On DAC we are on the same page. As I said, I go through a lot of work to accomplish that already. I thought we were talking about analog input testing which is of interest to very few people.
I felt compelled to register and comment on the direction of additional tests to the AVR/Prepro reviews because I was excited to see the direction of expanded testing, in particular the analog inputs, only to then see that such testing could be at risk based upon your perception of limited interest. Here is my vote to continued analog input testing including the variations described by
Audimus in this post.
I believe that analog input testing is of interest to a significant portion of your current and potential audience. In fact, it may be as large or larger than the audience that is interested in DAC measurements generally. The AVR/Prepro serve as the hub for home audio for most people. I think we can confirm this simply by going into any mainstream audio store and comparing the selection of AVRs to 2-channel preamps/integrateds. And, for many of these users, the AVR/Prepro will be their primary home system. As such, the analog input of the AVR/Prepro is of particular importance to a significant portion of the audience of people who have source digital components or wish to pursue enhancing their listening of music through the purchase of external DACs because they will be doing so by going through their AVR/Prepro. After all, why purchase or concern yourself with the quality of a separate DAC if by the time it goes through the hub (AVR/Prepro) its superior implementation is lost due to the poor analog in/out on the AVR/Prepro? The only value would be if your purchasing it for additional format processing. Yet, that purpose (of being able to decode higher quality formats which some would suggest is questionable to begin with) is also likely lost by the time it goes through the AVR/Prepro with a poor analog in/out. The quality of the analog input is also relevant for those who still use physical media and are shopping for digital source components (not just a digital transport). After all, if the analog in/out on their AVR is poor, then just by the cheapest source player and connect it to the AVR/Prepro digitally. Any benefits of a superior DAC in the source component will likely be lost in the poor analog input/output chain.
A very recent exchange in AVS Forum actually highlights this very real issue and the insufficiency of information amongst those that enjoy our hobby. I have been looking to purchase a streamer/pre/DAC that can sit between my prepro (Integra 80.2) and my 7 channel amp to provide for a superior 2 channel stereo listening (than using the Integra's internal streamer/DAC). The purpose was three-fold - I want to check out DIRAC (vs. Audyssey), acquire a superior DAC/output stage than what is in my Integra, and obtain a streaming interface superior to the antiquated Integra since my music is streamed through my home network. I explained on the NAD C658 (a unit that meets these needs if it weren't for a few bugs) forum on AVS Forum that the reason I wanted to find a unit with a preamp and passthrough was because, despite being far less knowledgeable on these matters than many, I believed there were legitimate concerns of sound degradation by using the analog inputs of the pre/pro that otherwise negated the investment. Among them, that Pure/Direct, etc. modes aren't necessarily what they often claim to represent (it's inconclusive as to the Integra iirc) and b/c using the analog input/output stage of the prepro just introduces more unknowns into the quality of the chain. In short, I want the best 2-channel source chain within my budget and without having to obtain a separate 2-channel system.
In response to my rationale, one user posted (to paraphrase) "just get a better prepro or build a separate 2-channel system." I did not respond for a number of reasons. Alas, it is relevant for the current dialogue. First, my Integra 80.2 was a well reviewed unit and for the price you would expect that it's analog input would at least be competitive. However, one simply doesn't know without testing and I don't believe in assuming a certain quality based on price or brand reputation. Thus, the safest choice is to avoid the potential issue (poor analog input) all together by removing the Integra from the chain. Second, even if I'd asked, he would most likely be unable to point me to a prepro that would surely have a "superior" analog input/pre section (other than guessing a newer or more expensive unit should which we know is not indicative of quality). Lastly, the idea that one has to build a separate 2-channel set-up is absurd, and unless money is not an issue (whatsoever), all it leads to is owning 2 compromised systems due to budget. In any event, I have no interest in buying another pair of budget-oriented (sarcasm) Revel Ultima Salon2 speakers for a separate system or moving (from a larger than average residence) solely to acquire additional space for a separate 2-channel listening room.
The results of your recent measurements of the analog inputs of certain AVR/Prepros confirms that my concern was well-placed. It also highlights that it is an area frequently overlooked (per the AVS interaction above). The erratic and poor results of the measurements also suggest that they are relevant for one's purchase considerations depending on use (b/c they obviously are not all created equal - except maybe equally poor). These measurements would (or should) be important to a large group of differently-situated consumers including those looking to buy a new AVR/Prepro unit (who may already have external DAC's/sources they will be plugging into the analog input stage) as well as those considering purchasing a new source or external DAC for use in their system (they may be wasting their money depending on the quality of the analog stage of their AVR/Prepro).
In short, the analog input measurements are sufficiently varied (and surprisingly poor) that their testing is additive to a review. The audience of those interested in such measurements may be larger than you suspect. And, if it isn't now, it may be because not enough are aware of the materially varying (& poor) degree of the measurements.
As a side note, I'm still on my quest for a new streamer/pre/DAC - if the miniDSP SHD had a firm HT bypass function my quest would be over. I have considered buying a
balanced or
unbalanced switching box so that I can eliminate needing the HT bypass function but just haven't. The NAD was an option but some of the bugs affect the HT Bypass function. And, after your recent measurements of other NAD avr/prepros, any willingness to deal with (likely fixable) bugs has all but disappeared.