Just did a sports bar with 10 of these and the analog audio output level is about 25% of the cable boxes and DVD player. This issue does not exist in any of the 5 other sports bars that we have DTV in. DTV says there was a federal mandate to lower broadcast levels and that's why we're experiencing problems. Seems odd that the issue is just with this location. Any thoughts?

(xposted @ IP)

That "Federal mandate" was for commercials, not normal programming and I just about got blasted out of the room last night by one commercial.

They need to stop reading out of their "book of answers". Would they let you have another model so you can verify the difference?

Wait- if DirecTV has to drop the level, cable does, too. That's a crap answer. The audio level on my receivers isn't any lower than the other sources. I'd say it's a problem with that model.

Seems like I have had to deal w/ the audio outs being weak on all of the DirecTV boxes and even Charter Cable boxes. When distributing satellite music throughout the house this causes me half a day of step aerobics...running around the house trying to trim down the CD player and AM/FM tuner.

This product works well to boost your line levels if you prefer to go that route.

[Link: audiocontrol.com]

Why don't you have an amplified speaker when you use the analog output? Or, you could use the mic in on a laptop and with some kind of free RTA software, you could make sure the levels are matched. That would eliminate all of the running around.