Anyone using the analog inputs from the processor?

1. SACD/DVD-A are now available, as digital, on HDMI and, in my case, on 3xS/PDIF. The prior restrictions were based on the intention of keeping the digital output away from those who would copy it, allowing them only the analog. That should tell you something.

2. Well, the best justification of keeping it digital, for me, is not any dynamic limitations but the ability to make use of the DSP in modern AVRs and pre/pros, most especially modern roomEQ.

Kal

"Uncompressed PCM at 24/96 sounds terrific through an analog connection in my system" (john Z)

YEP! Indeed, I have been running PCM 24/96 and redbook from a superb CD player direct to an analog input on 2 channel pre's for years, WITH EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS TOO! Infact, until the advent of the DSP room correction, that was the ONLY WAY I'd run my 2 channel setups! And, I agree, it sounded terrific (considering a solid setup in an an acoustically sound room) HOWEVER, processing DD/DTS with this connection setup (processing in the DVD player) was another story entirely!!
Perhaps its likely do to the quality of the DD/DTS decoders and how it's processed and amplified from the analog out's of the DVD players. However, nontheless, it just never worked well in this regard. That's all my experience has said here. Also, if you read many of the back articles over the past years, you'll hear reviewers commenting on these options and saying they recommend digital connection processing in an outboard pre/pro for dd/dts dubties (heck, if you didn't need to do it this way, all us av-phile guys could do without pre/pro's completely!!!)

"As an aside, if an analog connection is so limited dynamically, explain why the two most dynamic music formats, SACD and DVD-A, are only available via analog connections?" (John Z)

Again, see above. I agree, PCM cd's work well from the analog outs of players - just not well for the movie processing.

I agree with both points of view here.
I have a denon 5900 hooked up to a denon 5803, and have both analog and digital interconnects. The digital connection sounded better because I could manipulate the sound in the avr.
But then I added a cj met1 6-channel, analog, tube pre and was forced to use 6 analog outs to pre and 6 more over to avr. The sound improved based on quality of interconnects and the addition of a quality pre amp.
Now I have added the cj met150 5 channel amp and eliminated the avr all together , and it sounds much better than dvd to avr via digital.
The 5900 is outdated but has quality dacs from what Im told, so that could play a role. and all those interconnects leave room for degradation, but I am very happy with both sound and future expansion using a analog pre and amp, plan on adding a denon blueray with analog out and a transporter for server setup to feed analog out of that as well.
Works for me :)

Should have mentioned I also have a primaluna8 tube cd player, that has only analog outs to the analog linestage, and it sounds incredible.

I guess like most things audio, the outcome depends on many variables. It's expensive to include a quality analog output stage in an audio component, as a result there are many popular DVD players on the market (like Oppo) where a digital connection is the only way to go if you want the best performance. They focus on the digital HDMI performance (very successfully) within a given price target and the analog performance suffers as a result relative to what's possible with analog.

Flrnlamb, I don't disagree with what you've said and if/when I decide to replace my receiver I will probably use digital connections for digital sources, except for my cd player, which has the DCS Ring-DAC built in :-)

The room-correction eq they are building into today's receivers can work wonders in the typical home setup, as you know.

However, I have come across more than one review where they have praised the analog connection route on certain higher-end two-channel systems that pull double-duty as a home cinema system. Specifically, an Arcam FMJ DV29 player feeding decoded 5.1 DD/DTS to their analog C30 preamp (with the optional multichannel module) feeding a giant stack of five (or seven!) Arcam P1 monoblocks.. Strap that system into your typical living room and hold on to your hats! -jz