The AppleVision 1710 can run in two modes: "Macintosh", and "VESA". I believe it uses sense codes to detect what system it is connected to, and therefore, what mode to run in. Basically, when the display is connected to an older Mac, it runs in "Macintosh" mode, and as elbaroni says, does require ADB, as well as the AppleVision software to run at any resolution above 640x480, or use any of the colour calibration features.
However, if you connect it to a newer Mac, or a PC, it will run in "VESA" mode, which allows you to use the higher resolutions without requiring ADB. For example, at the moment I'm running my 1710AV on my tray loading iMac G3. The iMac has an ATI Rage Pro, rather than an older Apple video controller, and recognises the 1710AV as a standard "VGA Display", and sends the appropriate sense codes to the monitor, to put it into "VESA" mode. This works fine, and I can run the monitor at any resolution up to 1280x1024.
I'd take a stab that when you connect your digital STB to it, that it will put the display into VESA mode, which will allow you to access the higher resolutions.
The sound system built into them does not require ADB at all, as elbaroni said.