movies in 5.1 ;and they are pretty good. Some of the local channels /in HD are also in 5.1