Bass Boom on HDTV?

My system seems relatively flat for music and DVD's. However, I have been having a problem with HDTV and boomy bass. The problem seems to be getting worse. I first noticed it on NBA games shown on TNT (and it seems worse for those games than non-basketball TNT). It seems that over time more and more stations that are broadcasting in Digital (I use TWC) are having the problem.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? I am wondering if it compression related, as I have noticed that the volume between stations differs significantly. My wife who usually watches chick flick type programs with my two teenage daughters in another room is complaining that some stations are very loud.

I originally posted this on the SMS forum because Scott from Outlaw suggested that I could use the SMS-1 to really flatten out my HT response for music and DVD's and setup a second preset to remove the boom (or just lower the base).. However, noone has responded to that thread, and I am hoping to at least confirm the problem.

I'm getting the same effect on, of all things, "Meet the Press." It's so pronounced that I have actually resorted to using my TV speakers when watching Russert and company. BTW, watching it on a hi-def NBC feed - using DirecTV.

Thanks - I am glad to know that I am not the only one. I am going to start checking where possible if this is a digital verus analog issue.

Anyone else out in the ether notice this?

I've heard it also. I'm taking it to be intentional on the part of the networks. A voice with deep bass undertones is more authoritative (think James Earl Jones) and adding such undertones would add to the perceived credibility of the newscasters.

If it was something in my system, it would be apparent across all the channels I could receive and so far it varies from channel to channel and even from program to program on the same channel.

I'll throw this reason out there:

The networks don't know that there is that much low end content in their mix so they don't do anything to roll it off. Most network audio control rooms that I've been in, e.g. MSNBC and ESPN, don't have any subwoofers. Thus, their audio engineers don't necessarily know just how much bass their mixes have. Most smart ones, however, will roll off most bass below about 100hz for almost every vocal microphone to avoid picking up an rumble from movements on the set.

Don't read me wrong here. The audio engineers, for the most part, know what's going on with their mix. The issue is more with master control and the suits who design the control rooms.

Just my .02 cents...