Bingo...finally figured it out. Looks like the cable was the problem all along. I had digital output enabled when I fiddled with the cables and as I played along with the digital out on the sub I noticed I got sound when I didn't have the cable plugged in all the way. So (since technically this isn't right cable anyway) now it works plugged in about halfway. Can't wait to hear some digital cd audio all the way through without an analog conversion...can't right now since my cdrw doesn't have a digital cd plugin, oh well, just glad it works now.
Anyone know now where I can get another replacement cable for the other set of speakers I have?