Word; thanks for all the input everyone, just to be sure I AB'd them again, using a different cd and movie... and for gods sakes, it sounded the same. I was a twit and used a dvd that was in stereo...I think the receiver switched to the DPL II mode for the Coax before and not the toslink ... go figure! But the subwoofer doesnt have any noise now (which is a welcome change) so I think Ill keep that cable

1xAxiom ax 1.2 2xPolk Audio R30 2xMordaunt-Short 3.0 H/K AVR 225 Paradigm PDR-10 Sub HTR MX-500