Best sounding direct tv receiver

"the Phillips has a digital coax out (almost unheard of)"

I dunno... The Samsung SIR-TS160 had TOSLink & digital coax, component up-convert, on-screen caller ID, and all that since at least late in 2002. We can vouch for the video & sound and if possible only watch (and listen to) cable through the 160, also. Oh - and it has games, too :~).

I have the SIR-TS160. I put it on a Svelte with Aurios Pros. I use a Kharma digital cable on it. For power I use just an old Whale but I use a ps audio 300 to keep the power stable. (Especially good for projection bulb life too).

Anyway, with all that stuff on it, it sounds much better than without!

Try treating whatever you decide to use like a source component and you will get an improvement.

Mejames is correct about AVS forum, but AVS tends to dwell on video performance.

(I always click on the little text box "Thread ---> Show printable version". I puts the text into a legible black and white field.)

I am running my Satellite's audio through my Audio Aero Mark II's DAC. Since the audio feed from satellites is compressed I really don't think there is much more I can do to improve it. My results are better than using the tuner's DAC.

I have also found that my local PBS over the air audio feed is better than Satellite.