I don't want to beat a dead horse but I'm bugged.

How good feeling it is to read a wise articulated post!

hilde45 thanks  from us all...

When I performed the measurements of the original Rogue Sphinx integrated amplifier to accompany Herb Reichert's review in the August 2014 issue of Stereophile, I was impressed by what I found. "Even without taking into account its affordable price, Rogue Audio's Sphinx offers excellent measured performance with little sign of the usual compromises made in class-D designs,"

@russ69 

That quote you made from Stereophile is from the 2014 review not what ASR reviewed. Stereophile tests appear to show high noise one phono input, high power supply noise, and does not meet 4 ohm power spec. Did ASR note any different?

The main issue I took from Goldensound's review that I posted above is that Amir tests all AES/EBU outputs at 4v.

This this ridiculous because all outputs should be measured at their normal output levels, not attenuated.

Amir is a clown and anyone that gives him the time of day is a bigger clown.

That quote you made from Stereophile is from the 2014 review not what ASR reviewed.

The first quote is the V1 version which supports the second quote for the V3 version. Both experts measured the Spinx V3 and I think got comparable results.

Stereophile tests appear to show high noise one phono input...

Yes, it is highlighted that the MM phono output was noisy. The MC output was not. Probably still has more channel separation and dynamic range than the record you are playing. 

Stereophile tests appear to show ... high power supply noise...

Also mentioned but it's 80 and 90 db down, you are not going to hear it. 

... and does not meet 4 ohm power spec. 

Rogue does not specify a 4ohm power spec. They say 100wpc minimum and don't specify the impedance. Atkinson measured 96watts at 8 ohms and 150watts at 4 ohms. You wont miss the 4db since it would take 200 watts to raise the sound level 3db.  

This is why you need to listen to gear. A few db may be important or they may not depending on what you are measuring. With noise levels down 80 and 90 db, you are not going to hear it. Sure 120 db is better but it's only a better measurement number not something that will ruin playback. That's why Atkinson explains what the numbers mean and their effect on sound quality. ASR skips that step. 

This this ridiculous because all outputs should be measured at their normal output levels, not attenuated.

As a measurement standard most amps are measured at full power. That is where they perform the best in most cases. Although we don't listen at full volume, the measurements would make more sense if they were at a realistic level but you can't compare amps if you are setting output to some arbitrary level.