Subwoofer with the center channel

[recoveryone]

Guess again. This may not be true. Alot of digital cable providers are providing a mix of digital and analog signals. If it is true digital on all channels, then you will not need a regular RCA cable from the cable box to the receiver. If you have only an optical or coaxial or HDMI connection, but get audio on all channels, then you can truely say that you are all digital. If you are missing sound on any channels or require a regular RCA cable, then you are not all digital.

Even if you are all digital, not all signals are 5.1. HBO for example broadcasts in both 5.1 and stereo. Even if you are all digital, that stereo signal, digital or otherwise, will need to be processed by DPLII or Neo6, ect.

If you are indeed true all digital, what cable provider are you using?

Time Warner took over for adelphia in September last in So Cal and all of the channels were upgraded to full digital status. Now digital does not mean all channels are in 5.1, but most AVR will be able to tell you what type of signal you are getting:
Digital Stereo L/R
Digital Surround L/R/S
Digital 5.1 L/R/C/SL/SR/LEF
now if you were not getting a digital feed then you would not get any reading as above, which would mean you are getting analog sound over a digital connection. All of my channels give me one of the above settings and it may vary on the program also on the same channels. I have HDMTV and some concert are in full 5.1 and others are only Digital stereo the same as with watching Football games they come across in full 5.1 but some of the commericals are in digital stereo or Stereo surround.

So I can see my AVR changing status of signal all the time as I change channels or even watching the same channel when programs change. Now to get to what I think your going, my system also change mode of listening when the signal changes DD/DPLII. Which still will provide the incoming signal with proper direction of where the bass should go, and other ambiet sounds.

[SlumpBuster]

So Cal

There's the answer. Some of us never made it our of the Midwest, only setting up shop where the wagon train broke down. We only got disco here like last year.