Geoff,

I think you need to hook up the digital output of the set top box to a decent DAC/Processor and decide for yourself using your ATCs (actives?) whether the broadcast audio is as bad as you imagine. I've never even tried the analogue outputs on my Humax but I can imagine they're crap.

Mark
G68, baby Genelecs, Humax Foxsat, Oppo+Vanity93, Toshiba HD-A35, Pioneer CLD-925 + Meridian 519, various other random bits and bobs
Got a black G08.2 you want to sell?